(Photo by Angela Spagna, Bruins Daily)

The excitement level for the New Year’s Day matchup between the Boston Bruins and Montreal Canadiens at Gillette Stadium is already high enough. But the events surrounding the Winter Classic needed a little nostalgia, and after a year off in last year’s matchup between the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals, the NHL is resuming their tradition of an alumni game between the two teams.

On Tuesday, the league announced the rosters for both the Bruins and Canadiens for this year’s Winter Classic Alumni game to be held at the home of the four-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots on Thursday, December 31st, at 3:30 p.m. The list includes Hockey Hall of Famers like Larry Robinson, Cam Neely, Guy Lafleur and Ray Bourque, notable personalities like Mike Milbury, Derek Sanderson, Lyndon Byers, Rick Middleton, Don Sweeney, Stephane Gauthier and Alexi Kovalev, and legendary coaches such as Don Cherry and Jacques Demers.

Of the entire roster, three players played for both teams during their careers. Mark Recchi (1994-99 with Habs, 2009-2011 with Bruins), Sergei Samsonov (1997-2006 with Bruins, 2006-07 with Habs) and Hal Gill (1997-2006 with Bruins, 2009-2012 with Habs) will suit up for the Black and Gold alumni; while Boston-born enforcer Chris Nilan (1979-88 with Habs and 1990-92 with Bruins) will don the Bleu Blanc et Rouge.

Other notable names include Marco Sturm, who was the hero in the epic Game 6 of the Bruins-Canadiens series in 2008; Andrew Raycroft, a Norris Trophy winner in 2004; Jose Theodore, a Hart Trophy winner in 2002 and a notable “Bruins killer”; and Stephane Richer, the last member of the Habs to record 50 goals in a season (1989-90).

Here is a complete look at this year’s rosters:

Bruins Alumni roster

P.J. Axelsson
Bob Beers
Ray Bourque
Rob DiMaio
Tom Fergus
Hal Gill
Steve Heinze
Al Iafrate
Brian Leetch
Reggie Lemelin
Ken Linseman
Rick Middleton
Jay Miller
Cam Neely
Terry O’Reilly
Andrew Raycroft
Mark Recchi
Sergei Samsonov
Bob Sweeney
Don Sweeney
Tim Sweeney
Glen Wesley

Bruins’ coaching staff:

Lyndon Byers
Don Cherry
Stan Jonathan
Don Marcotte
Tom McVie
Mike Milbury
Derek Sanderson

Bruins’ honorary coaches:

John Bucyk
Eddie Sandford

Canadiens Alumni Roster

Donald Audette
Christian Bordeleau
Francis Bouillon
Benoit Brunet
Patrice Brisebois
Guy Carbonneau
Lucien Dubois
Gilbert Delorme
Eric Desjardins
Normand Dupont
Gatson Gingras
Rick Green
Mike Keane
Alex Kovalev
Sergio Momesso
Mats Naslund
Chris Nilan
Lyle Odelin
Oleg Petrov
Stephane Quintal
Stephane Richer
Larry Robinson
Richard Sevigny
Steve Shutt
Jose Theodore

Canadiens coaching staff:

Simon Arsenault
Yvan Cournoyer
Jacques Demers
Stephane Gauthier
Rejean Houle
Guy Lafleur

More names could be announced in the coming days leading up to this year’s Bruins-Canadiens alumni game.

This year’s format will consist of three 20 minute periods (running time) and a 12-minute intermission in the first and second periods. The game will be broadcasted live on NBCSN in the U.S. and on Rogers SportsNet and TVA Sports (French speaking) in Canada.