Published on February 3, 2026 1:29 pm
Last Updated on February 3, 2026 1:57 pm
On Saturday, January 31, an organized outdoor hockey game — the 7th Annual Effingham Winter Classic — was held at Effingham Community Park. The event was organized by Effingham locals and longtime friends Jacob Blanchette and Hunter Stephens. The teams were made up of Effingham-area friends of Blanchette, and despite extremely cold weather, more than 50 people attended to watch and cheer.
This year’s game featured 12 players, plus several staff members running operations. Blanchette designed custom jerseys for both teams: the Effingham Lords and the Illinois Frontiers. A large custom banner reading “The Effingham Winter Classic” was also printed and hung on the fence of the baseball diamond.
The event opened with a full ceremony led by announcer Jacob Zimmerman, who commentated throughout the game over a loudspeaker and brought high energy to the entire day. Players were introduced one-by-one as the Chicago Bulls theme song played, skating onto the ice as their names were called. After introductions, Jacob Blanchette sang the Canadian National Anthem in French, followed by Hunter Stephens singing the American National Anthem. At the end of the anthem, fireworks were launched by four different people, creating a big moment for the crowd.
The night before, the organizers hosted a formal Draft Night, where players arrived in full suits. Stephens kicked things off by giving a presentation on the history of hockey. Blanchette gave a commissioner-style speech and went over rules, and Zimmerman announced who was drafted to each team while handing out jerseys.
The Winter Classic game was played in four periods, with Josh Blanchette serving as referee. There was also a dedicated clock operator and another person running the goal horn. The goalies were Ben Strullmyer and Alex Erickson — both of them notably wearing mostly baseball catcher’s gear, which the crowd loved.
The Frontiers jumped to an early 3-0 lead, with goals from captains Jacob Blanchette and Harrison Miller. The Lords were captained by George Scheidemantel and Aidan Bailey, and they battled back hard. By halftime, cheers echoed through the park —especially with a fan ringing a cowbell from the crowd.
Late in the game, the Lords held an 8-6 lead. In a dramatic move, Blanchette motioned to pull the Frontiers’ goalie, giving them an extra attacker. It paid off immediately with a goal to make it 8-7, sending the fans into a frenzy. Moments later, during a Lords possession, Will Kabbes checked Blanchette into the snow, and the moment escalated into a playful “old-school” hockey fight — four players got involved, and it looked more like a WWE-style scuffle. It got huge laughs and smiles from both fans and players, and no one was injured — in the fight or throughout the day.
The Lords ultimately won 9–7, and first- and second-place trophies were presented to both teams. Plans are already being made for next year’s Effingham Winter Classic.