Maple Leafs to play Red Wings in NHL’s First “Centennial Classic” Outdoor Game

Remember when everyone was sad and/or upset when we learned that the Toronto Maple Leafs wouldn’t be getting the Winter Classic for their centennial season next year? Well, the NHL might have done the Leafs one better by creating a brand new event especially for them.

The Maple Leafs have just revealed that they will face off against the Detroit Red Wings in the first ever “Centennial Classic” on January 1st, 2017 at BMO Field in Toronto. I say ‘first ever’, but quite frankly it may very well be the first and only event of its kind. Optimists will say the NHL did well to create a unique event worthy of the occasion. Others will say it’s just another outdoor game with some fancy marketing.

It’s hard to call it a truly unique event, really. In fact, Toronto and Detroit have already faced off against each other in an outdoor game when the Red Wings hosted the Leafs at The Big House just two years ago at the 2014 Winter Classic. Toronto won the game 3-2 in the shootout. 

Will you be buying tickets? If that’s the plan, start saving your pennies.