NHL

At this very moment, the ice of the outdoor rink is glimmering in the sunlight in anticipation of its annual Winter Classic that will take place this evening. Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League may have canceled the NHL Winter Classic that was to be played between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings, but that's not stopping a talented group of hockey players from getting together for the annual Danglers Winter Classic.

The Danglers are a men's league hockey team that I started years ago in order to keep my friends and I together on the ice. High school was over, and many of us were going away to college or starting to work full-time. Every summer, the Danglers were put together through the Midnight Hockey League on Long Island and have continued to go strong for five years.

For one night, normalcy was restored in the hockey world.

As the "Fire Bettman" and "We want hockey" chants rained down to the Art Dorrington Ice Rink on Saturday evening at the Boardwalk Hall, people got a sense that this lockout just has to end.

For one night, Flyers, Rangers, Devils and even a few Penguins and Islanders fans were united with a select handful of other fans in Atlantic City's historic Boardwalk Hall. They were there for Operation Hat Trick, a charity game featuring 90% of the Atlantic Division's current and former star players, all still active in the NHL.

In all, 10,792 fans showed up, selling out the venue. It was the first sellout for a hockey event in Atlantic City since 1933.

Another Tampa Bay Lightning player has signed a lockout contract with an ECHL team. Forward BJ Crombeen will play for the Orlando Solar Bears, presumably making his debut on Saturday night at the Amway Center in Orlando. Crombeen has practiced with the Minnesota Wild affiliate.

Crombeen is a member of the NHLPA negotiating committee. (Photograph/Linda Hamilton)

The veteran right wing joins Bolts forward Nate Thompson as the second player to sign with an ECHL team. Thompson is playing with the Alaska Aces.

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Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Brendan Mikkelson will play lockout hockey in Sweden's Allsvenskan league for Vasteras.

The Saskatchewan native played in 41 games for Tampa Bay in 2011-12 accumulating three points and 13 penalty minutes.

(Photograph/Linda Hamilton)

He is the fourth member of the Lightning to play in Europe, joining forward Adam Hall (Ravensburg/Germany), defenseman Victor Hedman (Astana Barys/KHL) and goaltender Anders Lindback (Ilves/Finland).

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