The Bruins "will host the Canadiens" in the '16 NHL Winter Classic at Gillette Stadium, according to sources cited by DJ Bean of Boston-based WEEI.com. Next year's game on New Year's Day will be the "second Winter Classic the Bruins have hosted" after playing the Flyers at Fenway Park in '10. The Canadiens will "become just the second Canadian team" to compete in the game, following the Maple Leafs in '14. However, the Canadiens "did play in the Heritage Classic in 2003 against the Oilers in Edmonton and in 2011 against the Flames in Calgary." It is "unknown how preparations for the event will affect the Patriots, as Jan. 1 typically falls right around Week 17 of the NFL season" (WEEI.com, 1/19). In Boston, Amalie Benjamin notes the Bruins "will be the first team to host the Winter Classic for a second time" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/20). SI.com's Allan Muir noted while Gillette Stadium "lacks the romantic charm" of Fenway Park, it "can seat nearly 70,000 fans, guaranteeing a sizable boost for next season's Hockey-Related Revenue." There also is "potential for some amazing ancillary events," ranging from a Boston College-Boston Univ. game on the frozen pond "to a reunion of former Bruins and Canadiens greats" (SI.com, 1/19). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ryan Kennedy wrote with Foxboro "being about five hours away from Montreal, you can bet on a big contingent of Canadiens fans making the trek and that will make for a boisterous atmosphere" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/19).
