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Report: Bruins-Habs 2016 Winter Classic Confirmed at Gillette Stadium
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After a few weeks of speculation, it looks a Bruins-Habs 2016 Winter Classic matchup is a reality.
According to DJ Bean of WEEI, a source confirmed that the Canadiens and Bruins will indeed face off on New Year’s Day, 2016, at Gillette Stadium. ESPN Boston’s Joe McDonald states that the official announcement will be made at this weekend’s All Star Game in Columbus.
Confirmed Bruins will host Canadiens at Gillette Stadium next year’s Winter Classic. Official announcement coming at all-star game.
— Joe McDonald (@ESPNJoeyMac) January 19, 2015
Last month, TSN’s Bob McKenzie was the first to report that the Bruins would host the annual New Year’s Day event. The home of the Patriots was rumored to have interest in hosting an outdoor game for the last 12 months.
The Bruins will become the first team to host two Winter Classic’s. The first time they hosted the game was at Fenway Park on January 1, 2010, where the Black and Gold defeated the Philadelphia Flyers in overtime behind Marco Sturm’s game-winner.
On Boston.com: 2010 Winter Classic was full of firsts
The Canadiens will be the second team north of the border to take part in the Winter Classic. The Toronto Maple Leafs were the first team from Canada to play on the league’s grand stage (regular season) when they defeated the Detroit Red Wings in a shootout in last year’s game at Michigan Stadium. That game set an outdoor hockey attendance record.
Although this will be their first Winter Classic, the Habs are no stranger to outdoor games. In 2003, they traveled to Edmonton to face the Oilers in the Heritage Classic. Eight years later, they faced the Flames in Calgary in the second installment of the Heritage Classic.
This year’s Winter Classic between the Blackhawks and Capitals resulted in the lowest rated game of the New Year’s Day event (A 2.3 overnight rating). With the historic Bruins-Habs rivalry, it’s safe to say that NBC should have their ratings tick up a little bit when the two teams take the ice in front of over 68,000 people at Gillette Stadium next season.
