Last week’s announcement of the 2013 Great Lakes Invitational — featuring MSU, Michigan, Michigan Tech and Western Michigan to be played outdoors at Comerica Park, leading up to the 2013 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor — reaffirms the commitment to hockey in outdoor venues.

MSU hockey head coach Tom Anastos said much of the success of outdoor hockey can be attributed to Athletics Director Mark Hollis and the blueprint he set forth in outdoor hockey culture.

“This whole outdoor craze started here at Michigan State, which I don’t think often times the Mark Hollises of the world get the credit for because there was no blueprint back then when it was started,” Anastos said. “Once it was pulled off, everybody hopped on the bandwagon, but the reality was that back then, there was no blueprint to do this so that event to me, there will never be one like it.”

Since the Cold War game, outdoor hockey has taken center stage annually on New Year’s Day for the NHL’s Winter Classic, where two of the sport’s premier teams face off in outdoor venues including Chicago’s Wrigley Field and Boston’s Fenway Park.

This year’s game in Ann Arbor features the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium, in addition to the NHL Alumni Showdown at Comerica Park, as part of the Hockeytown Winter Festival.

Anastos said the NHL’s commitment to outdoor festivities will go a long way toward growing the sport and making it more available to a wider audience.

“The NHL has done a great job of trying to find ways to make their Winter Classic a better and more inclusive experience, and so I think it’s only fitting that it’s coming back to Detroit,” Anastos said.

“Obviously, they have a very passionate lineup both for a U.S. team and a Canadian team to be part of it in a border city.”