Red Wings, Maple Leafs to play outdoors in Toronto on New Year’s Day
By @MichaelCaples –
The Red Wings will get an outdoor rematch with the Maple Leafs, the NHL announced today.
The two Original Six franchises will play in the first-ever NHL Centennial Classic, per a release from the league this evening.
On Jan. 1, 2017, the Wings and Leafs will square off at BMO Field in Toronto in a game that will celebrate the NHL’s 100th anniversary.
“It’s an honor to participate in the first NHL Centennial Classic and celebrate the rich and storied history of both the rivalry between the Red Wings and Maple Leafs and the history of our great league,” Red Wings Executive Vice President and General Manager Ken Holland said. “The opportunity to play outdoors against the Maple Leafs in Toronto on New Year’s Day will certainly be a memorable experience for our entire organization and our fans.”
On New Year’s Day in 2014, the Red Wings and Maple Leafs played in a Winter Classic game that set a NHL attendance record of 105,491 people at Michigan Stadium in Ann Abor. Toronto prevailed 3-2 in a shootout.
“This meeting of the Red Wings and Maple Leafs offers an ideal launch for a fantastic 2017 — the year in which the National Hockey League will celebrate its Centennial, Toronto will commemorate 100 years of NHL play and Canada will observe the 150th anniversary of Confederation,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Since the Red Wings and Maple Leafs made NHL outdoor history by drawing more than 105,000 people to ‘The Big House’ in 2014, this unique rematch provides a perfect beginning to an historic year for our League, our Clubs and our fans.”
In 2017, the league will be conducting a year-long celebration of its 100th year of operation with “ceremonies, recognitions, observances and special events that will highlight 100 years of NHL hockey and also will recognize a number of milestone anniversaries for member Clubs, including the Maple Leafs,” as Toronto celebrates 100 years, as well.