A big risk when scheduling an outdoor hockey game is a potential weather impact. In Toronto, that means snow or cold; in a warm-weather market, it means rain — and that’s exactly what impacted play at the AHL Outdoor Classic in Bakersfield last night.
The game featured two western teams — the Bakersfield Condors and the Ontario Reign — playing on a rink set up at the Bakersfield College football stadium. The game was a success at the gate, attracting more than 10,000 fans, but it was not the most artistic game ever played. The hard rain certainly impacted play, as these video tweets will show.
There is so much rain at the AHL Outdoor Classic tonight that whenever anyone shoots the puck, they also shoot a puddle of water pic.twitter.com/RJ8O72ia2w
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) January 8, 2017
And this.
Start of the 2nd period. pic.twitter.com/VQHPzZZpK2
— Tom Gazzola (@TomGazzola) January 8, 2017
And this.
Auger goes water skiing pic.twitter.com/nDXYrE75UQ
— Sheng Peng (@Sheng_Peng) January 8, 2017
For the record, the Condors defeated the Reign. And the rain.
