2011 Heritage Classic
Encyclopedia
The 2011 Heritage Classic was a regular season
outdoor National Hockey League
(NHL) game between the Montreal Canadiens
and the Calgary Flames
. The game was played at McMahon Stadium
in Calgary
, Alberta
, Canada
on February 20, 2011. The Flames defeated the Canadiens by a score of 4–0 before a crowd of 41,022 spectators. It was just the second time in six NHL outdoor games that the home team won.
It was the second Heritage Classic game, held seven seasons after the original. It was also the first time the NHL held two outdoor games in one season, as it followed the 2011 NHL Winter Classic
in Pittsburgh. In spite of criticism that playing two such games in a season would lessen the spectacle, the Heritage Classic eclipsed all previous NHL outdoor games in sponsorship. The game's title sponsor was Tim Hortons
.
Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff
was named the game's first star
after making 39 saves to record the first shutout
in an NHL outdoor game. His teammates Rene Bourque
and Alex Tanguay
were the second and third stars respectively. Weather conditions were a major story during the game, as the wind chill
made the temperature feel like −21 °C on the ice, and forced the arena staff to manually flood the ice between periods to avoid damaging the ice surface.
The weekend featured numerous other games, which the Flames branded as the "Faceoff in the Foothills". It began on Friday, February 18 with an American Hockey League
(AHL) matchup that saw Calgary's top minor league affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat
, lose to the Oklahoma City Barons
3–1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. An alumni game was held on the Saturday between a team composed mostly of players on Calgary's 1989 Stanley Cup
winning team against alumni of the Canadiens. It ended on Family Day
Monday when the Regina Pats
defeated the Calgary Hitmen
in a Western Hockey League
(WHL) game at McMahon that set a junior world attendance record of 20,888.
. The league's decision to play two outdoor games in one season was met with criticism from those who argued the NHL risks diluting the unique nature of the events. It was also argued that the Heritage Classic was the league's attempt to appease Canadian fans and media who were upset that all previous Winter Classics featured only American teams. Commissioner Gary Bettman
dismissed both arguments as "absurd", but agreed that the two games are intended for different markets.
Bettman stated the Winter Classic is designed for American television and to promote the game in the United States, but that the league sought to hold another game for its Canadian partners. He said the league delayed on hosting a second outdoor game until it felt it was capable of holding three significant events in a two-month span, including the All-Star Game.
Corporate support for the Heritage Classic exceeded expectations; Chief Operating Officer John Collins announced that the league had gained more sponsorship revenue for Calgary's game than it had the Winter Classic. While the league would not commit to holding a third Heritage Classic, Collins admitted that nearly every team had expressed interest in holding their own game and that title sponsor Tim Hortons
had signed a multi-year deal with the league.
in Boston.
When the league finally approved Calgary for 2011, the team considered where to host the game. They thought about building temporary stadiums west of the city limits or in Lake Louise
and hosting the game at the foot of the Canadian Rockies
. The team dismissed the latter idea as impractical, and settled on McMahon Stadium
. The usual home of the Calgary Stampeders
and the University of Calgary
Dinos
football teams, McMahon has a standard capacity of 35,650 but additional seating added in the north end zone pushed the capacity for this game over 41,000.
It was the first outdoor game for the Flames in their franchise history but marked the second time the Canadiens participated in a NHL outdoor game. Montreal defeated the Edmonton Oilers
in the original Heritage Classic, held in Edmonton in 2003.
The Flames were inundated with complaints from season ticket holders upset by their seat assignments and the cost of tickets. King responded to the concerns by noting that the league had purchased the game from the Flames, and the team was given a limited allotment of seats for its ticket holders. He also noted that it was possible that the event would lose money, even at ticket prices ranging between $49 and $249, but that the team brought the Heritage Classic to Calgary because the fans wanted the game to return to Canada. The Pittsburgh Penguins
encountered similar issues allocating tickets for the Winter Classic.
of the 1920s. The Flames wore the uniform to pay homage to the first professional hockey team in the city's history. As members of the Western Canada Hockey League
of the 1920s, the Tigers won the league championship in 1924 before losing that year's Stanley Cup Final to the Canadiens. Montreal wore a classic version of their usual road sweater, the difference was the blue block numbering with the red outline, what the team wore prior to 1997.
The Flames uniform received mixed reviews. Detractors compared the uniform to the outfit Ronald McDonald
wears. They proved popular with fans, however; the league revealed a few days before the game that 16,000 Flames jerseys had been sold, compared to about 6,000 Montreal jerseys. Cheaper, unlicensed copies were widely available online and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
worked to stem the sale of counterfeit merchandise that was misrepresented as being authentic.
(CBC) aired the game in English on Hockey Night in Canada
, while Reseau des sports
(RDS) carried the French language broadcast in Canada. Versus
aired the game in the United States. The game was offered on 3D television
in both countries: by CBC in Canada as its second 3D game of the season, and on Xfinity 3D
in the United States. The game was the first event broadcast by Comcast
's new 3D channel.
Though the game involved two Canadian teams, the NHL hoped that the event would prove a successful draw in the United States. To that end, the league scheduled the Heritage Classic as the only game in prime time
, while NBC debuted its Hockey Day in America
with a pair of regional doubleheaders that led into the telecast; throughout NBC's telecast, commercials advised viewers to change to Versus for the Heritage Classic once the American games finished. University of Alberta
sports economist Brad Humphreys questioned the league's ambitions, arguing that a game without an American team would not appeal. He stated that the game was being held to placate the Canadian audience, but noted that it was important for the NHL to keep the league's Canadian audience happy.
Nonetheless, the game drew strong ratings on both sides of the border. In Canada, the CBC averaged 2.1 million viewers with a peak of 2.9 million while RDS peaked at 1.6 million. In the United States, Versus averaged 608,000 viewers, and peaked above 700,000. For Versus, it represented the fourth most watched regular season game in the network's history, and was the highest rated all-Canadian NHL game on an American cable channel since Nielsen
began tracking such ratings.
, enjoyed free coffee from title sponsor Tim Hortons and tried their hockey skills in interactive booths.
Several musical acts performed throughout the game. Five for Fighting
performed his song "Chances
" during the opening ceremonies. Canadian indie rock
acts Tokyo Police Club
and Metric
performed the first and second intermissions, respectively. Thompson Square
sung the American national anthem, while Calgary native Paul Brandt
sung the Canadian anthem. The Montreal Canadiens organization was unhappy with Brandt's rendition, filing a complaint with the NHL over the fact that he sung the English version of O Canada
rather than the bilingual version. The league acknowledged the complaint, but took no action.
stated that Calgary's strategy revolved around "keeping it simple and trying to play the game in straight lines". Montreal's James Wisniewski
admitted after the game that the Canadiens struggled to adapt to the conditions.
The Flames dominated the first period of play, outshooting Montreal 19–8. Canadiens' goaltender Carey Price
made several difficult saves early in the game, stopping a Rene Bourque
one-timer from the top of the crease followed immediately by a save on Alex Tanguay
who tried to stuff the rebound into the net. Calgary was given an early two-man advantage after P. K. Subban
and Hal Gill
both took tripping penalties in the seventh minute of play. The Flames capitalized on the power play
as Tanguay slid a pass in front of the Montreal net that was deflected in by Bourque to give Calgary a 1–0 advantage.
