Wayne Gretzky, the most prolific scorer in NHL history, took center stage at loanDepot park in Miami on Friday, offering a masterclass in storytelling and perspective ahead of the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic. The Great One joined former New York Rangers enforcer Nick Fotiu for the Discover Face-Off Panel, part of the Enterprise NHL PreGame Outdoor Fan Festival, where he marveled at the sea of jerseys representing both the Florida Panthers and Rangers.
Gazing out at the enthusiastic crowd gathered under the Florida sun, Gretzky couldn't help but reflect on how far the sport has come since his playing days. "This is amazing how our sport is growing," he remarked, his voice carrying the weight of someone who has witnessed hockey's evolution firsthand. The scene before him—passionate fans in a warm-weather market—validated what he's been preaching for years: hockey's appeal transcends geography and climate.
The significance of the moment wasn't lost on anyone present. This Winter Classic marks the first time the NHL has staged a regular-season outdoor game in Florida, a milestone that would have seemed unthinkable decades ago. For Gretzky, who spent years battling the perception that hockey belonged only to cold-weather cities, the event represented a personal victory. He recalled countless conversations where he'd insist that places like Buffalo, Minnesota, Boston, and Chicago were hockey strongholds, but that the game was thriving in unexpected territories too.
"It's great when you go into Buffalo and Minnesota and Boston and Chicago, but hockey is big down in Florida and in California," Gretzky emphasized. "People play the game, and they love the game and it's great to see the turnout today." His words resonated with the diverse crowd, many of whom had grown up in the Sunshine State and never known a time without NHL hockey in their backyard. The presence of both Panthers and Rangers supporters created a vibrant tapestry that defied old stereotypes about regional loyalties.
The panel discussion, moderated by "NHL on TNT" analyst Darren Pang, became a bridge between eras as Gretzky and Fotiu exchanged memories and insights. Pang, a former goaltender himself, expertly guided the conversation between these two legends who represented different facets of hockey culture. Fotiu, who carved out a 13-season NHL career from 1976 to 1989, spent eight of those campaigns with the Rangers during two separate stints. The Staten Island native brought a different perspective, representing the traditional Northeast hockey culture that Gretzky helped expand beyond its original borders.
When conversation turned to outdoor hockey experiences, Fotiu recalled his sole appearance in such a setting—the alumni game preceding the 2012 Winter Classic at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia. His eyes lit up describing the surreal experience of facing off against Flyers legends, including goaltender Bernie Parent. "It was unbelievable," Fotiu remembered. "They had Bernie Parent. It was like the old Flyers. It was unbelievable. … And (coach) Mike Keenan wanted to win so bad. I said, 'Let the Flyers win. What are you kidding me?' This is unbelievable. It's great for hockey."
Gretzky, however, could top that story with not one, but two vastly different outdoor hockey experiences from his own legendary career. During his 20 seasons with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and Rangers, he participated in the full spectrum of conditions. The first came in 1991 when the Kings faced the Rangers in a preseason exhibition at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas—a game played in scorching desert heat that pushed the limits of what was possible for hockey. Years later, he returned for the 2003 Heritage Classic alumni game at Edmonton's Commonwealth Stadium, where temperatures plummeted to extreme lows that tested even the hardiest Canadian souls.
"I had 100 degrees (in Las Vegas), and I had a minus-40 (in Edmonton), so I played in both of them," Gretzky said with a characteristic grin. "Trust me, the 100 degrees was a lot more fun." The crowd laughed, appreciating the honesty from someone who'd experienced hockey's geographical extremes. His Las Vegas game, often forgotten in the annals of outdoor hockey history, actually predated the modern Winter Classic era and served as a precursor to the NHL's willingness to experiment with unconventional venues. That 1991 contest, while just a preseason affair, planted seeds of possibility that have blossomed into events like the one in Miami.
As the panel wrapped up, attention shifted to the main event. At puck drop, the temperature hovered at a comfortable 63.1 degrees Fahrenheit at field level—a stark contrast to both Gretzky's Vegas heat and Edmonton freeze, but perfect for the spectacle. Fans had been enjoying the pregame festivities throughout the day, with the stadium's location in the heart of Miami providing a picturesque backdrop that challenged every stereotype about hockey's proper place. The loanDepot park setting, normally home to Major League Baseball's Marlins, had been transformed into a hockey oasis.
The Enterprise NHL PreGame Outdoor Fan Festival offered attendees much more than just the panel discussion. Interactive experiences allowed fans to test their own skills with the hardest shot competition and accuracy challenges, giving them a taste of what professional players experience. Classic bubble hockey tables provided nostalgic entertainment for families, while the Stanley Cup itself made an appearance, gleaming in the Florida sunshine. Its presence carried extra weight given that the Panthers had hoisted the trophy in each of the past two seasons, cementing their status as a burgeoning hockey powerhouse rather than a curiosity.
For the Panthers organization, hosting the Winter Classic represents the culmination of decades of growth and perseverance. Once considered an expansion experiment likely to fail, Florida has developed into a model franchise with a passionate fanbase and on-ice success. The opportunity to showcase their market on hockey's biggest regular-season stage validates every youth program, every outreach initiative, and every belief that hockey could take root in fertile, if unconventional, soil. The team's back-to-back championships have silenced critics who once questioned the viability of hockey in the south.
Gretzky's presence lent the entire affair an air of historical significance. As the NHL's all-time leader with 2,857 points, his endorsement of warm-weather hockey carries more weight than perhaps anyone else's. He didn't just talk about growth—he helped create it, first by taking the Kings to the Stanley Cup Final in 1993, then through his ambassadorship of the game long after his final shift. His vision of hockey as a truly national, even international, sport has materialized in ways that exceed his own predictions.
The 2026 Winter Classic in Miami isn't just another outdoor game; it's a statement about hockey's future. As the sun set over loanDepot park and the lights came up for the Panthers and Rangers, fans from both sides could agree on one thing: the sport they love knows no boundaries. Whether it's played on a frozen pond in Minnesota or a baseball diamond in Miami, hockey's essence remains the same—and its reach continues to expand in ways that even the Great One finds amazing. The event serves as a testament to the NHL's successful southern strategy and a preview of where the game is headed in the decades to come.