Plot Synopsis

Each year since 2008 (except in 2013 and 2021), the National Hockey League (NHL) has held a hockey game in an outdoor arena on New Year's Day (or on January 2 when New Year's Day falls on a Sunday.)

Two storied NHL franchises faced off in the 2014 NHL WINTER CLASSIC at one of college football's most historic stadiums in front of more than 100,000 fans on New Year's Day, when NBC presented the game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs on Wednesday, January 1, 2014 at 1pm ET/10am PT from Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, MI. Mike 'Doc' Emrick, Eddie Olczyk and Pierre McGuire called the game at ice level.

On New Year's Day 2015 (Thursday, January 1) from 1-4pm ET/10am-1pm PT (live), NBC premiered the 2015 NHL WINTER CLASSIC, as Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals hosts Patrick Kane and the Chicago Blackhawks from Nationals Park, home of Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals. Play-by-play commentator Mike 'Doc' Emerick, analyst Eddie Olczyk, and Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire will have the Winter Classic call from Washington, D.C.

The 2016 NHL WINTER CLASSIC premiered on NBC on New Year's Day 2016 (Friday, January 1) from 1-4pm ET/10am-1pm PT, as the Montreal Canadiens (21-15-3) battle the Boston Bruins (20-12-4) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. Doc Emrick, Eddie Olczyk & Pierre McGuire are on the call again for this year's Classic.

The 2017 NHL WINTER CLASSIC premiered on Monday, January 2, 2017 from 1-4pm ET/10am-1pm PT, featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues, from Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO. Bob Costas, who began his professional broadcasting career in St. Louis, returns to the booth, marking the sixth occasion he's part of the Winter Classic, previously serving as host for the first five iterations from 2008-2012. Costas is joined by Mike 'Doc' Emrick (play-by-play), Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Pierre McGuire (Inside-the-Glass analyst). NBC Sports' NHL studio team of host Liam McHugh and analysts Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick will handle pre-game, post-game, and intermission coverage on-site at Busch Stadium.

The 2023 NHL WINTER CLASSIC debuted on Monday, January 2, 2023 from 2-5pm ET/11am-2pm PT on TNT, with the Boston Bruins hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Fenway Park. Bell Biv DeVoe performs the national anthem along with the Boston Pops, led by conductor Keith Lockhart. The Black Keys perform during the first intermission. Kenny Albert calls play by play, with color commentator Eddie Olczyk.
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For the 2024 edition, the NHL WINTER CLASSIC moved to the Pacific Northwest, where the Vegas Golden Knights faced off against the Seattle Kraken at T-Mobile Park in Seattle, WA. The League's two newest clubs go head-to-head, as Jack Eichel, Jonathan Marchessault and the 2023 Stanley Cup Champion Vegas Golden Knights battle Brandon Tanev, Matty Beniers and the Seattle Kraken at the home of the Seattle Mariners. Kenny Albert will provide play-by-play for the outdoor matchup alongside commentary from Eddie Olczyk, with Brian Boucher at ice level. TNT will give viewers unprecedented access throughout the Winter Classic, including on-ice interviews from Darren Pang and additional reporting throughout T-Mobile Park from Jackie Redmond.