Wrigley Field is a decidedly unusual venue for a hockey game, but it's where the New Year's Day face-off between the Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings will take place, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Dan Craig, facilities operations manager for the NFL, will oversee the ballpark's conversion, which will begin December 15 with the arrival from Toronto of a portable refrigeration system comprised of chillers, pumps, and compressors. In collaboration with a team of 10 ice experts from NHL cities around the country, Craig will work until December 31 to create two rinks: a main surface about 10 feet behind the pitching mound and a smaller one at center-field, which will form the backdrop for NBC's pre-game show.
The main playing surface will use elements ranging from plywood and sand to 240 panels of aluminum flooring and 12,000 gallons of water, which will form a two-inch thick slab of ice.
