2023 Heritage Classic

2023 NHL Heritage Classic
123 Total
Calgary Flames 110 2
Edmonton Oilers 302 5
DateOctober 29, 2023
VenueCommonwealth Stadium
CityEdmonton, Alberta
Attendance55,411
← 2022

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]

Background

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During 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]

Panorama from the first period

Game summary

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Scoring summary
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
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
Three star selections
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

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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

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Entertainment

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Country 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

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In 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

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  1. ^ McKenzie, Julian (December 31, 2022). "Flames-Oilers will play in 2023 Heritage Classic". The Athletic. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Oilers to host Flames in Heritage Classic at Commonwealth Stadium next season". Sportsnet. December 10, 2022.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ a b "Oilers to host Flames in 2023 Tim Hortons NHL Heritage Classic". NHL. December 31, 2022.
  5. ^ "Former Penguins forward Adam Johnson dies at 29 in 'freak accident' during game". NHL. October 29, 2023.
  6. ^ "'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.
  7. ^ "RELEASE: Alberta's own Nickelback to perform at Heritage Classic | Edmonton Oilers". www.nhl.com. October 4, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  8. ^ "2023 Heritage Classic to be latest in long tradition of 'amazing' NHL outdoor games". NHL. October 20, 2023.
  9. ^ "USWNT to Face Colombia in October Friendlies in San Diego and Sandy, Utah". USSoccer. August 28, 2023.
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