The 2023 NHL Heritage Classic (branded as the 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic for sponsorship reasons) was an outdoor regular season National Hockey League (NHL) game. The seventh game in the Heritage Classic series took place on October 29, 2023, at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton, with the Edmonton Oilers hosting the Calgary Flames. It was the first outdoor game in the Battle of Alberta rivalry.[1][2]
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| Date | October 29, 2023 | |||||||||||||||
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| Venue | Commonwealth Stadium | |||||||||||||||
| City | Edmonton, Alberta | |||||||||||||||
| Attendance | 55,411 | |||||||||||||||
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Background
editDuring the "32 Thoughts" segment on the December 10, 2022, broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada, Elliotte Friedman initially reported that the NHL was planning a Heritage Classic game between the Edmonton Oilers and the Calgary Flames during the 2023–24 season, marking the 20th anniversary of the first Heritage Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and the Oilers at Commonwealth Stadium. While the 2003 game was held in November, Friedman stated that the league was aiming for October so the weather would be a little warmer;[2] the 2003 contest had been held in temperatures of close to −18 °C (0 °F), with a wind chill of −30 °C (−22 °F).[3] The league officially announced the game on December 31, 2022.[4]
The 2023 Heritage Classic marked the first outdoor game in the Battle of Alberta rivalry and the third one for each team.[4]
A moment of silence for former Pittsburgh Penguins player Adam Johnson was held prior to the game.[5]
Game summary
edit| Scoring summary | |||||
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| Period | Team | Goal | Assist(s) | Time | Score |
| 1st | EDM | Brett Kulak (1) | Evander Kane (3), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (5) | 04:19 | 1–0 EDM |
| EDM | Zach Hyman (3) | Leon Draisaitl (8) | 09:38 | 2–0 EDM | |
| CGY | Nazem Kadri (1) (PP) | MacKenzie Weegar (1), Jonathan Huberdeau (3) | 14:55 | 2–1 EDM | |
| EDM | Evan Bouchard (3) | Leon Draisaitl (9), Connor McDavid (7) | 16:06 | 3–1 EDM | |
| 2nd | CGY | A.J. Greer (1) (PP) | MacKenzie Weegar (2), Jacob Markstrom (1) | 11:28 | 3–2 EDM |
| 3rd | EDM | Vincent Desharnais (1) | Evander Kane (4), Zach Hyman (6) | 06:16 | 4–2 EDM |
| EDM | Evander Kane (2) (EN) | Derek Ryan (1) | 19:13 | 5–2 EDM | |
- Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season
| Penalty summary | |||||
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| Period | Team | Player | Penalty | Time | PIM |
| 1st | EDM | Evander Kane | Boarding | 06:46 | 2:00 |
| EDM | Leon Draisaitl | Broken stick | 07:25 | 2:00 | |
| EDM | Ryan Nugent-Hopkins | Holding | 12:56 | 2:00 | |
| EDM | Darnell Nurse | Roughing | 13:30 | 2:00 | |
| CGY | Blake Coleman | Interference | 17:55 | 2:00 | |
| 2nd | EDM | Vincent Desharnais | Interference | 09:28 | 2:00 |
| 3rd | CGY | Dennis Gilbert | Holding | 07:05 | 2:00 |
| EDM | Evander Kane | Tripping | 12:35 | 2:00 | |
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| Three star selections | |||
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| Team | Player | Statistics | |
| 1st | EDM | Zach Hyman | 1 goal, 1 assist |
| 2nd | EDM | Leon Draisaitl | 2 assists, 2 penalty minutes |
| 3rd | CGY | MacKenzie Weegar | 2 assists |
Team rosters
edit
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- ^1 Jack Campbell dressed for the Edmonton Oilers as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game.
^2 Dan Vladar dressed for the Calgary Flames as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game.
Scratches
edit- Calgary Flames: Rasmus Andersson, Adam Ruzicka, Jordan Oesterle
- Edmonton Oilers: Mattias Janmark
Entertainment
editCountry singer and Alberta native Brett Kissel sang the Canadian national anthem, which marked his second time performing the anthem at the Heritage Classic, after doing so in 2016 alongside Doc Walker. Canadian indie rock band The Rural Alberta Advantage performed during team introductions (and also served as the house band at the game as well).[6]
Following the anthem, the ceremonial face-off consisted of alumni players who played in the 2003 game at Commonwealth. For the Canadiens: Jose Theodore, Steve Begin, and Stephane Quintal and for the Oilers: Charlie Huddy, Ales Hemsky, and Jarret Stoll.
Rock group and Alberta natives Nickelback performed during the second intermission. The setlist included their version of "Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting)" by Elton John and their chart topping songs "How You Remind Me" and "Rockstar".[7]
Broadcasting
editIn Canada, the 2023 Heritage Classic was broadcast on Sportsnet. In the United States, the game was broadcast on TBS in lieu of TNT, due to the latter airing the second game of a women's international soccer friendly series between the United States and Colombia. The game marked TBS' first NHL regular season broadcast. The game was streamed on Sportsnet+ in Canada and on Max in the United States.[8][9]
References
edit- ^ McKenzie, Julian (December 31, 2022). "Flames-Oilers will play in 2023 Heritage Classic". The Athletic. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ a b "Oilers to host Flames in Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium next season". Sportsnet. December 10, 2022.
- ^ "Hourly Data Report for November 22, 2003". Canada's National Climate Archive. Environment Canada. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved November 29, 2010.
- ^ a b "Oilers to host Flames in 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic". NHL. December 31, 2022.
- ^ "Former Penguins forward Adam Johnson dies at 29 in 'freak accident' during game". NHL. October 29, 2023.
- ^ "'Battle of Alberta' at Heritage Classic to spotlight field design of player illustrations, vintage uniforms". www.nhl.com. NHL.com. October 18, 2023. Archived from the original on October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023.
- ^ "RELEASE: Alberta's own Nickelback to perform at Heritage Classic | Edmonton Oilers". www.nhl.com. October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Heritage Classic to be latest in long tradition of 'amazing' NHL outdoor games". NHL. October 20, 2023.
- ^ "USWNT to Face Colombia in October Friendlies in San Diego and Sandy, Utah". USSoccer. August 28, 2023.
