Within the friendly confines of Wrigley Field, something magical was happening with the 2009 Winter Classic. Could that same magic be brought to Penn State's Beaver Stadium next New Year's Day? More than 44,000 fans bundled up to see Chicago and Detroit play a game in hockey's purest form yesterday, while millions of onlookers gazed from their televisions. Detroit won, 6-4.No matter the success of the first two Classics, the NHL is squeamish about approaching next year's game. But if persistence counts for anything - as it reportedly did this year with Blackhawks president John McDonough - the Flyers may very well be a participant. McDonough, who spent 25 years with the Chicago Cubs before jumping leagues, lobbied hard to bring the game to Wrigley. You can bet that Comcast-Spectacor president Peter Luukko will be a bug in the ear of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman next week. According to Bettman, Luukko won't be the only representative calling. New York, Boston and Denver also have reportedly expressed interest.

Philadelphia Daily News