2011 Heritage Classic, hosted by Calgary Flames.

DP · Aug 4, 2010

NHL.com

CALGARY -- Eight years after it hosted the first outdoor game in NHL history, Canada will finally get a second crack at it.

The Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames will take part in the 2011 Heritage Classic on Feb. 20 at McMahon Stadium, home to the Canadian Football League's Calgary Stampeders. The League made it official Wednesday afternoon during a press conference that took place on the field that will play host to the NHL's sixth-ever outdoor game.

There will have been four installments of the highly successful Winter Classic -- all taking place outdoors on U.S. soil -- since the 2003 Heritage Classic. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Buffalo Sabres played the inaugural game at Ralph Wilson Stadium in 2008; the Detroit Red Wings battled the Chicago Blackhawks at Wrigley Field in 2009, and the Boston Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park this year.

With the Penguins set to face the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on New Year's Day 2011, the League felt the time was right to bring the outdoor NHL experience back to Canada.

The 2003 Heritage Classic featured the Canadiens and Edmonton Oilers and was played in front of 57,167 fans at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton. The game was contested in sub-zero temperatures and is probably best remembered for the images of Canadiens goaltender Jose Theodore donning a toque over his mask than for Montreal's 4-3 victory. The temperature at the game -- which was played in late November, 171 miles north of McMahon Stadium -- was -4 degrees Fahrenheit. Fans in Calgary should expect a warmer climate in late February, when the average temperature in the area is between 22 and 30 degrees.

McMahon Stadium might not carry the same cache as historic Wrigley Field and Fenway Park with fans in the United States, but the 50-year-old building on the campus of the University of Calgary has had its share of historic moments.

It was constructed over a 100-day period in 1960 and later expanded to its current capacity in 1988 to serve as the site of the opening and closing ceremonies for the Winter Olympics. The CFL's Grey Cup -- Canadian Football's equivalent of the NFL's Super Bowl -- has been held at McMahon Stadium in 1975, 1993, 2000 and 2009.

McMahon Stadium's capacity without added temporary seating is 35,650. Last year's Grey Cup between the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders had 46,020 spectators. Flames President Ken King said the Heritage Classic won't see a crowd that big, but additional seating will be required.

Defenseman Andrei Markov is the only player left on the Canadiens roster who played in the 2003 game.

Curtis Glencross, Cory Sarich and Steve Staios were on hand Wednesday for the Flames. Defenseman Josh Gorges, a native of Kelowna, BC, represented the Canadiens.

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I am also very excited for the Heritage Classic, as I am for the Winter Classic. Outdoor games are amazing.

DP · Aug 5, 2010

Calgary, AB - The Calgary Flames are proud to announce that they will wear a fusion design jersey honouring the history of professional hockey in Calgary (inspired by the Calgary Tigers’ uniform) for the Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium on February 20, 2011 versus the Montreal Canadiens.

The Tigers helped form the Western Canada Hockey League in 1921 to become the first major professional team in Calgary. In 1924, after winning the Western Canadian Championships, the Tigers became the first Calgary-based club to compete for the Stanley Cup, losing the best of three Finals in a sweep to the Montreal Canadiens led by Georges Vezina and Howie Morenz.

The Flames worked with the design team at Reebok to create the vintage look. The jersey features the same jersey striping pattern with a beige Flames C logo in a vintage felt application.

The uniform is a deeper red color with gold stripes and will include the 2011 Heritage Classic logo patch on the front. The Flames will also wear a beige hockey pant to complete this traditional look.

The Tigers competed a total of eleven seasons in four leagues, winning four championships during their existence. The Tigers played the first professional hockey game in Calgary on December 19, 1921 at the Victoria Arena, defeating the Regina Capitals 3–2 before a crowd of 3,000 fans.

Five Tigers players earned election to the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Red Dutton, who played 123 games with the Tigers before moving to the NHL where he played 449 more with the Montreal Maroons and New York Americans; Herb Gardiner who began his professional career in Calgary in 1920, remained with the Tigers until he was sold to the Montreal Canadiens in 1926, where he would go on to win the Hart Memorial Trophy as NHL Most Valuable Player in 1927; Harry Oliver who would go on to play eleven seasons in the NHL with the Boston Bruins and New York Americans; Barney Stanley, who had previously won a Stanley Cup with the 1915 Vancouver Millionaires; and Rusty Crawford, a former member of Stanley Cup winning teams: the Quebec Bulldogs (1913) and the Toronto Arenas (1918).

*Calgary Tigers historical information supported by the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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R-Star · Nov 25, 2010

Probably the first time I'll watch a Flames game where they aren't playing the Oilers.

Strange matchup to say the least.

DP · Nov 25, 2010

I will enjoy this game. Can't wait for it. Can't wait for the Winter Classic as well. Two good games.

Big Frame · Jan 29, 2011

Is HBO going to do a 24/7 on this game also? And what does Crosby have to say about this?

DP · Jan 30, 2011

No, and no. I'm excited for this still. Game is getting closer, can't wait!

DP · Feb 9, 2011

Looks nice, can't wait for Hockey Weekend...

Big Frame · Feb 16, 2011

Its not as cool as Wriggley, but it looks allright.

DP · Feb 20, 2011

Today is the Heritage Classic. Right now for Hockey Day in America, the Red Wings and Wild are playing on NBC! Then its the Blackhawks and Penguins. Followed by this game.

Big Frame · Feb 20, 2011

Did you see that Wings-Wild game? Both goalies stood on there head. Great day to be a hockey fan

DP · Feb 20, 2011

Saw some of it, did you see the Hawks/Pens game?

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2011 Heritage Classic, hosted by Calgary Flames.

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DP He shoots, he scores!

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2011 Heritage Classic, hosted by Calgary Flames.

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

R-Star JBB

DP He shoots, he scores!

Big Frame Well-Known Member

DP He shoots, he scores!

DP He shoots, he scores!

Big Frame Well-Known Member

DP He shoots, he scores!

Big Frame Well-Known Member

DP He shoots, he scores!

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