The NHL Winter Classic became a "postcard for Minnesota" on Saturday night at Target Field, where the Blues defeated the Wild 6-4 in front of a "mostly loyal sellout crowd announced at 38,619." A minus-6-degree puck drop made this the "coldest outdoor game in NHL history" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/2). Nobody could have "scripted a better scene." With "nearly 40,000 fans packed into the stands, the Minneapolis skyline twinkling in the background, and the temperature hovering around minus-10 degrees all night long," the Winter Classic was "always going to be something for Minnesotans to remember" (St. Paul PIONEER PRESS, 1/2). Other than the final score, "everything" was a "smash hit" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/2).

There was "all kinds of hoopla" around the Blues once they arrived at the ballpark. There was an on-field concert by country singer Thomas Rhett between the first and second periods, the introduction of the U.S. Olympics women’s hockey team in between the second and third periods, a "lumberjack competition in what normally is the outfield." Also, six small rinks in center field featured "periodic youth hockey games -- some of which took place during the NHL game" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 1/2).

Alabama and Georgia "will run it back one more time this season, this time for college football’s top prize," as the Jan. 10 CFP championship game at Lucas Oil Field will be a rematch of the SEC title game. Georgia "opened as a 2.5-point favorite" for next Monday's contest in "chilly Indianapolis" (AL.com, 12/31). Georgia's 34-11 win over Michigan in Friday's Orange Bowl CFP semifinal came in front of a "Michigan-heavy crowd of 66,839 at Hard Rock Stadium." Georgia led 27-3 at halftime, the "second-largest margin through 30 minutes of a playoff game" (MIAMI HERALD, 1/1). Alabama topped Cincinnati 27-6 in the other semifinal, and the "lopsided result in the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium seemed inevitable because lopsided results have become a playoff tradition" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 1/1). Attendance in Arlington was 76,313 (Mult., 1/1).

More on CFP's lack of parity:

• Fans "have grown weary of the blowouts and mismatches that seem to be endemic to the sport’s postseason" (USA TODAY, 1/1).

• A common refrain in recent years has been that "the BCS was right, that there aren’t four teams deserving of a shot at the national championship" (THEATHLETIC.com, 12/31).

Saturday's Rose Bowl drew a "mostly pro-Utah crowd of 87,842." Ohio State won the game 48-45 (L.A. TIMES, 1/2). Utes fans "clearly outnumbered Buckeyes ones" in Pasadena (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 1/2). Some estimates were as high as 60,000 Utah fans "on hand on Saturday" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 12/31). Below are attendance figures from the New Year's Six bowl games:

The Maple Leafs and Senators returned to action for the first time since the NHL’s expanded schedule pause over the holidays; the Leafs "thumped" the Sens 6-0 inside a Scotiabank Arena "devoid of spectators because of new provincial COVID-19 regulations." Saturday’s contest in Toronto was played without fans after the Ontario government announced Thursday that attendance at indoor events would "be capped at 1,000 spectators or 50 per cent -- whichever is less." Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment subsequently said that it would "operate without sold tickets for games, save for league and team requirements, for the next three weeks." The blue tarps used throughout '20-21 were "back over a portion of the lower bowl behind the benches to provide a more esthetically pleasing backdrop for TV viewers," and "canned crowd noise returned" (CP, 1/1).

Meanwhile, the NHL has postponed eight more games in Canada due to "attendance restrictions implemented in response to a rapid rise in COVID-19 cases." The NHL said that the games will be "rescheduled for later in the season when restrictions may be eased or lifted" (CP, 12/31).

The WNBA Las Vegas Aces have hired "WNBA legend" and current Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon as their coach. Hammon will "finish the season" with the Spurs, and then "take over in Las Vegas" before the '22 season. The contract is for five years and makes her the WNBA’s "highest-paid coach." Former Aces coach Bill Laimbeer will "remain with the organization and assist in roster construction with free agency beginning next week" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 1/1).

Aces Owner Mark Davis, who bought the franchise in January, already has "made multiple moves," including bringing in former LSU coach Nikki Fargas as team President and former WNBAer Jennifer Azzi as Chief Business Development Officer. Davis seems "committed to the Aces being a gold-standard-type franchise for the WNBA" (ESPN.com, 12/31).

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NASCAR driver Brandon Brown may have "jumped the gun" in publicizing photos of his No. 68, red-white-and-blue Chevrolet sponsored by LGBcoin, a "near-valueless cryptocurrency inspired by the slogan 'Let’s go Brandon!'" According to a NASCAR employee, it has "not yet approved the LGBcoin sponsorship." NASCAR must "approve all racecars’ sponsors and paint schemes." Based on previous comments by NASCAR President Steve Phelps, the racing body could be "hesitant to approve the divisive message, however coded." Phelps during a season-ending news conference said that NASCAR would "block any instance in which the phrase ["Let's go Brandon"] was used in conjunction with NASCAR’s logo or trademarks" (WASHINGTON POST, 1/1).

