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Gretzky: Hockey's Florida Boom Is Amazing
3 Jan
Summary
- Wayne Gretzky praised the growing popularity of hockey in Florida.
- The 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic marked Florida's first outdoor game.
- Gretzky experienced extreme heat and cold in past outdoor hockey games.
Wayne Gretzky marveled at the significant crowd for the Discover Face-Off Panel, highlighting hockey's expanding presence in Florida. He noted that the sport is thriving in the state, evidenced by the enthusiastic turnout at loanDepot park.
The 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic, held in Florida, marked a historic occasion as the state's first NHL regular season outdoor game. This event underscored Gretzky's observations about the sport's increasing popularity and acceptance in non-traditional hockey markets.
Gretzky recounted his own experiences with outdoor games, including playing in the heat in Las Vegas and in extreme cold in Edmonton. He humorously suggested that the heat was more enjoyable than the frigid conditions.