The score remained unchanged until the second period. Montreal held the advantage in play for much of the frame, taking 21 shots on Miikka Kiprusoff
. They earned their only power play opportunity of the game midway through the frame when Jay Bouwmeester
was penalized for interference. The Flames had the better chances despite being shorthanded; Curtis Glencross
was unable to deflect a pass into the net while rushing towards the Montreal goal, but fought to retrieve the puck and sent it back out front of the net where Anton Babchuk
snapped it behind Price to extend Calgary's lead to 2–0. Bourque made the score 3–0 with five minutes left in the period when he cut in front of Price from the left side of the ice and put the puck in before being sent airborne over the fallen goaltender's pads. The goal was the 100th of Bourque's career.
The third period was relatively even. Montreal outshot Calgary 10–7 for the period, and 39–37 for the game. Roman Hamrlik
sent the Flames to their fourth power play at 8:58 of the period, and the Flames capitalized a minute later when Jarome Iginla
sent a pass over a sprawling Montreal defender to Tanguay, who was standing on top of the crease and tapped the puck into the net. Kiprusoff held Montreal off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game to record his fourth shutout of the season, and the first in the NHL's outdoor history. With the win, the Flames became only the second home team to win an NHL outdoor game, following the Boston Bruins
who won the 2010 Winter Classic
at Fenway Park
.
factored in. The temperature during the game was only slightly colder than Calgary's averages of 1 °C (33.8 °F) and -11 °C for the highs and lows.
The changing temperatures forced the ice crews to abandon the use of ice resurfacer
s for fear of damaging the playing surface. Instead, they manually flooded the ice between periods using a high-pressure hose and shovels. The players admitted that they were challenged by the condition of the ice, but praised the efforts of Dan Craig and his ice crew at quickly fixing areas of the surface that required patching. Flames defenceman Cory Sarich
noted that while he had difficulty handling the puck, he was not concerned about the safety of the ice surface.
Penalty summary
Shots
Power play opportunities
Three star selections
game as a member of the University of Michigan Wolverines
, and again at the opening game of the 2010 IIHF World Championship
, in which he played for Team USA. Teammate Steve Staios
was a member of the Oilers at the first Heritage Classic, when the defenceman led both teams with three points (one goal, two assists). For the Canadiens, Michael Cammalleri was a teammate of Moss at the Cold war game, while defenceman James Wisniewski
was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks
when they hosted the 2009 NHL Winter Classic
at Wrigley Field
.
Scratches – Did not play
Officials
long weekend that celebrated both the past and future of the Flames organization and of the city's hockey history. The team branded the events as the "Face-off in the Foothills".
(AHL) game between the Flames' affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat
and the affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers
, the Oklahoma City Barons
at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The game, featuring the top prospects for both NHL organizations, drew 8,407 fans to what ended in a 3–1 Barons victory.
The game marked the first return to the Saddledome for Oklahoma City forward Brad Moran. An original member of the Calgary Hitmen
in 1995, Moran remains the junior team's all-time leader in numerous categories, including goals, assists and points, and is the only player in Hitmen history to have his jersey retired.
, an alumni game was organized for Saturday, February 19, at McMahon. The game featured 14 members of the Flames' 1989 Stanley Cup championship team, including Lanny McDonald
, Al MacInnis
, Joel Otto
, Theoren Fleury
and Joe Nieuwendyk
. For Nieuwendyk, currently the General Manager of the Dallas Stars
, the chance to participate in the game was important enough that he chose to overlook the chronic pain in his back when he is on skates. Immensely popular forward Craig Conroy
, who retired only a few weeks before the game, also took part for Calgary.
Among the players representing the Canadiens were Mike Keane
, Brian Skrudland
, Russ Courtnall
and Martin Gelinas
. The game was played with only two continuous time periods, and was won by the Canadiens, 5–3. Over 10,000 fans turned out for the game on what ended up as the coldest night of the weekend.
(WHL) game on February 21 outdoors at McMahon Stadium. The game featured the defending champion Hitmen against the Regina Pats
, Canada's oldest major-junior hockey team. The WHL game offered a parallel to the NHL match-up, as the Hitmen are owned by the Flames while the Pats were once an affiliate of the Canadiens. As with the NHL game, the WHL teams wore retro inspired jerseys. The Hitmen wore uniforms similar to those of the city's only Memorial Cup
champion, the 1924 Calgary Canadians
, while the Pats donned jerseys similar to those they wore in the 1950s. The game was announced as the first outdoor game in WHL history, but the Spokane Chiefs
subsequently revealed they would host the Kootenay Ice
outdoors on January 15, 2011.
The game was played in much warmer conditions than the Flames-Canadiens game the night previous, as the temperature hovered around the freezing mark. It was a considerably more physical game than the NHL contest, and was won by the Pats, 3–2, on a last-minute goal by Dyson Stevenson. Played before 20,888 fans, the game set new Western and Canadian Hockey League
attendance records and set the world record for highest attended junior game.
Season (sports)
In an organized sports league, a season is the portion of one year in which regulated games of the sport are in session. For example, in Major League Baseball, one season lasts approximately from April 1 through October 1; in Association football, it is generally from August until May In an...
outdoor National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL) game between the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
and the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
. The game was played at McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society....
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
on February 20, 2011. The Flames defeated the Canadiens by a score of 4–0 before a crowd of 41,022 spectators. It was just the second time in six NHL outdoor games that the home team won.
It was the second Heritage Classic game, held seven seasons after the original. It was also the first time the NHL held two outdoor games in one season, as it followed the 2011 NHL Winter Classic
2011 NHL Winter Classic
The 2011 NHL Winter Classic was the fourth edition of the annual outdoor ice hockey game held by the National Hockey League as a regular season game. The Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on January 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m...
in Pittsburgh. In spite of criticism that playing two such games in a season would lessen the spectacle, the Heritage Classic eclipsed all previous NHL outdoor games in sponsorship. The game's title sponsor was Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in...
.
Calgary goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He has also played for TPS of the Finnish SM-liiga...
was named the game's first star
Three stars (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, the three stars of a match are the three best players as chosen by a third party, with the first star considered the best of the three players, akin to the man of the match in other sports. Usually, the top point scorers or outstanding goaltenders are designated the three stars, but...
after making 39 saves to record the first shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in an NHL outdoor game. His teammates Rene Bourque
Rene Bourque
René Gary Wayne Bourque is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . An undrafted player, Bourque was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2005–06...
and Alex Tanguay
Alex Tanguay
Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in...
were the second and third stars respectively. Weather conditions were a major story during the game, as the wind chill
Wind chill
Wind chill is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind. The wind chill temperature is always lower than the air temperature, and the windchill is undefined at the higher temps...
made the temperature feel like −21 °C on the ice, and forced the arena staff to manually flood the ice between periods to avoid damaging the ice surface.
The weekend featured numerous other games, which the Flames branded as the "Faceoff in the Foothills". It began on Friday, February 18 with an American Hockey League
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) matchup that saw Calgary's top minor league affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat
Abbotsford Heat
The Abbotsford Heat are a professional ice hockey team based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. The Heat began play during 2009-10 season, and are the affiliate of the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames...
, lose to the Oklahoma City Barons
Oklahoma City Barons
The Oklahoma City Barons are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and serve as the top affiliate for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. The team's first season was 2010–11. They play their home games at the newly renovated Cox Convention Center, in Oklahoma...
