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Bruins Officially Get Second Winter Classic, This One At Gillette Stadium

The Bruins will become the "first team to host the NHL's signature game for a second time" when they welcome "their longtime rivals," the Canadiens, to Gillette Stadium for the '16 Winter Classic, according to Amalie Benjamin of the BOSTON GLOBE. Bruins Principal Charlie Jacobs said landing a second Winter Classic took "not a little, a lot of lobbying on our behalf to say we want to host this game." Jacobs: "Maybe some arm-twisting with some of the other leadership at the NHL level." He added, "The fact that we’re getting it twice I think speaks a lot about the market that we play in and the passionate fan base, not only for Boston but the Montreal fans that may come down and I’ll expect will be in Gillette Stadium as well." Benjamin reported the Patriots "will play their final two regular-season games on the road next season" in order to "accommodate the Winter Classic." Bruins President Cam Neely said that playing the game in Foxborough "provides the Bruins opportunities to do more in the surrounding community, with youth hockey events and corporate events." He also mentioned the potential "for a smaller sheet of ice for kids." Benjamin noted the NHL after this year's Blackhawks-Capitals game "is coming off its lowest national rating" for a Winter Classic. But Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs said, "I think we’re going to drive the biggest numbers you’ve ever seen. Really. That was true in the Detroit situation. I think it’ll be more so in ours. It’s just New England hockey. Let’s face it: There isn’t anything like it" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/25). Jacobs added, "Moving it to Gillette I think was a hard decision by the league. ... They’re taking a chance that it will be successful and I have no doubt that it will be after watching the crowds that want to come in and see this." In Boston, Steve Conroy noted the NHL since the start of the Winter Classic had "balked at including a Canadian team because of the loss of television numbers" (BOSTON HERALD, 1/25).

NORTHWARD BOUND
: The NHL over the weekend also officially announced that the '16 Stadium Series will consist of two additional outdoor games: Blackhawks-Wild at TCF Bank Stadium and Red Wings-Avalanche at Coors Field. Wild Owner Craig Leipold said, "We’re incredibly excited about it. The opportunity to play the rival Blackhawks, I think, makes it a very compelling game." In Minneapolis, Michael Russo noted Leipold's wish is "to turn the Stadium Series game, which includes an accompanying alumni game, into 'a real iconic weeklong event' that could include Hockey Day Minnesota (which includes high school games and maybe a Gophers game)," an AHL Iowa Wild game "and 'basically as much as we possibly can do' to show off Minnesota’s love affair with outdoor hockey." Leipold said that TCF Bank Stadium's ability ability to fit 15,000 more fans than Target Field was "ultimately a huge factor" in its selection (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 1/25). In St. Paul, Chad Graff noted Leipold and the Wild's "ultimate goal remains to host the Winter Classic." Leipold: "We also believe this is a way to show the NHL and the national broadcasters that Minnesota is a great place to hold an outdoor game. The hope is shortly after that we can get a Winter Classic." He is confident the Wild "will sell out the 50,805-capacity TCF Bank Stadium, which would break the record for largest crowd at a Minnesota hockey game, set a year ago when the Gophers played" at the on-campus stadium (ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/25). Wild COO Matt Majka on Saturday said of the NHL, "They've been demanding about certain things. They wanted us to become a better hockey team. We've done that. They wanted us to appear in the playoffs. We've done that. We have some high-profile players now. Those are all fair requests. We've checked those things off our list through the years, so here we are. They were true to their word. They wanted more from us and we brought it, and here we are now with a Stadium Series game" (FOXSPORTS.com, 1/24).

DEEP-DISH DRAW: In Chicago, Mark Lazerus noted the Blackhawks "get yet another outdoor game" when they visit the Wild at TCF Bank Stadium, their "third in less than two years, and record fourth overall." They "get nationally televised games on a regular basis, while other teams toil in obscurity." The Blackhawks "are the league’s standard-bearers, the favored sons." Such a thing "was unthinkable not too long ago." Bettman said that a "willingness to be in the spotlight is one reason the Hawks get so many high-profile gigs," as well as "the TV ratings they generate and the tickets they sell" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/25). Bettman said of the Blackhawks, "They're a national draw, and they get a great deal of attention." He said that the concept of outdoor games "hasn't become stale." Bettman: "Fans and our teams can't get enough of them" (L.A. TIMES, 1/25). Blackhawks RW Patrick Kane said, "We kind of view ourselves and pride ourselves on being one of the faces of the league, as far as team-wise" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/25). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ryan Kennedy wrote under the header, "Sick Of Chicago Playing Outdoor Games? Too Bad." Kane said, "We’re a marketable team. We’ve had success in recent years and we have players that are fun to watch, especially in a primetime game. We enjoy it" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/24).

JETS NOT SET: In Winnipeg, Ken Wiebe wrote Bettman on Saturday "left little doubt that he felt" the CFL Winnipeg Blue Bombers "were to blame for the fact" that the NHL Jets will not host an outdoor game at Investors Group Field next season. Bettman: "I was disappointed (the Blue Bombers) wouldn't make the stadium available to us. That's really what it comes down to. ... I respect the decision and we'll have to regroup and try again." He added, "We owe Winnipeg a game. We want to do a game there. We've been talking about going there for a long time" (WINNIPEG SUN, 1/25).

LEAFY GREEN: In Toronto, Kevin McGran wrote the Maple Leafs "are expected to bring an all-star game and outdoor game to Toronto for their centennial season" in '16-17. The NHL Draft, however, "is not expected to be in Toronto that year." Maple Leafs President Brendan Shanahan and his staff "were working behind the scenes to make sure the rest of the league is on board with Toronto’s hopes" -- similar to the Canadiens' centennial season of '08-09, when they "hosted the draft and all-star game." Bettman: "We are in discussions about appropriate ways to celebrate the Leafs’ 100th, which is also Canada’s 150th (birthday). It’s also the league’s 100th. We have a lot to celebrate" (TORONTO STAR, 1/25). THE HOCKEY NEWS' Ken Campbell cited a source as saying that the Maple Leafs will celebrate their 100th anniversary in '17 "with the All-Star Game and an outdoor game." The source added that the outdoor game involving the Leafs "will apparently be held at Rogers Centre with the roof open and not at the outdoor BMO Field" (THEHOCKEYNEWS.com, 1/24).

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