• Previous
• Next

More Galleries

• The Lunch Room does vegan food in a way that even non-vegans can enjoy
• Images from Dawn Farm's 40th Anniversary Jamboree
• See photos from Kerrytown BookFest
• Images from Michigan's 41-30 win over Notre Dame under the lights

Enlarge

Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard smiles as he exits the tunnel and makes his way onto the field at Michigan Stadium for a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com

Buy AnnArbor.com Photo Prints

• Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard smiles as he exits the tunnel and makes his way onto the field at Michigan Stadium for a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_01_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch is driven onto the field at Michigan Stadium for a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_02_fullsize.jpg
• Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon speaks during a press conference at Michigan Stadium announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_03_fullsize.jpg
• Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon speaks during a press conference at Michigan Stadium announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_04_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch stands with his wife Marian during a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_05_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings players Jimmy Howard, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg stand during a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_06_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings players (from left) Nicklas Lidstrom, Niklas Kronwall, Jimmy Howard, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg watch the big screen during a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_07_fullsize.jpg
• Michigan alethic director Dave Brandon shakes hands with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman as he accepts a donation from the commissioner during a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_08_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings player and captain Nicklas Lidstrom answers questions from the media after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_09_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings player Henrik Zetterberg smiles as he answers questions from the media after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Class on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_10_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings goal tender Jimmy Howard answers questions from the media after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_11_fullsize.jpg
• The shape of a hockey rink is marked on the field during a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_12_fullsize.jpg
• Signs for the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings are displayed in the stands during a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_13_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings head coach Mike Babcock answers questions from the media after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_14_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings player Henrik Zetterberg smiles as he answers questions from the media after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_15_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings player Niklas Kronwall answers questions from the media after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_16_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings player Henrik Zetterberg shares a laugh with teammate Niklas Kronwall after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_17_fullsize.jpg
• Detroit Red Wings player Niklas Kronwall makes his way back up the tunnel after a press conference announcing the 2013 Winter Classic on Thursday afternoon at Michigan Stadium. Melanie Maxwell I AnnArbor.com /calendar/photologue/photos/01 NHL Presser/cache/020912_SPT_NHL_Classic_PResser_MRM_18_fullsize.jpg

It was a small crowd at Michigan Stadium, but one full of familiar faces.

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman, Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Illitch and Red Wings players such as Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Jimmy Howard and Nicklas Lidstrom showed up for a press conference Wednesday on the field of Michigan Stadium.

The subject: An expected 115,000 fans for the annual Winter Classic, which will feature a Detroit Red Wings vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game at Michigan Stadium on Jan. 1.

Bettman also presented Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon a check for $250,000 to the University of Michigan general scholarship fund from NHL Charities.