3–1 at the Scotiabank Saddledome. An alumni game was held on the Saturday between a team composed mostly of players on Calgary's 1989 Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
winning team against alumni of the Canadiens. It ended on Family Day
Family Day (Canada)
In parts of Canada, the February Civic Holiday is a statutory holiday occurring on the third Monday in February. In the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan it is termed Family Day. By contrast, in the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, the statutory holiday on this date is...
Monday when the Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
defeated the Calgary Hitmen
Calgary Hitmen
The Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League . They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner...
in a Western Hockey League
Western Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL) game at McMahon that set a junior world attendance record of 20,888.
Second outdoor game
The Heritage Classic was played two months after the 2011 Winter Classic2011 NHL Winter Classic
The 2011 NHL Winter Classic was the fourth edition of the annual outdoor ice hockey game held by the National Hockey League as a regular season game. The Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on January 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m...
. The league's decision to play two outdoor games in one season was met with criticism from those who argued the NHL risks diluting the unique nature of the events. It was also argued that the Heritage Classic was the league's attempt to appease Canadian fans and media who were upset that all previous Winter Classics featured only American teams. Commissioner Gary Bettman
Gary Bettman
Gary Bruce Bettman is the commissioner of the National Hockey League , a post he has held since February 1, 1993. Previously, Bettman was a senior vice-president and general counsel to the National Basketball Association...
dismissed both arguments as "absurd", but agreed that the two games are intended for different markets.
Bettman stated the Winter Classic is designed for American television and to promote the game in the United States, but that the league sought to hold another game for its Canadian partners. He said the league delayed on hosting a second outdoor game until it felt it was capable of holding three significant events in a two-month span, including the All-Star Game.
Corporate support for the Heritage Classic exceeded expectations; Chief Operating Officer John Collins announced that the league had gained more sponsorship revenue for Calgary's game than it had the Winter Classic. While the league would not commit to holding a third Heritage Classic, Collins admitted that nearly every team had expressed interest in holding their own game and that title sponsor Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons
Tim Hortons Inc. is a Canadian fast casual restaurant known for its coffee and doughnuts. It is also Canada's largest fast food service with over 3000 stores nationwide. It was founded in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, by Canadian hockey player Tim Horton and Jim Charade, after an initial venture in...
had signed a multi-year deal with the league.
Teams and venue
The Flames lobbied the NHL for the opportunity to host an outdoor game for some time. Team president Ken King said the fans consistently asked for such a game in Calgary, and the team quietly pressed the NHL for several years. They unsuccessfully sought to host a second outdoor game as part of a January 1 doubleheader with the 2010 NHL Winter Classic2010 NHL Winter Classic
The 2010 NHL Winter Classic, known as the 2010 NHL Winter Classic presented by Bridgestone via corporate sponsorship, was the third edition of the NHL Winter Classic, an annual outdoor ice hockey game held by the National Hockey League , played on January 1, 2010, as a regular season game at...
in Boston.
When the league finally approved Calgary for 2011, the team considered where to host the game. They thought about building temporary stadiums west of the city limits or in Lake Louise
Lake Louise, Alberta
Lake Louise is a hamlet in Alberta, Canada within Improvement District No. 9 Banff . It is named for the nearby Lake Louise, which in turn was named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta , the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and the wife of John Campbell, the 9th Duke of Argyll, who was the...
and hosting the game at the foot of the Canadian Rockies
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
. The team dismissed the latter idea as impractical, and settled on McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society....
. The usual home of the Calgary Stampeders
Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders are a Canadian Football League team based in Calgary, Alberta and named in reference to the Calgary Stampede. The Stampeders play their home games at McMahon Stadium...
and the University of Calgary
University of Calgary
The University of Calgary is a public research university located in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1966 the U of C is composed of 14 faculties and more than 85 research institutes and centres.More than 25,000 undergraduate and 5,500 graduate students are currently...
Dinos
Calgary Dinos
The Calgary Dinos football team has won the Vanier Cup national championship four times, the most out of any of the Canada West teams and most recently in 1995. The Dinos also won in 1983, 1985 and 1988. The team most recently appeared in the 2010 Vanier Cup, but lost to the Laval Rouge et Or...
football teams, McMahon has a standard capacity of 35,650 but additional seating added in the north end zone pushed the capacity for this game over 41,000.
It was the first outdoor game for the Flames in their franchise history but marked the second time the Canadiens participated in a NHL outdoor game. Montreal defeated the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
in the original Heritage Classic, held in Edmonton in 2003.
The Flames were inundated with complaints from season ticket holders upset by their seat assignments and the cost of tickets. King responded to the concerns by noting that the league had purchased the game from the Flames, and the team was given a limited allotment of seats for its ticket holders. He also noted that it was possible that the event would lose money, even at ticket prices ranging between $49 and $249, but that the team brought the Heritage Classic to Calgary because the fans wanted the game to return to Canada. The Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
encountered similar issues allocating tickets for the Winter Classic.
Uniforms
As with other outdoor games, special jerseys were worn for the event. The Flames uniform was maroon with burnt yellow stripes and tan pants that were inspired by the uniforms worn by the Calgary TigersCalgary Tigers
The Calgary Tigers, often nicknamed the Bengals, were an ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada from 1920 until 1927 as members of the Big Four League, Western Canada Hockey League and Prairie Hockey League. The Tigers were revived in 1932, playing for a short-lived four years in the...
of the 1920s. The Flames wore the uniform to pay homage to the first professional hockey team in the city's history. As members of the Western Canada Hockey League
Western Canada Hockey League
The Western Canada Hockey League , founded in 1921, was a major professional ice hockey league originally based in the prairies of Canada. It was renamed the Western Hockey League in 1925 and disbanded in 1926.-History:...
of the 1920s, the Tigers won the league championship in 1924 before losing that year's Stanley Cup Final to the Canadiens. Montreal wore a classic version of their usual road sweater, the difference was the blue block numbering with the red outline, what the team wore prior to 1997.
The Flames uniform received mixed reviews. Detractors compared the uniform to the outfit Ronald McDonald
Ronald McDonald
Ronald McDonald is a clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. In television commercials, the clown inhabits a fantasy world called McDonaldland, and has adventures with his friends Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird, and...
wears. They proved popular with fans, however; the league revealed a few days before the game that 16,000 Flames jerseys had been sold, compared to about 6,000 Montreal jerseys. Cheaper, unlicensed copies were widely available online and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police , literally ‘Royal Gendarmerie of Canada’; colloquially known as The Mounties, and internally as ‘The Force’) is the national police force of Canada, and one of the most recognized of its kind in the world. It is unique in the world as a national, federal,...
worked to stem the sale of counterfeit merchandise that was misrepresented as being authentic.
Broadcasters
The Heritage Classic was telecast throughout North America. The Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCanadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
(CBC) aired the game in English on Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
, while Reseau des sports
Réseau des sports
Réseau des sports , is a Canadian French language Category C specialty channel showing sports and sport-related shows. It is available in 2.5 million homes, and is owned by CTV Specialty Television Inc....
