The Heritage Classic Is Back!

On February 20, 2011, it’ll be the Calgary Flames vs the Montreal Canadiens at McMahon Stadium (home of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League).  No attendance records will be broken this time around as the venue holds less than 40,000, but extra temporary seating could swell the ranks to just over 46,000.

Flames president Ken King told Vicki Hall of the Calgary Herald that the team is working on seriously throwback design for the jerseys.  “It will be tied to the history of Calgary long before the Flames were here.”

Hmm, does that also mean the pucks will be made of maple wood wrapped in moose leather, the sticks will be hand carved by Mi’kmaqs from willow trees and the skates will be caribou antlers tied to lumberjack boots?

Now THAT would be interesting!

No word yet on what the Habs will don.  Hopefully not the bleu-blanc-rouge “Club Athletique Canadien” barberpole monstrosities we last saw against the Boston Bruins on February 1, 2009.

When it was clear that NBC wasn’t interested in broadcasting a Winter Classic that wasn’t played on US ice, the feisty neighbors to the north petitioned the NHL competition committee and the Players Association to grant leave to host their own darn party.

In addition to the official game, rumour has it that plans are in motion for an old-timer game, a collegiate contest and a possible celebrity match (remember Bobby Farrelly’s goaltender beer can helmet?)

CBC (natch) will air the game in Canada while VERSUS nabbed broadcasting rights for the USA.

Tags: Bobby Farrelly, Calgary Flames, CBC, Habs, Heritage Classic, hockey, Ken King, McMahon Stadium, Mi'kmaqs, Montreal Canadiens, NBC, NHL, VERSUS, Winter Classic