Updated throughout the day with quick takes from staff.
After starting the original tradition with the Heritage Classic, an NHL sanctioned Winter Classic has not been been on Canadian soil. According to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, that is going to change.
"Yes, it's something we're going to look at for next season," Bettman said as the NHL's Board of Governors meeting wrapped up. "We'll see if we can make it happen."
"There's been a lot of speculation," Bettman said. "And again, not all of this has been resolved. But I'm just laying it out. Do you do two games on New Year's Day, or do you do one on New Year's Day and one on [CBC's] 'Hockey Day In Canada?' "
"Hockey Day In Canada" on CBC features all six Canadian teams in a tripleheader, usually in February. A league source told ESPN.com that this is the leading option for the second outdoor game and that Calgary was the leading candidate to host it.
With the game falling on Hockey Day In Canada, it would truly celebrate the passion of Canada and hockey with the spotlight on the country. Though, it also gives NBC an excuse to not air the game if it is not going to feature an American team and mainly focus on the culture of hockey in Canada.
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A focus on Canada for once?
And what’s this Gary? You say you’re not even going to worry if NBC or the American media in general trip over themselves to gloss over it like you beg them too every year for the New Years Day game?
What a radical concept! Something for the Canadian hockey fan to enjoy on their own.
Careful Gary… you don’t want Canadian fans starting to think that the NHL does actually care about them!
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by Art Middleton on Dec 17, 2009 2:21 PM EST reply actions
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