It would seem a bit of shopping is in order for Kris Knoblauch.

The Kootenay Ice head coach will have to augment his wardrobe since learning his club will be facing the Spokane Chiefs at an outdoor game in January.

“I have the long johns, but I might have to get the fancy overcoat,” he said, noting, “it could be really cold, and as a coach you're not moving very much around the bench.”

The Chiefs announced the arrangement yesterday at Avista Stadium in Spokane Valley. At 1 p.m. on Jan. 15, the puck will drop there at the Rockstar Outdoor Hockey Classic, the Western Hockey League's first-ever outdoor game.

Chiefs' season ticket holders will be given priority for the seats, while tickets go on sale to the general public on Sept. 1.

Prices will range from US$25 to US$100. The top-end ‘all-inclusive' seats will allow ticket-holders to avail themselves of all the hot dogs and peanuts they can eat, a nod to the fact the game is being played at the home of the single-A baseball Indians.

The Ice are expecting just a limited number of tickets to become available for Kootenay fans.

The Chiefs first broached the possibility of the alfresco game earlier this summer. Because of their unique cross-conference rivalry, Kootenay and Spokane map out their five annual games ahead of the Eastern Conference scheduling in June.

“We were honoured when they approached us,” said Ice general manager Jeff Chynoweth.

“I just think it's great — it brings us back to our roots, and I couldn't be happier to be part of it.”

Hockey's out-of-doors origins perhaps haven't been explored by some members of the Ice, but growing up in Imperial, Sask., Knoblauch did all his early-season skating in the fresh air.

“I spent quite a bit of time out on the pond because the water outside used to freeze before the rink was open,” he said.

“Going to Spokane and playing in their rink is quite an experience as it is, but being outdoors will be definitely unique.”

In Davidson, Sask., Brayden McNabb used to spend countless hours on an outdoor sheet, as his father would flood a section of the family's yard during winters.

“I would spend tons of time out in the rink he made, so this will bring back lots of good memories,” said the 19-year-old defenceman.

“My dad would get lights so I could just keep going through the night, but mom would have to call me in for bedtime.”

McNabb found out about the Outdoor Classic on TV, noticing a note about it flash at the bottom of the screen. A quick check of whl.ca confirmed what he'd seen.

“I was pretty pumped about that,” he said. “You watch it every year in the NHL and you always want to play in those sorts of games and now we've got the opportunity. I'm definitely really excited.”

A Buffalo Sabres draftee, McNabb will have a rare opportunity to get tips on the outdoor experience from members of the NHL club; the success of the Sabres' game against the Pittsburgh Penguins New Year's Day 2008 sparked the recent trend for outdoor games in the pros.

“In their rink, they have lots of pictures when they had the outdoor game so it's pretty cool,” said McNabb. “I know some of the guys who were playing on the team so I'll definitely ask them about it and see how they liked it.”

The Calgary Hitmen recently announced they would host the Regina Pats at McMahon Stadium on Feb. 21., one day after the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens play at the home of the Stampeders.

Down in Spokane, the Chiefs have hired the same California-based company that installed the ice for the Michigan-Michigan State outdoor collegiate game in 2001, and the Salt Lake City Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies.

The Ice will not get a chance to practice on the surface in Spokane because of the early game time.

The game will be the second half of a home-and-home, with the Ice set to host the Chiefs on Jan. 14.

Chynoweth said the notion of an outdoor game could catch on if the economics are right.

“If the costs are prohibitive, they're not going to do it. If they can make it work, I'm sure more and more cities in the Western Hockey League would love to do that,” he said.

SHORT, SWEET SUMMER

Brayden McNabb has spent much of his off-season training in Saskatoon, but he was also in Buffalo for three weeks before jetting off to St. John's to attend the Team Canada world junior orientation camp in early August.

Considering Kootenay Ice training camp is just around the corner, it's made for a pretty quick summer for the blueliner.

“It's been short, but it's been good,” said McNabb, who felt he played well in front of Hockey Canada staff in Newfoundland.

“It was a neat experience going to St. John's. I've never been there before, so it was lots of fun.”

McNabb has made big gains in the gym with his 6-foot-4 frame now packing almost 220 pounds, nearly 15 pounds more than a year ago.

“I've been working out pretty hard, and with getting bigger you have to get quicker,” he said. “A guy like me, I need to be quicker so I've been focusing on that in the gym and also on the ice.”