The Maple Leafs announced Wednesday they’ll be the proud hosts of the NHL’s first-ever Centennial Classic – an outdoor game at BMO Field – on Jan. 1, 2017. It will mark the second time the two Original Six teams have faced off outdoors, but it will be the first time Toronto has hosted what is always an event to remember.
“It’s such a celebration of hockey,” Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan said Wednesday night after the announcement was made. “It just means so much to the players, but also, it means a lot to fans that…grew up in climates like this (and) experienced hockey outdoors.