2 NY Islanders prospects to play in outdoor game at Wrigley Field

Ever since the success of the first NHL Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres, both the NHL and the NCAA have frequently returned to playing the game outdoors, how it was originally meant to be.

This year's Winter Classic will be played at Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs, between the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues. The NCAA will capitalize on the availability of an outdoor rink, playing four Big Ten conference games at the famous ballpark, which will be called The Frozen Confines. One of these matchups will involve two NY Islanders prospects. 

A great weekend for college hockey

Two days after the Winter Classic on Feb. 3, Penn State will faceoff against Notre Dame, followed by one of collegiate sport's biggest rivalries, Ohio State vs. Michigan. The next day Wrigley Field will host a rematch of the NCAA Women’s National Championship, Ohio State vs Wisconsin, followed by another men’s match-up between Wisconsin and Michigan State, which will involve Islanders prospects Quinn Finley and Zach Schulz.

Finley and Schulz are both entering their sophomore seasons with the Badgers, coming off a 26-12-2 record, finishing second in the Big Ten and earning a birth in the NCAA tournament where they were knocked off in the first round by defending National Champions Quinnipiac.

Finley recorded 10 goals in his freshman campaign, good enough for sixth on the team, earning him a spot on Team USA for the World Junior Championship where he won a Gold Medal.

Schulz is an emerging stay-at-home defenseman who played most of the season on the Badgers bottom pairing. Expect to see him take on an increased role heading into next season.