When the puck drops on the National Hockey League's Colorado Avalanche and Chicago Blackhawks game Saturday night (Oct. 10) in Chicago, an all-American officiating crew will be making the calls. Literally.

Registration for the general public, random ticket drawing for the 2010 Bridgestone/NHL Winter Classic® is now open atwww.nhl.com/winterclassictickets, and will run through Monday, October 5, 2009 at 11:59 a.m. ET. The open-air battle between long-time rivals the Boston Bruins® and Philadelphia Flyers® faces off at 1 p.m. ET on January 1, 2010 at Fenway Park in Boston.

Jeremy Roenick has done bit parts on television shows over the past several years -- an ironic twist considering nothing J.R. ever did in his legendary and theatrical 20-year career in the National Hockey League ever seemed rehearsed or scripted.
 
Roenick was all about improv as a player, and should continue to be in retirement.

Fifty-one Americans were selected during the 2009 National Hockey League Entry Draft this weekend in Montreal, including 14 in the first two rounds. Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie (Minn.) H.S.) was the first American drafted with the Minnesota Wild's first-round (16th overall) pick.

Hard shooting Brett Hull, the elegant Brian Leetch and long-time New Jersey Devils General Manager, Lou Lamoriello join Detroit Red Wings great Steve Yzerman and Luc Robitaille as the Hockey Hall of Fame induction class for 2009.

American Goalie Tim Thomas won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's top goalie for 2009 for his stellar season with the Boston Bruins.

Track the NHL statistics of the top-scoring American-born players and the best goaltenders courtesy NHL.com.

• Top scorers | Top goaltenders