2020 Winter Classic Logo

If any logo was to represent the great state of Texas, then the 2020 Winter Classic logo might do it better than any other previous to it. While the idea of an outdoor hockey game in one of the not coldest states in the lower 48 might seem ridiculous at first, it'a actually happening, and following outdoor games in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and games taking place outside of the December-February  cold threshold like the 2018 Stadium Series in Maryland in mid march, we're in for something special. So how does the NHL decide to make this game as Texan as possible? With a giant belt buckle for the logo of course.

Photo from NHL.com

It was announced on Tuesday the Stars would take to the ice against fellow Southern Boys the Nashville Predators in a game of the Central Division's better (but not best (cough cough, Winnipeg)) teams. The logo unveiled only contains metallic silver and gold, no Victory Green, but that doesn't mean there's none of that Texas spirit we know and logo. The logo itself is in the shape of a traditional belt buckle, with a rolled metal trim, a s studded metal liner lining around an ivy leaf pattern, all in beautiful polished metal. The templated Winter Classic script seen every year since 2008 is once again used, this time with a small brushed gold outline, golden star inside the flying t-crossing puck, and beveled of the ivy pattern. On the bottom under the round year script and sponsor logo is a folded golden ribbon with the host city engraved on it, and 3 more gold strars.

Now the question is; will the Texas theme extend to the coaches? Will we get coaches cowboy hats instead of the usual varsity jackets? It's all speculation at this point, but it's likely we'll get some interesting fanfare not seen at other Winter Classics.

As for jerseys, given the theme of the Winter Classic is fauxback at this point, we'll like see teams try something new, and similar to the 2011 Heritage Classic, a non-NHL team of years gone by.

My predictions: Dallas Texans v. Nashville Dixie Flyers

Photo from Pinterest

Photo from hockeygods.com

The Dixie Flyers (named for a train that passed through the Dixieland area, including Nashville) played in the Eastern Hockey League from 1962-1971, winning the 1965 &1966 EHL championships before folding in 1971, two years before the league folded, then took the most successful teams to the Southern Hockey League (the origin of many minor league teams since can be traced to these leagues including: Roanoke Valley Rebels, Charlotte Checkers, Macon Whoopees and Greensboro Generals).

Here's some Dixie Flyers footage from their second championship: 

The Dallas Texans on the other hand were part of the post WWII United States Hockey League that lasted from 1945-1951 and played mostly in the midwest as far north as Minnesota and as far south as Texas, including: Omaha, St Paul, Louisville, Fort Worth and of course Dallas. The Texans would never win a Director's Cup (equivalent of the President's Trophy or Paul W. Loudon Trophy (championship trophy), however the team is widely considered Dallas's first professional hockey team, almost like the Columbus Chill to the Blue Jackets.  

Plus who hasn't see this old school photo of the team posing in front of their bus? 

Photo from Reddit