(RDS) carried the French language broadcast in Canada. Versus
Versus (TV channel)
Versus is a sports-oriented cable television channel in the United States. It was previously known as Outdoor Life Network and was launched on July 1, 1995, focusing on fishing, hunting, and other outdoor sports...
aired the game in the United States. The game was offered on 3D television
3D television
A 3D television is a television set that employs techniques of 3D presentation, such as stereoscopic capture, multi-view capture, or 2D-plus-depth, and a 3D display – a special viewing device to project a television program into a realistic three-dimensional field.- History :In the late-1890's,...
in both countries: by CBC in Canada as its second 3D game of the season, and on Xfinity 3D
Xfinity 3D
Xfinity 3D is a 3DTV channel owned by Comcast and available exclusively on their Xfinity digital cable television service. It launched on February 20, 2011. -Programming:...
in the United States. The game was the first event broadcast by Comcast
Comcast
Comcast Corporation is the largest cable operator, home Internet service provider, and fourth largest home telephone service provider in the United States, providing cable television, broadband Internet, and telephone service to both residential and commercial customers in 39 states and the...
's new 3D channel.
Though the game involved two Canadian teams, the NHL hoped that the event would prove a successful draw in the United States. To that end, the league scheduled the Heritage Classic as the only game in prime time
Prime time
Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast programming during the middle of the evening for television programing.The term prime time is often defined in terms of a fixed time period—for example, from 19:00 to 22:00 or 20:00 to 23:00 Prime time or primetime is the block of broadcast...
, while NBC debuted its Hockey Day in America
Hockey Weekend Across America
Hockey Weekend Across America is an annual event devised by USA Hockey to promote the game of ice hockey in the United States. The fourth annual Weekend took place February 18–20, 2011, and was sponsored by Reebok...
with a pair of regional doubleheaders that led into the telecast; throughout NBC's telecast, commercials advised viewers to change to Versus for the Heritage Classic once the American games finished. University of Alberta
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta is a public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford, the first premier of Alberta and Henry Marshall Tory, its first president, it is widely recognized as one of the best universities in Canada...
sports economist Brad Humphreys questioned the league's ambitions, arguing that a game without an American team would not appeal. He stated that the game was being held to placate the Canadian audience, but noted that it was important for the NHL to keep the league's Canadian audience happy.
Nonetheless, the game drew strong ratings on both sides of the border. In Canada, the CBC averaged 2.1 million viewers with a peak of 2.9 million while RDS peaked at 1.6 million. In the United States, Versus averaged 608,000 viewers, and peaked above 700,000. For Versus, it represented the fourth most watched regular season game in the network's history, and was the highest rated all-Canadian NHL game on an American cable channel since Nielsen
Nielsen Media Research
Nielsen Media Research is an American firm that measures media audiences, including television, radio, theatre films and newspapers...
began tracking such ratings.
Entertainment
In spite of the wind chill, fans arrived at McMahon several hours before the game to experience an 88000 square feet (8,175.5 m²) fan zone, and stood in line ups 100 people deep to buy Heritage Classic merchandise. The crowd maintained a party atmosphere throughout the game, with many fans describing the Classic as a "once in a lifetime show". A cover band provided entertainment out front of McMahon while fans played air hockeyAir hockey
Air hockey is a game for two competing players trying to score points in the opposing player's goal.-Equipment:Air hockey requires an air-hockey table, two player-held mallets, and a puck....
, enjoyed free coffee from title sponsor Tim Hortons and tried their hockey skills in interactive booths.
Several musical acts performed throughout the game. Five for Fighting
Five for Fighting
Five for Fighting is the stage name of American singer-songwriter John Ondrasik. He is best known for his piano-based rock, such as the Top 40 songs "Superman " , "100 Years" , and "The Riddle" .-Early years:...
performed his song "Chances
Chances (Five for Fighting song)
"Chances" is the title of a song written by Greg Wattenberg and John Ondrasik, and recorded by Ondrasik under his stage name Five for Fighting. The song was released on July 21, 2009 as the first single from the band's 2009 album, Slice. The song was the band's fourth single to chart on the...
" during the opening ceremonies. Canadian indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
acts Tokyo Police Club
Tokyo Police Club
Tokyo Police Club is an indie rock band from Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. It consists of vocalist and bassist David Monks , keyboardist Graham Wright, guitarist Josh Hook , and drummer Greg Alsop ....
and Metric
Metric (band)
Metric is a Canadian indie rock and New Wave band founded in 1998 in Toronto. The band has also at various times been based in Montreal, London, New York City and Los Angeles...
performed the first and second intermissions, respectively. Thompson Square
Thompson Square
Thompson Square is an American country music duo composed of husband and wife Keifer Thompson and Shawna Thompson. They signed to Stoney Creek Records, a sister label of Broken Bow Records, in January 2010 and have released three singles: "Let's Fight", "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not" and "I Got...
sung the American national anthem, while Calgary native Paul Brandt
Paul Brandt
Paul Rennée Belobersycky is a Canadian country music artist, known professionally as Paul Brandt. Growing up in Calgary, he was a pediatric RN at the time of his big break...
sung the Canadian anthem. The Montreal Canadiens organization was unhappy with Brandt's rendition, filing a complaint with the NHL over the fact that he sung the English version of O Canada
O Canada
It has been noted that the opening theme of "O Canada" bears a strong resemblance to the "Marsch der Priester" , from the opera Die Zauberflöte , composed in 1791 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and that Lavallée's melody was inspired by Mozart's tune...
rather than the bilingual version. The league acknowledged the complaint, but took no action.
Game play
The cold weather and ice conditions reduced the game to a slower speed than usual, with little physical play. Both teams struggled to deal with bouncing pucks, while arena staff were called out to fix patches of the ice on numerous occasions. Flames' defenceman Steve StaiosSteve Staios
Steven Staios is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is an alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He has played both right wing and defence in the NHL.-Playing career:...
stated that Calgary's strategy revolved around "keeping it simple and trying to play the game in straight lines". Montreal's James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
admitted after the game that the Canadiens struggled to adapt to the conditions.
The Flames dominated the first period of play, outshooting Montreal 19–8. Canadiens' goaltender Carey Price
Carey Price
Carey Price is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . Price was the Canadiens' first round selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft...
made several difficult saves early in the game, stopping a Rene Bourque
Rene Bourque
René Gary Wayne Bourque is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . An undrafted player, Bourque was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2005–06...
one-timer from the top of the crease followed immediately by a save on Alex Tanguay
Alex Tanguay
Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in...
who tried to stuff the rebound into the net. Calgary was given an early two-man advantage after P. K. Subban
P. K. Subban
Pernell Karl "P. K." Subban is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . Subban was drafted by the Canadiens in the second round, 43rd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft...
and Hal Gill
Hal Gill
Harold Priestley "Hal" Gill III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
both took tripping penalties in the seventh minute of play. The Flames capitalized on the power play
Power play (sport)
"Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice...
as Tanguay slid a pass in front of the Montreal net that was deflected in by Bourque to give Calgary a 1–0 advantage.
The score remained unchanged until the second period. Montreal held the advantage in play for much of the frame, taking 21 shots on Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Kiprusoff
Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He has also played for TPS of the Finnish SM-liiga...
