Macomb's Danny DeKeyser Sees Plenty of Action at Winter Classic

While some local faces were undoubtedly among the estimated 104,000 hockey fans taking in the action at Wednesday's Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, one hometown star was front and center during the nationally televised outdoor hockey game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. 

Defenseman Danny DeKeyser of the Detroit Red Wings, a Macomb Township native and former Western Michigan standout, saw plenty of action in Wednesday's potentially record-setting spectacle, tallying 22:30 of ice time—among the most on the team—while going minus-2, meaning he was on the ice for both of the Maple Leafs' regulation goals. DeKeyser recorded two shots on goal, two hits and a hook against DeKeyser by Toronto's James van Riemsdyk gave Detroit a power play midway through the third period.

Toronto defeated Detroit, 3-2, in a shootout. 

As part of the buildup to the spectacle of the Winter Classic, HBO crews followed DeKeyser to his ritualistic pregame meal at Salvatore Scallopini in a segment of the third episode of its 24/7 sports documentary series profiling the Red Wings and Maple Leafs in the weeks leading up to Wednesday's game.