However, Brown's Brandonbilt Motorsports team in a statement has claimed that the sponsorship was approved by NASCAR, adding it "would not attempt to circumvent that process." The statement continues, "We received written approval on the sponsors from a NASCAR Racing Operations official on December 26. ... The sponsor approval was unambiguous -- the first four words of the email from NASCAR state, 'The sponsors are approved'" (SBJ). 

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a memo teams "asked that all home teams hold a moment of silence" in honor of the late John Madden for Week 17. The moment of silence will come "just prior to the national anthem." The memo included a suggested in-stadium announcement that reads, "Ladies and gentlemen, earlier this week the NFL family lost a Hall of Fame coach, broadcaster and friend with the passing of John Madden. At this time, please stand and join in a moment of silent reflection in memory of John Madden, who had an indelible impact on football, the NFL and generations of fans." There will then be a "seven-second moment of silence before the anthem begins." There will "likely be even more tributes to come over the Week 17 slate," especially with organizations that Madden "had a direct impact on" (CBSSPORTS.com, 12/30).

Two Cal Poly universities -- San Luis Obispo and Pomona -- made a "last-minute adjustment" to their annual Rose Parade float to honor Madden, a Cal Poly alum. The tribute to him in the parade was said to be "subtle," but "keen eyes" should have been able to spot it. In the middle of float rested a small football with Madden’s name and the slogan “Ride High,” a reference to Cal Poly's fight song (L.A. TIMES, 12/31).

The Kraken and Canucks are giving 22-year-old Nadia Popovici a $10,000 scholarship for medical school, thanks to her identifying a cancerous mole on the back of Canucks Equipment Manager Brian "Red'' Hamilton's neck. Hamilton during the Canucks' Oct. 23 game in Seattle "noticed a woman behind the bench pressing her phone against the plexiglass." The message on her phone expressed concern that she "believed a mole on the back of Hamilton's neck was cancerous and that he needed to get it checked." It turned out she was "right." The Canucks on Saturday posted a letter from Hamilton "retelling the story of how all this played out and expressing his thanks and desire to meet the woman in question." Within the hour, both the Canucks and Kraken said that the 22-year-old Popovici had "been contacted." The pair were "able to meet" about 90 minutes before the Kraken and Canucks played on Saturday night (AP, 1/2).

Former NFL coach Dan Reeves died early Saturday at the age of 77 because of "complications from a long illness." Reeves coached the Falcons from '97-03, leading them to more than 200 wins, 50 playoff appearances and two Super Bowl victories. Super Bowl XXXIII was one of nine he appeared in as a player, assistant coach, or head coach (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 1/1).

Reeves also served as the Broncos' coach from '81-92, and his 110 regular-season wins with the team are "second in Broncos history." He also "led the franchise" to three Super Bowl appearances in the '80's, and was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in '14 (DENVER POST, 1/1).

As part of the NFL’s "Inspire Change" initiative that began in '17, the league during this week and next week's games "will highlight social justice work done by the NFL, teams and players" (NEWSDAY, 1/1).

Fans at Fiserv Forum "once again will be required to wear masks" as of this past weekend. Masking "was required of all arena events patrons until June, during the Bucks playoff run." Since then, masking has been recommended but not enforced, and "few fans have been wearing masks in the stands" (Milwaukee JOURNAL SENTINEL, 12/29).

“This is always something I’ve been thinking about. It came to a point where I get it out of the way and not deal with it. There are questions I still have. 90 percent of our league is vaccinated and we’re still going down like flies” -- Wizards G Bradley Beal, on recently getting vaccinated despite being one of the NBA’s higher-profile holdouts (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/2).

The N.Y. TIMES profiles SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey: "These days, no one is exercising more sway over college sports. ... He ushered Oklahoma and Texas through SEC membership talks. He is helping lead a committee that will spend the coming months weighing new rules for Division I, the N.C.A.A.’s wealthiest and most prominent tier. He is an architect of a potential College Football Playoff expansion that could make it the most valuable event in intercollegiate athletics."

More on college football:

• Rose Bowl's return to Pasadena gives fans a sense of normalcy.

• Citrus Bowl celebrates 75 years of "community, philanthropy and memories."

Also:

• Science teacher helped Cowboys master the art of Zoom meetings.

• MLB columnist offers 22 ideas to "improve baseball in 2022 and beyond."

• Square Enix president sees more NFTs in future of video games.