. They earned their only power play opportunity of the game midway through the frame when Jay Bouwmeester
Jay Bouwmeester
Jay Daniel Bouwmeester is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and an alternate captain of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, third overall, of the Florida Panthers at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft...
was penalized for interference. The Flames had the better chances despite being shorthanded; Curtis Glencross
Curtis Glencross
Curtis Jack Glencross is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . Undrafted by any team, he signed with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut with the team in 2007...
was unable to deflect a pass into the net while rushing towards the Montreal goal, but fought to retrieve the puck and sent it back out front of the net where Anton Babchuk
Anton Babchuk
Anton Anatoliiovych Babchuk is a Ukrainian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, 21st overall, of the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and has played for the Blackhawks,...
snapped it behind Price to extend Calgary's lead to 2–0. Bourque made the score 3–0 with five minutes left in the period when he cut in front of Price from the left side of the ice and put the puck in before being sent airborne over the fallen goaltender's pads. The goal was the 100th of Bourque's career.
The third period was relatively even. Montreal outshot Calgary 10–7 for the period, and 39–37 for the game. Roman Hamrlik
Roman Hamrlík
Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :...
sent the Flames to their fourth power play at 8:58 of the period, and the Flames capitalized a minute later when Jarome Iginla
Jarome Iginla
Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . A six-time NHL All-Star, he is the Flames' all-time leader in goals, points, and games played, and is second in assists to Al MacInnis...
sent a pass over a sprawling Montreal defender to Tanguay, who was standing on top of the crease and tapped the puck into the net. Kiprusoff held Montreal off the scoreboard for the remainder of the game to record his fourth shutout of the season, and the first in the NHL's outdoor history. With the win, the Flames became only the second home team to win an NHL outdoor game, following the Boston Bruins
Boston Bruins
The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The team has been in existence since 1924, and is the league's third-oldest team and its oldest in the...
who won the 2010 Winter Classic
2010 NHL Winter Classic
The 2010 NHL Winter Classic, known as the 2010 NHL Winter Classic presented by Bridgestone via corporate sponsorship, was the third edition of the NHL Winter Classic, an annual outdoor ice hockey game held by the National Hockey League , played on January 1, 2010, as a regular season game at...
at Fenway Park
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball park near Kenmore Square in Boston, Massachusetts. Located at 4 Yawkey Way, it has served as the home ballpark of the Boston Red Sox baseball club since it opened in 1912, and is the oldest Major League Baseball stadium currently in use. It is one of two "classic"...
.
Weather
Calgary's unpredictable weather patterns impacted the game, as long term forecasts that called for relatively warm temperatures for the game failed to materialize. An arctic front descended over the city in the week leading up to the game resulting in overnight temperatures as low as −20 °C, however the forecast called for daytime highs of −6 °C in time for the game's playing. The actual temperature was slightly colder, sitting at −8.6 °C at the game's start, but as the sun set and temperatures dropped, it felt as cold as −21 °C with wind chillWind chill
Wind chill is the felt air temperature on exposed skin due to wind. The wind chill temperature is always lower than the air temperature, and the windchill is undefined at the higher temps...
factored in. The temperature during the game was only slightly colder than Calgary's averages of 1 °C (33.8 °F) and -11 °C for the highs and lows.
The changing temperatures forced the ice crews to abandon the use of ice resurfacer
Ice resurfacer
An ice resurfacer is a truck-like vehicle or smaller device used to clean and smooth the surface of an ice rink. The first ice resurfacer was developed by Frank J. Zamboni in 1949 in the city of Paramount, California...
s for fear of damaging the playing surface. Instead, they manually flooded the ice between periods using a high-pressure hose and shovels. The players admitted that they were challenged by the condition of the ice, but praised the efforts of Dan Craig and his ice crew at quickly fixing areas of the surface that required patching. Flames defenceman Cory Sarich
Cory Sarich
Cory Sarich is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
noted that while he had difficulty handling the puck, he was not concerned about the safety of the ice surface.
Game summary
Scoring summary| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | CGY | Rene Bourque Rene Bourque René Gary Wayne Bourque is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . An undrafted player, Bourque was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2005–06... (18) (PP Power play (sport) "Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice... ) |
Alex Tanguay Alex Tanguay Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in... (29), Olli Jokinen Olli Jokinen Olli Jokinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was initially drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1997, third overall after Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. He was the captain of the Florida Panthers from 2003... (30) |
8:09 | 1–0 CGY |
| 2nd | CGY | Anton Babchuk Anton Babchuk Anton Anatoliiovych Babchuk is a Ukrainian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, 21st overall, of the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and has played for the Blackhawks,... (9) (SH Shorthanded Short handed is a term used in ice hockey and refers to having fewer skaters on the ice during play, as a result of a penalty. The player removed from play serves the penalty in the penalty box for a set amount of time proportional to the severity of the infraction... ) |
Curtis Glencross Curtis Glencross Curtis Jack Glencross is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . Undrafted by any team, he signed with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut with the team in 2007... (13), Brendan Morrison Brendan Morrison Brendan Morrison is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League... (29) |
12:44 | 2–0 CGY |
| CGY | Rene Bourque Rene Bourque René Gary Wayne Bourque is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . An undrafted player, Bourque was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2005–06... (19) |
Cory Sarich Cory Sarich Cory Sarich is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... (10) |
14:46 | 3–0 CGY | |
| 3rd | CGY | Alex Tanguay Alex Tanguay Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in... (16) (PP Power play (sport) "Power play" is a sporting term used in various games.*In ice hockey, a team is said to be on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty, and the team has a numerical advantage on the ice... ) |
Jarome Iginla Jarome Iginla Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . A six-time NHL All-Star, he is the Flames' all-time leader in goals, points, and games played, and is second in assists to Al MacInnis... (32), Brendan Morrison Brendan Morrison Brendan Morrison is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League... (30) |
10:53 | 4–0 CGY |
- Number in parenthesis represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season
Penalty summary
| Period | Team | Player | Penalty Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
Time | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | MTL | P. K. Subban P. K. Subban Pernell Karl "P. K." Subban is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . Subban was drafted by the Canadiens in the second round, 43rd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft... |
Tripping Tripping (ice hockey) A tripping penalty in ice hockey is called by the referee when a player trips an opposing player with their stick, or uses their skate against the other players skate, causing them to lose balance and fall .... |
6:11 | 2:00 |
| MTL | Hal Gill Hal Gill Harold Priestley "Hal" Gill III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
Tripping Tripping (ice hockey) A tripping penalty in ice hockey is called by the referee when a player trips an opposing player with their stick, or uses their skate against the other players skate, causing them to lose balance and fall .... |
6:44 | 2:00 | |
| 2nd | MTL | Roman Hamrlik Roman Hamrlík Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :... |
High-sticking High-Sticking High-sticking is the name of two infractions in the sport of ice hockey that may occur when a player intentionally or inadvertently plays with his or her stick above the height of the shoulders or above the cross bar of a hockey goal. This can result in a stoppage of play or in a penalty... |
0:45 | 2:00 |
| CGY | Jay Bouwmeester Jay Bouwmeester Jay Daniel Bouwmeester is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and an alternate captain of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, third overall, of the Florida Panthers at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft... |
Interference | 10:59 | 2:00 | |
| 3rd | MTL | Roman Hamrlik Roman Hamrlík Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :... |
Hooking | 8:58 | 2:00 |
Shots
| Period | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal | 8 | 21 | 10 | 39 |
| Calgary | 19 | 11 | 7 | 37 |
Power play opportunities
| Goals/Opportunities | |
|---|---|
| Montreal | 0/1 |
| Calgary | 2/4 |
Three star selections
| Team | Player | Statistics | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | CGY | Miikka Kiprusoff Miikka Kiprusoff Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He has also played for TPS of the Finnish SM-liiga... |
39 Saves, shutout Shutout In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.... |
| 2nd | CGY | Rene Bourque Rene Bourque René Gary Wayne Bourque is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . An undrafted player, Bourque was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2005–06... |
2 Goals |
| 3rd | CGY | Alex Tanguay Alex Tanguay Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in... |
1 Goal, 1 Assist |
Team rosters
Several players on both teams had previously appeared in an outdoor game. For Calgary's David Moss, it was his third appearance outdoors. He previously played in the 2001 Cold WarCold War (ice hockey)
The Cold War was a college ice hockey game played between U.S. college rivals Michigan State University and the University of Michigan on Saturday, October 6, 2001...
game as a member of the University of Michigan Wolverines
Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey
The Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team is the college ice hockey team that represents the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Earning varsity status in 1922, the program is competing in its 90th season...
