Eurolanche

NHL confirmed outdoor game in Denver

The Boston Bruins will host the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on Jan. 1, playing the rival Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Sadium in Foxborough, Mass. Gillette Stadium is 68,756-seat home of the New England Patriots of the National Football League.

There will also be two 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series Games during the 2015-16 season with the Minnesota Wild and the Colorado Avalanche playing hosts in the course of six days in late February. On Feb. 21, the Wild will host the Chicago Blackhawks at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. On Feb. 27, the Colorado Avalanche will host to the Detroit Red Wings at Coors Field, the home of the Colorado Rockies of Major League Baseball.

“We are incredibly proud and excited to be hosting this extraordinary event,” said Avalanche President & Governor Josh Kroenke. “The Coors Light NHL Stadium Series has been very successful, and we are honored to be part of it. We would like to thank the National Hockey League for selecting our organization. I’m especially happy for Avalanche fans, who have been instrumental in our team’s success since arriving in Denver. “he outdoor game will be the headline event of our franchise's 20th anniversary season in Colorado, with many other great events planned throughout the year,” added Kroenke.

“This is a great day for our organization and our fans,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President/ General Manager Joe Sakic. “Playing in an outdoor game will be an amazing experience for everyone. To have this game in the state of Colorado, in a terrific venue like Coors Field, is something we are truly looking forward to.”

It is the first outdoor game for both the Wild and Avalanche, while their guests are very familiar with outdoor games. Detroit has played in a pair of Winter Classics, while the Chicago Blackhawks have played in two Winter Classics, including the 2015 version against the Washington Capitals at Nationals Park, and a Stadium Series game at Soldier Stadium, home of the NFL's Chicago Bears. While both Detroit and Chicago have played in two Winter Classics, Boston is the first club to host two Winter Classics. The Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2010 version at Fenway Park, winning a thrilling 2-1 decision in overtime. The Canadiens will be making their Winter Classic debut and are just the second NHL team from Canada to play in the Jan. 1 showcase. The Toronto Maple Leafs played the Red Wings in Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2014. The Canadiens and Bruins have a rich and vibrant rivalry. Each team has played the other more than any other team in their respective franchise histories. They also met last season in a memorable seven-game Stanley Cup Playoffs series, which was won by Montreal.

The Coors Light NHL Stadium Series was launched during the 2013-14 season by the NHL and featured four games, all of which were played in sold-out stadiums. Yankee Stadium, home of the New York Yankees, hosted two games, while the other games were played at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles and Soldier Field.

There is one Stadium Series Game this season; it will be played on Feb. 21, when the San Jose Sharks play host to the Los Angeles Kings at Levi’s Stadium at 7 p.m. Additional information relating to the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® and 2016 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™, including ticketing information, will be released at a future date.

--NHL Press Release--