Keep the Winter in Winter Classic: Top 5 Destinations for the Outdoor Event

Every hockey fan dreamed of it when they were kid.

School was done, and winter break had begun. Besides the fact that there was no school, hockey was the second best thing for the next two weeks.

Pond hockey is what makes legends.

Orr, Gretzky, and Lemieux did it the old fashioned way, playing pond hockey and becoming the legends they became by playing in the outdoors—not going to hockey camp after hockey camp. 

Outdoor hockey is what made the sport, and every year on New Year's Day, we honor it by playing an outdoor game.

The big question is, where should they play it?

Here are five destinations for the next Winter Classics.

Note: These teams in here could not have been in a Winter Classic previously. Seriously, who wants to see them again?

1. Toronto Maple Leafs Vs. Montreal Canadiens, Destination: Doesn't Matter

Dave Sandford/Getty Images

TORONTO - DECEMBER 11: Francois Beauchemin #22 of the Toronto Maple Leafs battles for the puck with Andrei Kostitsyn #46 of the Montreal Canadiens during their NHL game at Air Canada Centre on December 11, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.(Photo By Dave

Really... this is a no-brainer.

These two teams hate each other, and they are part of the Original 6.

Need I say more?

2. New York Rangers Vs. New York Islanders, Destination: New York...

Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

UNIONDALE, NY - DECEMBER 02: Matt Moulson #26 of the New York Islanders skates against Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers at the Nassau Coliseum on December 2, 2010 in Uniondale, New York. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Another good game because neither of these teams have been in the Classic (I was disappointed when the Penguins were voted in again. C'mon NHL! Get another team!).

These two teams have a good rivalry going (although the Islanders have been...well...lacking skill in the past couple of years), and it's a wintry place.

I could see this being played in Yankee Stadium also because Giants Stadium isn't in New York, this making a "New York Classic" a misnomer.

3. Vancouver Canucks Vs. Ottawa Senators, Destination: Ottawa

Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images

OTTAWA, CANADA - NOVEMBER 11: Jarkko Ruutu #73;Chris Neil #25 and Chris Kelly #22 of the Ottawa Senators get into a scrum with Mario Bliznak #62;Kevin Bieksa #3;Alexander Edler #23;Alexandre Burrows #14;Roberto Luongo #1 and Tanner Glass #15 of the Vanco

The Capital of Canada—the stage is set!

Unfortunately, this rivalry isn't too serious.

But that's okay! It'd still be a good game. Vancouver has established themselves as a Stanley Cup Contender and have many good players. If the Senators could become a little better record-wise, this game could definitely happen.

4. Minnesota Wild Vs. Dallas Stars, Destination: Minnesota, Target Field

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

INGLEWOOD, CA - 1990: Basil McRae #17 of the Minnesota North Stars battles for the puck during a game against the Los Angeles Kings in the 1990-1991 NHL season at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

Grrrrr...Norm Green... (Sorry, I had to do that because I respect Minnesota Hockey).

This game has been hyped up in Minnesota for a long time.

The Stars and the Wild don't have a bitter Montreal and Toronto rivalry, but this would be a good game, especially if the Wild win (not because I'm a Wild fan, but because the Wild need some closure for their big loss.)

But then again, if there were no Dallas Stars, there would be no Minnesota Wild, and I wouldn't be writing this right now so...

Let's keep things the way they are.

5. Edmonton Oilers Vs. Calgary Flames, Destination: Edmonton

Dylan Lynch/Getty Images

EDMONTON, CANADA - OCTOBER 16: Florida Panthers defenseman Clay Wilson #3 protects the puck from a pressuring Edmonton Oilers center Sam Gagner #89 at the Scotiabank Saddledome on October 16, 2010 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Flames beat the Oilers

The 2nd most bitter rivalry in the NHL behind the Montreal/Toronto rivalry, I'd definitely watch this game, although the teams aren't the best.

But it's like watching the Army/Navy game in college football.

The teams used to be good (at different time periods) and they probably won't win the Cup soon, but we still love watching them go at it.

These two teams could churn out some pretty cool jerseys as well.