, and again at the opening game of the 2010 IIHF World Championship
2010 IIHF World Championship
The 2010 IIHF World Championship was the 74th IIHF World Championship, an annual international ice hockey tournament. It took place between 7 and 23 May 2010 in Germany. The games were played in the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, SAP Arena in Mannheim, and one game at Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen...
, in which he played for Team USA. Teammate Steve Staios
Steve Staios
Steven Staios is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is an alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He has played both right wing and defence in the NHL.-Playing career:...
was a member of the Oilers at the first Heritage Classic, when the defenceman led both teams with three points (one goal, two assists). For the Canadiens, Michael Cammalleri was a teammate of Moss at the Cold war game, while defenceman James Wisniewski
James Wisniewski
James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:...
was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
when they hosted the 2009 NHL Winter Classic
2009 NHL Winter Classic
The 2009 NHL Winter Classic, also known as the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009, was a specially staged National Hockey League regular-season game played outdoors on January 1, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. CST at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois...
at Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
.
| Montreal Canadiens (Loss, 31–22–7 Winning percentage In sports, a winning percentage is the fraction of games or matches a team or individual has won. It is defined as wins divided by wins plus losses . Ties count as a ½ loss and a ½ win... ) |
|||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach: Jacques Martin | |||||||||
| Nat. | Player | Position | G Goal (ice hockey) In ice hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two goal posts and below the goal crossbar. A goal awards one point to the team attacking the goal scored upon, regardless of which team the player who actually deflected the puck into the goal belongs to... |
A Assist (ice hockey) In ice hockey, an assist is attributed to up to two players of the scoring team who shot, passed or deflected the puck towards the scoring teammate, or touched it in any other way which enabled the goal, meaning that they were "assisting" in the goal. There can be a maximum of two assists per goal... |
Pts Point (ice hockey) Point in ice hockey has three official meanings:* A point is awarded to a player for each goal scored or assist earned. The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. In some European leagues, a goal counts as two points, and an assist counts as one... |
PIM Penalty (ice hockey) A penalty in ice hockey is a punishment for inappropriate behavior. Most penalties are enforced by detaining the offending player within a penalty box for a set number of minutes, during which, the player can not participate in play. The offending team usually may not replace the player on the ice,... |
+/- | SOG Shot on goal In ice hockey, a shot on goal is a shot that will enter the goal if it is not stopped by the goaltender. A shot on goal must result in either a goal or a save.... |
|
| 11 |  |
Scott Gomez Scott Gomez Scott Carlos Gomez is an American ice hockey center of both Mexican and Colombian descent, currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
C Centre (ice hockey) The centre in ice hockey is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play is the middle of the ice, away from the side boards. Centres have more flexibility in their positioning and are expected to cover more ice surface than any other player... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 0 |
| 13 |  |
Michael Cammalleri | LW Winger (ice hockey) Winger, in the game of hockey, is a forward position of a player whose primary zone of play on the ice is along the outer playing area. They typically work by flanking the centre forward. Originally the name was given to forward players who went up and down the sides of the rink... |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 3 |
| 14 |  |
Tomas Plekanec Tomas Plekanec Tomas Plekanec is a Czech professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . After beginning his career for HC Kladno of the Czech Extraliga, he was selected 71st overall by the Canadiens in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft... |
C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 8 |
| 15 | |
Jeff Halpern Jeff Halpern Jeffrey C. Halpern is an American professional ice hockey player who is currently playing for the Washington Capitals.-Playing career:... |
C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 1 |
| 20 | |
James Wisniewski James Wisniewski James Joseph Wisniewski is an American professional ice hockey player, an alternate captain for the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League.-Playing career:... |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 1 |
| 21 | |
Brian Gionta Brian Gionta Brian Joseph Gionta is an American professional ice hockey player and captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League , and is the second American-born captain of the Canadiens and its first sole American-born captain... (C Captain (ice hockey) In ice hockey, each team can designate an official captain for each game. The player serving as captain during the game wears a "C" on his or her jersey... ) |
RW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 22 | |
Paul Mara Paul Mara Paul Mara is an American professional ice hockey defenseman currently an unrestricted free agent of the National Hockey League .... |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 2 |
| 32 | |
Travis Moen Travis Moen Travis Moen is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . Although he was born in Swift Current, he grew up in Stewart Valley, Saskatchewan... |
LW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 3 |
| 44 | |
Roman Hamrlik Roman Hamrlík Roman Hamrlík is a Czech professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :... |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | −1 | 1 |
| 46 |  |
Andrei Kostitsyn Andrei Kostitsyn Andrej Aliehavič Kaścicyn , better known as Andrei Kostitsyn, is a Belarusian professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . The media have nicknamed him AK-46, a play on his initials and player number in reference to the Soviet AK-47... |
LW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 3 |
| 53 | |
Ryan White Ryan White (ice hockey) Ryan White is a Canadian professional ice hockey center currently with the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League .- Playing career :... |
C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 0 |
| 57 | |
Benoit Pouliot Benoit Pouliot Benoît Robert Pouliot is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
LW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 1 |
| 58 | |
David Desharnais David Desharnais David Desharnais is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League... |
C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 1 |
| 67 | |
Max Pacioretty Max Pacioretty Max Pacioretty is an American professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was called up from the American Hockey League for the second time on December 12, 2010... |
LW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −2 | 2 |
| 68 |  |
Yannick Weber Yannick Weber Yannick Weber is a Swiss professional ice hockey forward/defenceman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the Canadiens in the 3rd round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and is the first player in franchise history to wear jersey No... |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | −1 | 2 |
| 75 | |
Hal Gill Hal Gill Harold Priestley "Hal" Gill III is an American professional ice hockey defenseman and an alternate captain of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... (A) |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | E | 3 |
| 76 | |
P. K. Subban P. K. Subban Pernell Karl "P. K." Subban is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . Subban was drafted by the Canadiens in the second round, 43rd overall, of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft... |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | −1 | 5 |
| 81 |  |
Lars Eller Lars Eller Lars Fosgaard Eller is a Danish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League . He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Playing career:In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft,... |
C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 1 |
| Nat. | Goaltender | Result | Rec | GA | SA | SV | SV% | TOI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | |
Carey Price Carey Price Carey Price is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League . Price was the Canadiens' first round selection in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft... |
L | 27–19–6 | 4 | 37 | 33 | 0.891 | 60:00 |
| 35 | |
Alex Auld Alex Auld Alexander Auld is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League . Auld has also played for the New York Rangers, Vancouver Canucks, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens and Dallas Stars of the NHL... |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Calgary Flames (Win, 31–22–8) | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Head coach: Brent Sutter Brent Sutter Brent Colin Sutter is a retired National Hockey League player and current head coach of the Calgary Flames. Selected by the New York Islanders 17th overall at the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, Sutter played over 1,000 games for the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks during his 18-year career. He won the... |
