Hockey fans all over the U.S. who tune in to watch the NHL Winter Classic 2009 this New Year’s Day will have the chance to win the hockey trip of a lifetime!

The contest challenges U.S. television viewers and in-stadium attendees of the game to identify the NHL player who is missing the Reebok logo from his jersey.

If you’re at the game
You’re already lucky, but to participate in the sweepstakes, Reebok will provide everyone in attendance at the NHL Winter Classic 2009 at Wrigley Field between the Detroit Red Wings and the Chicago Blackhawks with a pair of binoculars to find the player without the Reebok logo on his jersey.

To participate, in-stadium attendees must:

• Text the word “Reebok” to 81812 OR call the toll-free number, (877) 645-8181
• Provide their seat location to a reply text
• Provide the name of the player without the Reebok logo in a second reply text

If you’re watching the game on television

• Register at Reebokhockey.com and fill out the entry form

According to the official press release:

The contest will run throughout the first and second periods. When the second period buzzer sounds, all participants who correctly identify the player will be entered into a random drawing. The in-stadium winner will be announced via the stadium video board during the third period. The winner viewing on television will be notified by phone during the third period. The winning viewer’s name will be posted on Reebokhockey.com on Jan. 2.

Each winner will receive a Stanley Cup trip for four that includes airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation and tickets to a Stanley Cup Final Game where they will watch with an NHL legend. The trip is topped off with a private viewing of the Stanley Cup and a $1,000 NHL.com shopping spree.

To be eligible, fans must be 18 years or older and legal residents of the U.S. A full set of rules and regulations will be distributed with the binoculars to fans entering the stadium.

Viewers at home will find the full rules and regulations when they register at Reebokhockey.com.

For an interesting bit of trivia, no two teams have played against each other as many times as the Red Wings and the Blackhawks, according to the press release announcing this sweepstakes.

The Winter Classic 2009 will mark the 701st matchup between the two Original Six teams. Broadcast options The face-off will begin at 1 p.m. ET/Noon CT. NBC will provide live broadcast coverage of the game in the U.S. In Canada, CBC and RDS will also provide live broadcast coverage.

The NHL Network in U.S. and Canada will provide live coverage including team outdoor practices on Dec. 31 as well as pre- and post-game shows on New Year’s Day.

After last weekend’s nail-biter of a Red Wings / Blackhawks game here at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, I’m pretty excited to see what happens next between these two teams in what will surely be the hockey-spectacle of the season. And, since I can’t get enough of this promo, here it is again. I honestly get more excited for the game every time I see this: