Hockey rarely dominates sports headlines at any time, especially in late January, but last weekend was undoubtedly a special hockey weekend, since both Dodger Stadium and Yankee Stadium hosted nationally televised outdoor hockey.

On Saturday, the Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings continued their rivalry in front of over 55,000 fans at Dodger Stadium. Despite concerns about the 60 degree weather and potential bad ice conditions, the event was a great success. The organizers of this Stadium Series embraced the quirkiness of the event with beach balls in the stands, a beach volleyball court in left field and a musical stage in right field. Vin Scully and Wayne Gretzky were involved in the impressive pregame ceremonies, and the USC marching band ushered the teams inside. KISS even performed before the game started.

The game itself did not feature much drama, as the Ducks dominated the Kings for a 3-0 win. Ducks keeper Jonas Hiller stymied the Kings and led the Ducks to the best record in the entire league. Meanwhile, the Kings are clinging to a playoff spot in the rigorous Western Conference. The main takeaways from this special night at Dodger Stadium were that hockey has a strong following in Southern California and that this event will likely inspire more Californians to follow the game.

The focus at Yankee Stadium was  more on tumultuous weather conditions and on the rivalry in the game itself, with the stage set for a fierce clash between the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils. Glare from the sun delayed the start for 71 minutes, but the sky gave way to clouds and even some snow. Unlike past low-scoring meetings, the teams combined to score 10 goals.

The Devils scored three first period goals to lead 3-1 late in the first period, and the Rangers looked vulnerable. That changed dramatically in the next 23 minutes, however, as New York scored five goals against the Devils’ Martin Brodeur to gain a 6-3 edge by the second intermission. With so many goals, the sold-out crowd had plenty of chances to roar, but Rangers supporters were particularly giddy when Brodeur was pulled after allowing six goals. The Rangers finished the afternoon with a memorable 7-3 win, made even more special by the weather’s impact. And, in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, New York fans will happily take the victory.

The NHL introduced the first outdoor Winter Classic game on New Year’s Day in 2008, and the positive response inspired the league to make it an annual tradition. Teams would generally wear custom jerseys for the games, and the novelty of outdoor hockey made it an annual hit. In light of that success, the NHL decided to create a Stadium Series of five additional outdoor games this year. While the league will probably hold fewer additional outdoor games in future seasons, it seems that fans have embraced outdoor hockey with open arms. At the very least, the past weekend has been a spectacle for hockey purists and casual fans alike.