Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

Winter Classic Entertainment

12/23/2013 at 10:09am EST

NEW YORK (December 23, 2013) – The 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, the New Year’s Day outdoor game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at The Big House® on the University of Michigan campus (1:00 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS), will feature performances by members of the Grammy Award-winning Zac Brown Band, singer/songwriter Mayer Hawthorne and Juno Award-winning recording artists The Tenors; the announcement of the rosters for the 2014 U.S. Olympic men’s and women’s ice hockey teams; a flyover of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) CF-18 fighter jets and a Canada-United States color guard; and appearances by Ann Arbor and Detroit-area youth hockey players.

The entertainment for the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, 2014 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ and 2014 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic™ is being produced by RK Productions in association with Big Monkey Entertainment.

Zac Brown Band - Concerts & Special U.S. National Anthem

Zac Brown Band's NHL Winter Classic celebration begins on Dec. 31, New Year's Eve, with a public concert at Joe Louis Arena. NHL guests will be among those in attendance for the Dec. 31 show as part of the NHL's New Year's Eve Bash. The band will return to Joe Louis Arena on Jan. 1 to close out their two-night performance.

Zac Brown, John Driskell Hopkins, Jimmy De Martini and Clay Cook of the Grammy Award-winning and multi-platinum Zac Brown Band (@zacbrownband) will make a special appearance to perform the U.S. national anthem at the NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1

Zac Brown Band has become one of music's most heralded acts. The band's latest project, ‘The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1,' is out now on Southern Ground. To date, the band has three platinum-selling albums 'Uncaged,' 'You Get What You Give' and 'The Foundation,' which together sold more than six million copies and produced a historic series of 10 No. 1 hit singles. On the road, the group performed for more than 1.3 million fans in 2013 with approximately 70 headline dates and more than a dozen major festival appearances. Zac Brown Band is represented by ROAR, a Beverly Hills-based talent and brand management company.

Mayer Hawthorne – Pre-Game and First Intermission Performances

Ann Arbor native and singer/songwriter Mayer Hawthorne (@MayerHawthorne) will open the game with a performance. Hawthorne will return to the field during the first intermission for another set.

Hawthorne has come a long way since his 2008 debut. He's released three well-received full-length albums; had songs licensed for film and television; and toured the world with Bruno Mars, Foster the People, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae and the late Amy Winehouse. His latest album, “Where Does This Door Go” (Republic Records), features a host of top-flight production work from Pharrell Williams (who received a 2013 Grammy nomination for ‘Producer of the Year' for his work on the album), Greg Wells, Jack Splash, John Hill and Oak (of Oak & Pop), who contributes the smooth and powerful single “Her Favorite Song.”

Hawthorne grew up in Ann Arbor and remembers as a child driving through the Motor City with his father and tuning the car radio to the region's rich musical tapestry. He has produced music and played multiple instruments for much of his life and uses skills honed as a club DJ to create his own original dance floor fillers. Throughout the years, he's cited soul legends Barry White and Curtis Mayfield as inspirations, along with late hip-hop producer J Dilla.

The Tenors – Canadian National Anthem

After the Red Wings and Maple Leafs make their way onto the ice, The Tenors (@tenorsmusic) will perform the Canadian national anthem.

The Tenors have been thrilling audiences around the world with their powerful voices and memorable melodies. Blending classical music and contemporary pop, the vocal super group has achieved international success, showcasing their undeniable charm and diverse vocal styles. The music of Clifton Murray, Victor Micallef, Remigio Pereira and Fraser Walters is rich and soulful, with powerful anthems, classic covers, and songs written and co-written by the group.

The Tenors have performed with Celine Dion on "Oprah," at the 2011 Primetime Emmy Awards, on ITV's "Diamond Jubilee Show for the Queen," for 12 million viewers on Britain's biggest show "Strictly Come Dancing" and more. They continue to thrill audiences across continents, where they have shared the stage with Andrea Bocelli; Sting; Elton John; Earth, Wind & Fire; Paul McCartney; Sheryl Crow; Justin Bieber; and many more.

Their three albums – their self-titled debut, holiday album ‘The Perfect Gift' and latest release ‘Lead With Your Heart' – have all gone double platinum and have been released in countries around the world by Universal Music and its affiliates.

The Tenors received their first Juno Award for 'Lead With Your Heart' and are continuing their current 70-city North American tour through March 2014 before launching their UK tour.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) – CF-18 Flyover and Color Guard

A Canada-U.S. color guard will take part in the pre-game festivities. After the performance of the U.S. national anthem, NORAD CF-18 fighter jets will fly over The Big House® to celebrate the first-ever cross-border NHL Winter Classic.

NORAD has served the citizens of Canada and the United States as the first line of defense against air attacks on North America. It also has acted as a clear deterrent to any aggressor through its air and maritime warning capabilities. Through outstanding cooperation and cohesiveness between the two countries, NORAD has proven itself effective in its roles of "deterring, detecting and defending" North America.

Announcement of U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Teams

During the second intermission, USA Hockey will reveal the final roster for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Women's ice hockey team. All 21 members of the Sochi-bound team will be in attendance for the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and led onto the field by general manager Reagan Carey and head coach Katey Stone.

At the conclusion of the game, USA Hockey will announce the roster for the 2014 U.S. Olympic Men's ice hockey team. General manager David Poile, USA Hockey president Ron DeGregorio and USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean will be in attendance for the unveiling, which will feature Detroit-area USA Hockey youth players in jerseys bearing the names of each player who made the roster.

NHL Winter Classic Auxiliary Rink

Throughout the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, 30 youth hockey players from Ann Arbor and Detroit (between the ages of nine and 12 years old) will scrimmage on an auxiliary rink ice inside The Big House®. USA Hockey will provide on-ice assistance and instruction.

Youth hockey players from Detroit's Clark Park Coalition recreation center, the recipient of a 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic legacy donation of extensive renovations and upgrades to its outdoor hockey rink, are among those taking part in the scrimmages.

About the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic

The Detroit Red Wings will host the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on Jan. 1 at The Big House® on the University of Michigan campus in front of a potential world record-setting crowd. The game will be broadcast live at 1:00 p.m. ET on NBC in the U.S. and on CBC and RDS in Canada; SiriusXM Radio will provide live radio coverage.

From 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET on Jan. 1, just prior to puck drop, the NHL, in conjunction with the City of Ann Arbor, will host the official 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Spectator Plaza, a free outdoor hockey and entertainment festival for fans of all ages just outside the gates of Michigan Stadium, in the parking lot near Gate 1.

In partnership with the 2014 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, downtown Detroit is expected to host more than 250,000 visitors at the 2013 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival™, an outdoor celebration of hockey held at Comerica Park beginning in mid-December and concluding with the 2013 Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings Alumni Showdown™ on New Year's Eve. The 2013 SiriusXM Hockeytown Winter Festival features youth games, high school hockey games, sled hockey games, AHL games, OHL games, the Great Lakes Invitational and more.

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About Kukla's Korner Hockey

Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

Email Paul anytime at [email protected]

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