Boston Bruins: A look back at team’s NHL Winter Classic history
By Jeff Frias
The Boston Bruins will be playing in their third Winter Classic this upcoming New Year’s Day, and for the first time they will be on the road.
In the past, the Boston Bruins have had the opportunity to play at historic Fenway Park in Boston in 2010 and then in 2016 at Gillette Stadium, home of the 5-time Super Bowl Champion New England Patriots.
In anticipation of their next Winter Classic game in 2019, let’s review a summary of the outdoor hockey games in which Boston has participated; one very memorable and one we would prefer to forget.
Winter Classic 2010
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The first game was the 2010 NHL Winter Classic played on January 1, 2010, at Fenway Park in Boston. The game, which was the third Winter Classic played, had the Boston Bruins against the Philadelphia Flyers.
The Bruins won the game, 2–1, in overtime with a goal from Marco Sturm. They also tied the game in the final minutes with a great goal by Mark Recchi which sent the game into overtime and Boston fans into a frenzy.
With this victory, the Bruins became the first home team to win a Winter Classic. After the game, we witnessed the announcement of the roster for the United States men’s hockey team joining the 2012 Winter Olympics, in which the Bruins own Tim Thomas was selected.
Both teams reached back into their pasts for jersey inspiration. The Flyers donned a white replica of their 1973–74 home jersey, while the Bruins wore a dark yellow and brown uniform that included the “B” from their 1955–57 jerseys.
Winter Classic 2016
The Boston Bruins next Winter Classic experience took place on January 1, 2016. In this event, Bruins made their second appearance in the Winter Classic and became the first team to host the Winter Classic twice.
The game, which was the eighth Winter Classic for the NHL, pitted the Montreal Canadiens against Boston at Gillette Stadium. This was the first Winter Classic appearance and the third outdoor game for Montreal.
This was the first occasion in which the two adversaries – one NHL’s best-known rivalries – faced each other first time outdoors. The game was not one that Boston fans prefer to remember, as the Canadiens won 5-1.
An alumni game was also played on December 31, 2015 prior to the main event. In the Alumni Game, the Bruins defeated the Canadiens 5-4 in a shootout with Ray Bourque scoring the winning goal.
Additionally, the Boston Pride women’s professional hockey team played preceding the alumni game against Les Canadiennes of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League in a 1–1 tie in the first ever 2016 Outdoor Women’s Classic.
The Bruins introduced a third jersey for the game and it featured the team’s original logo from the 1924–25 NHL season, choosing to replace the original brown and gold sweaters with black and gold. Montreal chose to play in an original third jersey which used a logo from the 1920s.
Winter Classic 2019
The game will feature the Chicago Blackhawks taking on the Boston Bruins at Notre Dame Stadium the home of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
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This will be the fourth Winter Classic for the Blackhawks and the third for the Bruins, and Boston fans are looking forward to this third opportunity to secure a victory which enjoying the rare opportunity to watch their boys in black and gold skate outdoors.