This year’s 2011 NHL Winter Classic will be the fourth NHL regular season game played outdoors in the United States and fifth in NHL history.
The Canadian version called the Heritage Classic preceded the Winter Classic back in November of 2003. The Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens squared off in Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, Alberta. The Canadiens would come away victorious as temperatures would dip to minus-21 degrees with wind chill.
The Winter Classic is the idea of NBC VP Sports Executive Jon Miller. Miller pitched the idea to NHL executives, and they immediately embraced the idea.
The first Classic was held on New Year’s Day 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Buffalo, NY between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Buffalo Sabres. An NHL-record crowd of 71,217 was in attendance to witness this special event.
The game was an instant success with better than expected television ratings. The game didn't disappoint; it was as if NBC and the NHL had Hollywood write the script. Great playmaking, better goaltending, snow during the game and a shootout finish would add to the drama. Arguabl ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Alan Zlotorzynski
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