Lace up the skates and crack open a few beers.

It’s a rite of passage when a player gets benched in front of his hometown friends and family during an outdoor NHL game.

Wait, what?

That’s exactly what ex-Detroit Red Wings star and Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Chelios claims happened during the 2009 Winter Classic, after being benched by ever-abrasive coach Mike Babcock at Wrigley Field in Chelios’ hometown of Chicago.

“He tried to healthy scratch me in the outdoor game in Wrigley Field against Chicago because he knew it was my hometown,” Chelios, who played 26 seasons in the NHL, including 10 in Detroit, said Monday on Barstool Sports’ Spittin’ Chiclets podcast. “Just things that were so unnecessary just to show that he’s the boss.”

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Chris Chelios wears a sweater signed by teammates against the Colorado Avalanche at Coors Field in Denver on Feb. 26, 2016.

DAVID ZALUBOWSKI ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chelios, who last played in 2009-10, played five shifts and received just 1:57 of ice time before being benched, according to the box score of the game.

And then he said he started pounding beers.

“Again, and you know it’s funny,” Chelios continued. “I’m sitting there. Second period and my two sons were about 40 feet, you know, sitting on the boards and they’re looking at me going, ‘What’s going on?’

“And I look at them. I tip my glass like you know my cup, to get me a beer. So my two boys were handing me beers the whole game. And then (Brad) McCrimmon tried to get me to go out there with a minute left to kill a penalty. I said, ‘Not a chance.’ ”

WEEK TWO – PLAYOFFS

SHARKS   7    WINGS   3

The formidable Sharks get back on track after last weeks surprising double dip loss!   Sub Ballach with the trick!  Fellow sub Dave Rupprecht, Zach Wagner and Dougie Roehl with singles.  Goaler Billy Schaugg with a light workload.  Nate Wagner, Chris Koehler and Terry Boyette score for the Wings.  “Black” Jack Prauix with the assist on Boyette’s goal, combining over 140 years of seniority.

HAWKS   6     HABS   5

Run and gun this game, as Mike Riddle and sub Poolton both score twice for the victorious Hawks.  Billy “The Dark” Knight and Paul Vioalssi also with goals.  Charlie Eslinger scores twice for the Habs.  Singles for Paul Erikson, and the Robs – Hergott and Rowling.

BRUINS   3     FLYERS   2

Jeff Steiber ties the game up 2-2 with three minutes left in the game for the Flyers.  Two minutes later, forward Chris Robillard breaks free and buries the game winner for the Bruins!  Jim Robie and Steve Lemieux also score for the Bruins.  Trevor Wrobel with the Flyers initial marker.  Sub goalie Tommy Gazley was outstanding in nets for the Bruins!

BRUINS   3    SHARKS   3

A well played game as the score indicates.  Mike Garlick with all three Sharks goals, as they are now tied for first with the Habs.  Bruins – Billy Reiss, Chris Robillard and Brian Hamlin.  Both former pro puck stoppers – Tommy Gazley(Hershey Bears and Muskegon Lumberjacks) and Billy Schaugg(Germany) stood tall in nets!  Billy Reiss hooks Zach Wagner, who takes exception and chops Billy back, as they both hit the box.  Immediately exiting the box, Wagner voices his displeasure to the referee and incurs a minor unsportsmanlike penalty.

FLYERS   3    HAWKS   0

Trevor Wrobel goes top shelf twice for the Flyers.  The Flyers other top gun, Jeff Steiber with their final goal.  Steve Bissell with the well earned whitewash!  No Hawks sightings.

HABS   7     WINGS   4

Not too happy with the game one loss. The big guy gets fired up, as power forward Mr. Rob Rowling scores four times!  Joe Robillard with the deuce.  Charlie Eslinger with an empty netter.  Chris Koehler, John Crisi, Nate Wagner and sub Anthony Amato(Also 3 Helpers) tally for the Wings, who allow 14 goals today in their doubleheader loss.

Which NHL HOF’er played on more Stanley Cup-winning teams (eight) than any other player who never played for the Montreal Canadiens; Henri Richard (11), Jean Beliveau (10), Yvan Cournoyer (10) and Claude Provost (9) won their Cups with the Canadiens.

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Red Kelly