|||||||||
| Nat. | Player | Position | G | A | Pts | PIM | +/- | SOG | |
| 4 | |
Jay Bouwmeester Jay Bouwmeester Jay Daniel Bouwmeester is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and an alternate captain of the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, third overall, of the Florida Panthers at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft... (A) |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | E | 2 |
| 5 | |
Mark Giordano Mark Giordano Mark Giordano is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman, an alternate captain for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a leading scorer amongst defencemen in two seasons with the Owen Sound Attack of the Ontario Hockey League but went unselected in the NHL Entry Draft... |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 2 |
| 6 | |
Cory Sarich Cory Sarich Cory Sarich is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:... |
D | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +2 | 0 |
| 8 | |
Brendan Morrison Brendan Morrison Brendan Morrison is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League... |
C | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | +1 | 1 |
| 10 |  |
Niklas Hagman Niklas Hagman Niklas Hagman is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward currently playing for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League . He was a third round pick of the Florida Panthers, 70th overall, at the 1999 NHL Entry Draft and made his NHL debut with Florida in 2001... |
LW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 1 |
| 11 |  |
Mikael Backlund Mikael Backlund Mikael Backlund is a Swedish professional ice hockey centre for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, 24th overall, of the Flames in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, and made his NHL debut in 2008–09.-Playing career:Backlund began his junior hockey career with... |
C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 1 |
| 12 | |
Jarome Iginla Jarome Iginla Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . A six-time NHL All-Star, he is the Flames' all-time leader in goals, points, and games played, and is second in assists to Al MacInnis... (C) |
RW | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | E | 2 |
| 13 | |
Olli Jokinen Olli Jokinen Olli Jokinen is a Finnish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was initially drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 1997, third overall after Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau. He was the captain of the Florida Panthers from 2003... |
C | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | E | 2 |
| 15 | |
Tim Jackman Tim Jackman Tim Jackman is an American professional ice hockey player, currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was the first player from Minnesota State University, Mankato to be drafted after becoming the Columbus Blue Jackets' second round selection, 38th overall, at the... |
RW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 2 |
| 16 | |
Tom Kostopoulos Tom Kostopoulos Thomas Kostopoulos is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . Kostopoulos previously played with the Carolina Hurricanes, Montreal Canadiens, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins... |
RW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 3 |
| 17 | |
Rene Bourque Rene Bourque René Gary Wayne Bourque is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger who currently plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . An undrafted player, Bourque was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut in 2005–06... |
LW | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +1 | 11 |
| 18 | |
Matt Stajan Matt Stajan Matthew Stajan is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . Matthew is of Slovenian descent and holds dual citizenship of Canada and Slovenia.-Hockey career:... |
C | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | +1 | 0 |
| 20 | |
Curtis Glencross Curtis Glencross Curtis Jack Glencross is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . Undrafted by any team, he signed with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks as a free agent in 2004 and made his NHL debut with the team in 2007... |
LW | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 2 |
| 25 | |
David Moss | RW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 2 |
| 27 | |
Steve Staios Steve Staios Steven Staios is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is an alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League. He has played both right wing and defence in the NHL.-Playing career:... |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 0 |
| 28 | |
Robyn Regehr Robyn Regehr Robyn Regehr is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League . He was a first round draft pick of the Colorado Avalanche, selected 19th overall at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, but was traded to Calgary while still playing junior hockey for the... (A) |
D | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | E | 0 |
| 33 |  |
Anton Babchuk Anton Babchuk Anton Anatoliiovych Babchuk is a Ukrainian-Russian professional ice hockey defenceman currently playing for Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a first round selection, 21st overall, of the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, and has played for the Blackhawks,... |
D | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | +1 | 2 |
| 40 | |
Alex Tanguay Alex Tanguay Alexandre Tanguay is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger currently with the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He has additionally played with the Colorado Avalanche, Montreal Canadiens and Tampa Bay Lightning in the NHL and briefly for HC Lugano in the Swiss National League A in... |
LW | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | E | 4 |
| Nat. | Goaltender | Result | Rec | GA | SA | SV | SV% | TOI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | |
Miikka Kiprusoff Miikka Kiprusoff Miikka Sakari Kiprusoff is a Finnish professional ice hockey goaltender currently playing for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was selected in the fifth round, 116th overall by the San Jose Sharks in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft. He has also played for TPS of the Finnish SM-liiga... |
W | 26–19–4 | 0 | 39 | 39 | 1.000 | 60:00 |
| 35 | |
Henrik Karlsson Henrik Karlsson Henrik "Calgary Tower" Karlsson is a Swedish professional goaltender under contract to the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League... |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Scratches – Did not play
- Montreal Canadiens: Alexandre PicardAlexandre R. PicardAlexandre R. Picard is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization.-Playing career:...
, Tom PyattTom PyattThomas Cullum Pyatt is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre currently with Tampa Bay Lightning . He is the son of former NHL player Nelson Pyatt and brother of Phoenix Coyotes forward Taylor Pyatt.-Playing career:... - Calgary Flames: Brendan MikkelsonBrendan MikkelsonBrendan Mikkelson is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman who plays for the Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He was a second round selection of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, 31st overall, at the 2005 NHL Entry Draft...
Officials
- Referees — Brad MeierBrad MeierBrad Meier is a National Hockey League referee, who wears uniform number 34. The first NHL game that Meier acted as an official in was during the 1999–2000 NHL season...
, Mike LeggoMike LeggoMike Leggo is a National Hockey League referee since the 1996–97 NHL season, who wears uniform number 3.-References:... - Linesmen — Mike Cvik, Mark Wheler
"Face-off in the Foothills"
As part of the weekend festivities, the Flames organized several games during the Family DayFamily Day (Canada)
In parts of Canada, the February Civic Holiday is a statutory holiday occurring on the third Monday in February. In the provinces of Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan it is termed Family Day. By contrast, in the provinces of Manitoba and Prince Edward Island, the statutory holiday on this date is...
long weekend that celebrated both the past and future of the Flames organization and of the city's hockey history. The team branded the events as the "Face-off in the Foothills".
Abbotsford Heat vs. Oklahoma City Barons
The weekend began on Friday, February 18, with an American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
(AHL) game between the Flames' affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat
Abbotsford Heat
The Abbotsford Heat are a professional ice hockey team based in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. The Heat began play during 2009-10 season, and are the affiliate of the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames...
and the affiliate of the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
, the Oklahoma City Barons
Oklahoma City Barons
The Oklahoma City Barons are a professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League, and serve as the top affiliate for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League. The team's first season was 2010–11. They play their home games at the newly renovated Cox Convention Center, in Oklahoma...
at the Scotiabank Saddledome. The game, featuring the top prospects for both NHL organizations, drew 8,407 fans to what ended in a 3–1 Barons victory.
