Outdoor ice hockey is big in Norway and the other Scandinavian countries, so Hans would have grown up playing on outdoor ice for his whole childhood. The stadium would just make the feeling he had as a kid real, as every kid who plays pond hockey is already imagining being surrounded by screaming fans and playing in the pros. As far as it being a pointless gimmick, he'd probably agree that it is very gimmicky, but it is a gimmick that adds some extra fun to a regular season game that may not normally be so important. Gimmicks have their place amongst sports, and things like the Winter Classic add a good aura to a game, making it all the more exciting for the fans. For an opponent, it would definitely have to be us in Vancouver versus Quebec City, taking a big win off one of the best teams in the league is always a good time, and doing it in a Winter Classic atmosphere would make it so much sweeter.