
By Mike Board
It’s unofficially, official — the Calgary Flames are slated to host an outdoor Winter Classic in 2011.
The NHL formally announced a game between the Flames and the Montreal Canadiens will be staged at McMahon Stadium on February 20, 2011, pending approval from the NHL Player’s Association.
Commissioner Gary Bettman made the annoucement in Chicago on Friday, on the eve of the Stanley Cup.
“The NHL also hopes to play an outdoor regular season game in Canada next season and will be discussing the plan with the Competition Committee in June,” said Bettman.
“The Heritage Classic would be played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, February 20 and would feature the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames. CBC and RDS would carry the game in Canada and VERSUS would telecast the outdoor match in the United States.
“Assuming plans for the game are approved, it will be the first NHL regular season game contested outdoors in Canada since the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Canadiens at first Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium on November 22, 2003.”
The NHLPA and the NHL had discussions about an outdoor game in Canada for last season but Bettman said there was not enough time to make a game a reality.
“Consider this a soft announcement,” said Bettman.
“It is my hope and expectation that this will not be an issue,” said Bettman of gaining approval from the NHLPA.
The game at McMahon would be the second outdoor game of the 2010 season for the NHL. The Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field on New Year’s Day.This will be the second time that a Canadian city has hosted an outdoor game after Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium set the standard in the inaugural Winter Classic between the Oilers and Canadiens in 2003.
This will also be the second time that the Pittsburgh Penguins have been involved in the Winter Classic after they faced the Buffalo Sabres at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008.