ST. LOUIS, Missouri (NHL.com) – The NHL formally announced the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium on Jan. 2, 2017.
The game will be televised on NBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports at 1 p.m. ET, and serve to launch the United States portion of the NHL Centennial Celebration. The Blues also will celebrate their 50th season in the League.
“What better way to celebrate 100 years of NHL hockey than playing in the shadow of the Gateway Arch,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “At the same time we will be able to spotlight the incredible growth of hockey in St. Louis. There will be plenty of history to commemorate and lots of excitement to anticipate.”
The Blues will host their first outdoor regular-season game. The Blackhawks will participate in the Winter Classic for the third time (2009, 2015) and play in their fifth outdoor game. Chicago also competed against the Pittsburgh Penguins (2014) and Minnesota Wild (2016) in the Coors Light NHL Stadium Series.
“Landing the Winter Classic in St. Louis is a testament to the ownership group,” St. Louis mayor Francis Slay said. “We are very proud to welcome the NHL Winter Classic to the city of St. Louis.”
The Blues defeated the Blackhawks in seven games in the Western Conference First Round of the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs and advanced to the Western Conference Final before they were eliminated by the San Jose Sharks in six games.
“If we were the host the Winter Classic it would only make sense to play the Chicago Blackhawks,” Blues chairman Tom Stillman said. “When these teams meet it’s always an intense battle and we certainly saw that last spring. We would be thrilled to host the Winter Classic in any year, but it’s really special to host it in our 50th anniversary season. Thank you Blues fans. This would not be happening without your support over the years.”
In addition to the Winter Classic, Busch Stadium will host a game between Blues and Blackhawks alumni on Dec. 31, 2016. Hockey Hall of Fame members Brett Hull, Bernie Federko, Al MacInnis and Chris Pronger were announced as participants by Blues president and CEO Chris Zimmerman.
Also on New Year’s Eve, Kid Rock will perform at Scottrade Center.
“To be here at Busch Stadium and think about what we’re going to create is an amazing reward,” Zimmerman said.
