The Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic took place yesterday in front of 55,411 fans at Edmonton’s Commonwealth Stadium, and “it was a perfect night for outdoor pond hockey” as the Oilers beat the Flames 5- 2. The temperature was “2 degrees Celsius at the time of the puck drop — practically balmy compared to -20°C in 2003” — and all the pre-game festivities went off “without a hitch” (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 10/29). The 55,411 spectators led the game to be “declared a sellout by the NHL” (CP, 10/29).
Reviews of the ice surface “were positive.” Oilers F Leon Draisaitl “The ice was good, especially early. Obviously as it snows a little more there, it gets a little worse.” Draisaitl also said it was “easy to forget the game was being played away.” Draisaitl: “You’re in the moment, you’re playing the game, so you don’t really realize it while serving. But when you’re on the bench, it’s a really cool atmosphere and a way to celebrate the The NHL celebrates hockey. » Oilers G Stuart Skinner added: “Everything went really well there. Everyone who came together to build this rink did an incredible job” (CP, 10/29).
To celebrate Halloween weekend, the Oilers “marched into the stadium en masse” yesterday, “dressed like oil rig workers with their hard hats and blue/yellow jumpsuits with blue undertones.” The visiting Flames “came trooping off their bus in cowboy hats, boots and coveralls, shirtless” (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 10/29).
Getty Images
