Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/727659
4 I T ' S A C A N A D I A N T H I N G , E H ? THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 WINNIPEG FREE PRESS I S S U E #1 2003 Heritage Classic Site: Edmonton, Commonwealth Stadium Teams: Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens Winner: Canadiens, 4-2 Attendance: 57,167 Temperature: -19 C 2008 Amp Energy NHL Winter Classic Site: Buffalo, Ralph Wilson Stadium Teams: Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins Winner: Penguins, 2-1 (SO) Attendance: 71,217 Temperature: 1 C 2009 Bridgestone Winter Classic Site: Chicago, Wrigley Field Teams: Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings Winner: Red Wings, 6-4 Attendance: 40,818 Temperature: 0 C 2010 Bridgestone Winter Classic Site: Boston, Fenway Park Teams: Boston Bruins and Philadelphia Flyers Winner: Bruins, 2-1 (OT) Attendance: 38,112 Temperature: 4 C 2011 Bridgestone Winter Classic Site: Pittsburgh, Heinz Field Teams: Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins Winner: Capitals, 3-1 Attendance: 68,111 Temperature: 10 C 2011 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic Site: Calgary, McMahon Stadium Teams: Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens Winner: Flames, 4-0 Attendance: 41,022 Temperature: -9 C 2012 Bridgestone Winter Classic Site: Philadelphia, Citizens Bank Park Teams: New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers Winner: Rangers, 3-2 Attendance: 46,967 Temperature: 5 C 2014 Bridgestone Winter Classic Site: Ann Arbor, Michigan Stadium Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings Winner: Maple Leafs, 3-2 (SO) Attendance: 105,491 Temperature: -11 C 2014 Coors Light Stadium Series Site: Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium Teams: Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings Winner: Ducks, 3-0 Attendance: 54,099 Temperature: 17 C 2014 Coors Light Stadium Series Site: New York, Yankee Stadium Teams: New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils Winner: Rangers, 7-3 Attendance: 50,105 Temperature: -3.9 C 2014 Coors Light Stadium Series Site: New York, Yankee Stadium Teams: New York Rangers and New York Islanders Winner: Rangers, 2-1 Attendance: 50,027 Temperature: -5.6 C 2014 Coors Light Stadium Series Site: Chicago, Soldier Field Teams: Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh Penguins Winner: Blackhawks, 5-1 Attendance: 62,921 Temperature: -8.6 C 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic Site: Vancouver, B.C. Place Stadium Teams: Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks Winner: Senators, 4-2 Attendance: 54,194 Temperature: N/A, roof closed 2015 Bridgestone Winter Classic Site: Washington, D.C., Nationals Park Teams: Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks Winner: Capitals, 3-2 Attendance: 42,832 Temperature: 6 C 2015 Coors Light Stadium Series Site: Santa Clara, Calif., Levi's Stadium Teams: Los Angeles Kings and San Jose Sharks Winner: Kings, 2-1 Attendance: 70,205 Temperature: 14 C 2016 Bridgestone Winter Classic Site: Foxborough, Mass., Gillette Stadium Teams: Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins Winner: Canadiens, 5-1 Attendance: 67,246 Temperature: 5 C 2016 Coors Light Stadium Series Site: Minneapolis, TCF Bank Stadium Teams: Minnesota Wild and Chicago Blackhawks Winner: Minnesota, 6-1 Attendance: 50,426 Temperature: 2 C 2016 Coors Light Stadium Series Site: Denver, Coors Field Teams: Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche Winner: Red Wings, 4-3 Attendance: 50,095 Temperature: 2 C By Judy Owen for the Winnipeg Free Press When Shawn Horcoff played in the first National Hockey League regular-season outdoor game in 2003, he was shocked. It wasn't from the -19 C temperature with a severe windchill at puck drop in Edmonton on Nov. 22, rather it was the sight of the 57,167 fans at Commonwealth Stadium. "Walking out there for the first time was pretty amazing," the former Oilers forward told reporters after the game, which the Montreal Canadiens won 4-2. "Looking in the stands and seeing that many people was such a big thrill, something that will probably never happen again." Well, it has happened again — 17 times since that first game. The league's 18 events have included the Heritage Classic and also games titled the Bridgestone Winter Classic or Coors Light Stadium Series. The first outdoor game in the United States was the 2008 Amp Energy Winter Classic between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., played on New Year's Day during snow flurries with a game-time temperature of a comfortable 1 C. The largest crowd to date was 105,491 fans, who watched the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Detroit Red Wings 3-2 in a shootout in the 2014 Bridgestone Winter Classic at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Total attendance for the 18 games has been 1,021,055 fans, who have watched in every type of weather from the -19 C in Edmonton to light rain to snow flurries to a balmy 17 C in sunny Los Angeles, Calif. One game wasn't technically outdoors. Vancouver held the 2014 Tim Hortons Heritage Classic at B.C. Place Stadium and the retractable roof was closed. When the Winnipeg Jets host the Oilers for this year's Tim Hortons Heritage Classic on Oct. 23 at Investors Group Field, the Jets will be the 22nd NHL franchise to play in a regular- season outdoor game. It's also the first game held in the month of October. Three more outdoor games are scheduled for this season — a special Centennial Classic Jan. 1, 2017 in Toronto with the Maple Leafs hosting Detroit, a Winter Classic Jan. 2 in Missouri between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks, and a Stadium Series Feb. 25 in Pittsburgh involving the Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers. ❚ ROAR OF THE CROWD Here's where outdoor games have taken place, with the opponents, final score, attendance and average temperature at puck drop: FACTS JUST THE *Price includes tickets to both NHL Heritage Classic™ Alumni and NHL Heritage Classic™ games. **Ticket prices include GST: applicable fees may apply. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and NHL Classic name and logo are trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL Team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2016. All Rights Reserved. $185 $265 $339 $399 $479 $669 WEST GATE 4 GATE 3 GATE 1 GATE 2 EAST 200 LEVEL IN V E ST ORS GROU P F IE L D SE AT ING CH A RT The Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic team does a flyby during opening ceremonies for the NHL Heritage Classic, between the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens, in Calgary, Alta., Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011. Photo by LARRY MACDOUGAL /THE CANADIAN PRESS OU TDOOR HOCKEY DRAWS SUPER-SIZED FAN BASE