Hockey Clips

On February 20, 2011, hockey fans will be treated to a rare event: the second Heritage Classic outdoor game. Only once before has this event been attempted, in the 2003 Edmonton Heritage Classic. Next year’s game will be held in Calgary and matches up the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames. Both teams have shown their excitement since the official announcement on Wednesday, August 4. Calgary Flame Steve Staios is happy to be paying tribute to the old-time hockey players who came beforemost notably the Calgary Tigers of the 1920s, whose colors and design are emulated in the Flames’ special event uniforms. The Canadiens, who were founded in 1909 and defeated the Tigers at the 1924 Stanley Cup, will be wearing a classic version of their own uniform.If you’re not a regular hockey fan, you may not realize just how big this event is. The setting is McMahon Stadium, which usually seats 35,650 spectators, but is adding additional seating for this rare opportunity to get a glimpse of hockey’s past. Outdoor games are where both the sport itself, as well as many modern players, got their start. Some players, like Curtis Glencross, have a family tradition of outdoor skating on Christmas day. When the weather dips down cold enough, it’s an invitation to lace up and take to the ice. There should be no concerns in February in Calgary, where the weather often ranges between 12.2 F and 34 F. However, that little bead of mercury has reached -36.4 F in 1884.The event is being broadcast on the Versus channel in the US. America has its own outdoor game coming up as wellthe 2011 NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day, 2011, where the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals will face off at Heinz Field.