We have an annual Winter Classic, we have an annual (and even more) Stadium Series, but also we have a special one event for only Canadian NHL teams, the Heritage Classic.
It's an irregular series where only teams from Canada play, and only four games have been played for the date. The inaugural game was played in 2003 and became the first regular-season NHL outdoor game in the League's history.
2003
On November 22, 2003 Edmonton Oilers faced Montreal Canadiens at the Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton and lost 3-4. Oilers had an idea of hosting the outdoor game already in 1980s, but this idea was implemented just 20 years later, pushed by the "Cold War" NCAA outdoor game between a long-time rivals the University of Michigan and the Michigan State University in 2001.
The 2003 NHL Heritage Classic consisted of the two parts: the game itself and the MegaStars game before it, which was played between the former stars of both clubs. Edmonton ilers with the great Wayne Gretzky and other great players from the 80s decade, and Montreal Canadiens with Guy Lafleur and notable players from the 70s decade. All the players who took part in the MegaStars were retired for the time except Mark Messier, who received a special permission from his current club, the New York Rangers to play for Edmonton in this game. Oilers won 2-0 this game consisted of two 15-minute halves. By the way, there were no Zamboni and players cleaned the ice by themselves.
2011
Five years later, in 2008, the first Winter Classic took place, and became an annual event, but mostly focused on the teams from the USA. And in 2011 the second Canadian outdoor game was hosted in Calgary where the local Flames faced Montreal Canadiens. The game was played on February 20, 2011 at the McMahon Stadium, home of the many local football teams from different leagues. The weather was cold, the temperature was about −25 °C, even colder than in 2003 when Oilers played with Canadians. Calgary Flames won this game 4-0 and their goaltender Miikka Kiprusoff recorded the first shutout in an NHL outdoor game.
This event was much longer than the inaugural Heritage Classic in 2003 and started on friday, February 18 with the AHL outdoors game between Abbotsford Heat and Oklahoma City Barons. Edmonton Oilers affiliate, the Barons, won 3-1 over the Flames' affiliate, the Heat. This game was played at the Scotiabank Saddledome, not outdoors. The next day McMahon Stadium hosted the Alumni game between the retired players of the Flames and Canadiens, the team of Montreal won the game 5-3. There were many players of the Flames' 1989 championship team.
And the Flames - Canadiens game was followed by the outdoor WHL game of the Calgary Hitmen and Regina Pats on February, 21. The teams wore jeseys in retro style as NHL franchises day ago. Regina Pats won 3-2 this first WHL outoor game in history.
2014
The break between the 2nd and the 3rd NHL Heritage Classic was much more shorter than the previous one and already in 2014 two another Canadian NHL teams took part in the outdoor game. On March 2 Vancouver Canucks hosted Ottawa Senators at the BC Place in Vancouver. This stadium has a retractable roof and the 2014 Heritage Classic isn't an outdoors game technically because during the game the roof was closed due to a weather conditions.
Unlike the previous Heritage Classics the event in 2014 consisted only of the NHL game between the Senators and Capitals. Ottawa Senators won the game 4-2, and this game was the last one for the Roberto Luongo as a Canucks' player. As in previous years the teams wore jerseys in retro style.
2016
The 4th and the last for now Heritage Classic was played on October 23, 2016 in Winnipeg at the smallest stadium in this series - the Investors Group Field with the capacity of 33 234 seats. The Edmonton Oilers defeated hometeam Winnipeg Jets 3-0, it's the second shutout in four Heritage Classic games played. And, of course, the retro style uniforms were prepared for this game.
The Alumni Game returned to the Heritage Classic. As usual, this game was played before the game between Jets and Oilers. Captains of the alumni teams were Wayne Gretzky for Oilers and Dale Hawerchuk for Jets, and the Jets won this game 6-5, the winning goal was scored by Teemu Selanne.
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