NHL Heritage Classic

The NHL Heritage Classic (current sponsorship name Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic ) is an open-air ice hockey game of the National Hockey League that has been held four times to date . The games are regular seasonal games that are played between Canadian teams at selected locations and with rules adapted to the weather conditions. It is in line with the NHL Winter Classic and the NHL Stadium Series .

history

The McMahon Stadium in the NHL Heritage Classic 2011

After a new attendance record for ice hockey games was set in 2001 in a meeting between the college teams of the University of Michigan and Michigan State University at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing , the National Hockey League decided to play a regular season game outdoors for the first time in 2003. As early as 1991, the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers had played a preparation game on the Las Vegas Strip in front of Caesars Palace .

The first NHL Heritage Classic was held on November 22, 2003 on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers league membership at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton , when the host Edmonton Oilers met the Montréal Canadiens . In front of a crowd of 57,167 people, the Canadiens won 4: 3. Years later, this idea was taken up again after the NHL Winter Classic had developed into a permanent event on New Years Day since 2008 . On February 20, 2011, the second NHL Heritage Classic in league history took place when the Calgary Flames met the Montréal Canadiens at McMahon Stadium . This was followed by the 2014 NHL Heritage Classic between the Vancouver Canucks and the Ottawa Senators at BC Place Stadium and the 2016 NHL Heritage Classic between the Winnipeg Jets and the Edmonton Oilers in Investors Group Field .

mode

In contrast to the indoor NHL games, the league allowed some minor rule changes for the outdoor games so that both teams had equal opportunities in adverse conditions. Due to the expected wind, the teams usually switch sides again after half of the final third, so that each team plays on one of the two goals for 30 minutes. In the five-minute overtime , due to an even score after 60 minutes, both teams change sides again after two and a half minutes. In the shootout , which occurs in the event of a tie after overtime, the two goalkeepers can choose the goal to be defended themselves.

Encounters

year	Stadion	place				spectator
2003	Commonwealth Stadium	Edmonton , Alberta	Canadiens de Montréal	4: 3	Edmonton Oilers	57,167
2011	McMahon Stadium	Calgary , Alberta	Canadiens de Montréal	0: 4	Calgary Flames	41,022
2014	BC Place Stadium	Vancouver , British Columbia	Ottawa Senators	4: 2	Vancouver Canucks	54.194
2016	Investors Group Field	Winnipeg , Manitoba	Edmonton Oilers	3-0	Winnipeg Jets	33,240
2019	Mosaic Stadium	Regina , Saskatchewan	Winnipeg Jets	2: 1 OT	Calgary Flames