The game marked the first return to the Saddledome for Oklahoma City forward Brad Moran. An original member of the Calgary Hitmen
Calgary Hitmen
The Calgary Hitmen are a major junior ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Hitmen play in the Central Division of the Western Hockey League . They play their home games at the Scotiabank Saddledome. Bret "The Hitman" Hart, a local-born professional wrestler, was a founding owner...
in 1995, Moran remains the junior team's all-time leader in numerous categories, including goals, assists and points, and is the only player in Hitmen history to have his jersey retired.
Alumni game
Led by Jim PeplinskiJim Peplinski
James Desmond Peplinski is a retired Canadian National Hockey League player.He played junior hockey for the Toronto Marlboroughs of the OHL and was drafted in 1978 NHL Amateur Draft by the Atlanta Flames. Peplinski was one of five active NHL players who played on Canada's 1988 Olympic ice hockey...
, an alumni game was organized for Saturday, February 19, at McMahon. The game featured 14 members of the Flames' 1989 Stanley Cup championship team, including Lanny McDonald
Lanny McDonald
Lanny King McDonald is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Colorado Rockies and Calgary Flames of the National Hockey League . He played over 1,100 games during a 16-year NHL career in which he scored 500 goals and over 1,000 points...
, Al MacInnis
Al MacInnis
Allan MacInnis is a Canadian former ice hockey defenceman who played 23 seasons in the National Hockey League for the Calgary Flames and St. Louis Blues. A first round selection of the Flames in the 1981 NHL Entry Draft, he went on to become a 13-time All-Star...
, Joel Otto
Joel Otto
Joel Stuart Otto is an American former professional ice hockey center and current assistant coach of the Calgary Hitmen of the major junior Western Hockey League...
, Theoren Fleury
Theoren Fleury
Theoren Wallace "Theo" Fleury is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player for the Calgary Flames, Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League , Tappara of Finland's SM-liiga, and the Belfast Giants of the UK's Elite Ice Hockey League...
and Joe Nieuwendyk
Joe Nieuwendyk
Joseph Nieuwendyk is the general manager of the Dallas Stars of the National Hockey League and a retired Canadian ice hockey player...
. For Nieuwendyk, currently the General Manager of the Dallas Stars
Dallas Stars
The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas, Texas. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The team was founded during the 1967 NHL expansion as the Minnesota North Stars, based in Bloomington, Minnesota. The...
, the chance to participate in the game was important enough that he chose to overlook the chronic pain in his back when he is on skates. Immensely popular forward Craig Conroy
Craig Conroy
Craig Conroy is an American former professional ice hockey player and currently the Special Assistant to the General Manager of the Calgary Flames. A sixth round selection of the Montreal Canadiens at the 1990 National Hockey League Entry Draft, Conroy played 1,009 NHL games for the Canadiens, St...
, who retired only a few weeks before the game, also took part for Calgary.
Among the players representing the Canadiens were Mike Keane
Mike Keane
Michael John Keane is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey winger. Undrafted, Keane played over 1100 games in the National Hockey League from 1988 until 2004, and then played five seasons for his hometown Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League until he retired in 2010...
, Brian Skrudland
Brian Skrudland
Brian Skrudland is a retired former professional ice hockey player who played for the Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Florida Panthers, New York Rangers and Dallas Stars.- Junior and minor pro :...
, Russ Courtnall
Russ Courtnall
Russ Courtnall is a former NHL player. He played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, Vancouver Canucks, New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings...
and Martin Gelinas
Martin Gelinas
Martin Gélinas is a former professional ice hockey forward and the current director of player development with the Nashville Predators.-Playing career:Gelinas made a splash in 1987–88 with the Hull Olympiques of the QMJHL with a 63-goal, 131-point campaign...
. The game was played with only two continuous time periods, and was won by the Canadiens, 5–3. Over 10,000 fans turned out for the game on what ended up as the coldest night of the weekend.
Calgary Hitmen vs. Regina Pats
The weekend ended with a Western Hockey LeagueWestern Hockey League
The Western Hockey League is a major junior ice hockey league based in Western Canada and the Northwestern United States. The WHL is one of three leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League as the highest level of junior hockey in Canada...
(WHL) game on February 21 outdoors at McMahon Stadium. The game featured the defending champion Hitmen against the Regina Pats
Regina Pats
The Regina Pats are a junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League. The Pats are based out of Regina, Saskatchewan and the Brandt Centre is their home arena.-History:...
, Canada's oldest major-junior hockey team. The WHL game offered a parallel to the NHL match-up, as the Hitmen are owned by the Flames while the Pats were once an affiliate of the Canadiens. As with the NHL game, the WHL teams wore retro inspired jerseys. The Hitmen wore uniforms similar to those of the city's only Memorial Cup
Memorial Cup
The Memorial Cup is a junior ice hockey club championship trophy awarded annually to the Canadian Hockey League champion. It is awarded following a four-team, round robin tournament between a host team and the champions of the CHL's three member leagues: the Ontario Hockey League , Quebec Major...
champion, the 1924 Calgary Canadians
Calgary Canadians
The Calgary Canadians were a junior ice hockey team that played in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. In 1924, they became the first team from Alberta to play for the Memorial Cup, and in 1926, the first to win it....
, while the Pats donned jerseys similar to those they wore in the 1950s. The game was announced as the first outdoor game in WHL history, but the Spokane Chiefs
Spokane Chiefs
The Spokane Chiefs are a major junior ice hockey team that plays in the Western Hockey League based out of Spokane, Washington. The team plays its home games at the Spokane Arena. Their uniforms are similar to those of the NHL's Montreal Canadiens. Spokane consistently ranks in the top 10 in the...
subsequently revealed they would host the Kootenay Ice
Kootenay Ice
The Kootenay Ice are a major junior ice hockey team based in Cranbrook, British Columbia and competing in the Western Hockey League. The team plays its home games at the Cranbrook Recreational Complex, also nicknamed the RecPlex.-History:...
outdoors on January 15, 2011.
The game was played in much warmer conditions than the Flames-Canadiens game the night previous, as the temperature hovered around the freezing mark. It was a considerably more physical game than the NHL contest, and was won by the Pats, 3–2, on a last-minute goal by Dyson Stevenson. Played before 20,888 fans, the game set new Western and Canadian Hockey League
Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization that represents the three Canadian-based major junior ice hockey leagues for players 16 to 20 years of age. The CHL was founded in 1975 as the Canadian Major Junior Hockey League, and is composed of its three member leagues, the Western Hockey...
attendance records and set the world record for highest attended junior game.
See also
- 2010–11 Calgary Flames season2010–11 Calgary Flames seasonThe 2010–11 Calgary Flames season was the 31st season in Calgary and 39th for the Flames franchise in the National Hockey League . The Flames finished second in the Northwest Division but failed to qualify for the playoffs after finishing 10th in the Western Conference...
- 2010–11 Montreal Canadiens season2010–11 Montreal Canadiens seasonThe 2010–11 Montreal Canadiens season is the 94th season of play for the National Hockey League franchise that was established 22 November 1917.-Regular season:...
- 2011 NHL Winter Classic2011 NHL Winter ClassicThe 2011 NHL Winter Classic was the fourth edition of the annual outdoor ice hockey game held by the National Hockey League as a regular season game. The Pittsburgh Penguins hosted the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA on January 1, 2011 at 8:00 p.m...
- List of outdoor ice hockey games
- List of ice hockey games with highest attendance