List of NHL outdoor games broadcasters

The following is a list of NHL regular season outdoor games broadcasters, including those in Canada and in the United States.

The first NHL Heritage Classic was played in 2003 at Commonwealth Stadium between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens.[1] Although the Oilers had suggested the idea of hosting an outdoor game as early as the mid 1980s,[2] the genesis of the 2003 event was the "Cold War" outdoor game played two years prior between Michigan State University and the University of Michigan.[3]

One year later, NBC Sports Executive VP Jon Miller pitched the idea of an annual outdoor television event to the NHL in 2004 "but they didn't find the concept workable."[4] In December 2006, Miller found an ally in then NHL Executive VP/Business & Media John Collins, who embraced the idea.[5][6] The first Winter Classic was held January 1, 2008, between the Buffalo Sabres and Pittsburgh Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The game had an NHL-record crowd of 71,217 fans in attendance. The success of the 2008 NHL Winter Classic led the NHL to schedule a second one for 2009, held at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, on January 1, 2009, matching the Detroit Red Wings against the Chicago Blackhawks.

That game had the highest American television ratings of any hockey game in 33 years. The success of the 2009 NHL Winter Classic has solidified "the Classic" as an annual event from then on. The Winter Classic was officially made a permanent part of the NHL schedule through at least January 1, 2021, as part of the league's television contract with the NBC Sports Group. The Winter Classic is also broadcast in Canada by the league's TV partner there too.

Unlike the annual Winter Classic games, Heritage Classic games have been held infrequently.

For the 2013–14 NHL season, the NHL introduced three other outdoor games known as the Stadium Series. The 2014 Stadium Series was held in Los Angeles, California, New York City and Chicago, Illinois. Another Stadium Series game was held the following season in Santa Clara, California, with two more games scheduled for the 2015–16 season in Denver, Colorado and Minneapolis, Minnesota.

To celebrate the league's centennial anniversary in 2017, two special outdoor games were held: The NHL Centennial Classic on January 1, 2017, to kickoff the year; and then the NHL 100 Classic played on December 16.

United States
Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator Ice level reporter(s) Studio host Studio analyst(s)
2020 Stadium Series NBC Kenny Albert Eddie Olczyk Brian Boucher and Rutledge Wood Kathryn Tappen Patrick Sharp and Rutledge Wood
2020 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Brian Boucher Mike Tirico and Kathryn Tappen Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Patrick Sharp
2019 Heritage Classic NBCSN Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Scott Oake and Kelly Hrudey Kathryn Tappen Keith Jones and Anson Carter
2019 Stadium Series NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2019 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Mike Tirico and Kathryn Tappen Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2018 Stadium Series NBC Mike Emrick Mike Milbury Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Kathryn Tappen Jeremy Roenick and Keith Jones
2018 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Mike Milbury Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick
2017 100 Classic NBCSN Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Garry Galley and Kyle Bukauskas Kathryn Tappen Keith Jones and Brian Boucher
2017 Stadium Series NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2017 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Bob Costas and Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
NHL Centennial Classic NBC John Forslund Brian Boucher Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Kathryn Tappen Jeremy Roenick
2016 Heritage Classic NHL Network Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Scott Oake David Amber Kelly Hrudey, Nick Kypreos, and Elliotte Friedman
2016 Stadium Series (Denver) NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Kathryn Tappen Jeremy Roenick
2016 Stadium Series (Minneapolis) NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2016 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2015 Stadium Series NBCSN Dave Strader Eddie Olczyk Brian Engblom and Carolyn Manno Kathryn Tappen Jeremy Roenick
2015 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2014 Heritage Classic NBCSN Gord Miller Brian Engblom Kathryn Tappen Jeremy Roenick
2014 Stadium Series (Chicago) NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2014 Stadium Series (New York) NBC (New York Rangers–New Jersey) Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
NBCSN (New York Rangers–New York Islanders)
2014 Stadium Series (Los Angeles) NBCSN Dave Strader Anson Carter Brian Engblom and Jeremy Roenick Russ Thaler Jeremy Roenick and Anson Carter
2014 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2012 NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang Bob Costas Mike Milbury
2011 Heritage Classic Versus (now NBCSN) Dave Strader Andy Brickley Brian Engblom Bill Patrick Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick
2011 Winter Classic NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang Bob Costas Mike Milbury
2010[7] NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Darren Pang Bob Costas Mike Milbury
2009 NBC Dave Strader Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Darren Pang Bob Costas Mike Milbury
2008 NBC Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Darren Pang Bob Costas Mike Milbury

Notes
  • The first outdoor game between two NHL teams was an official pre-season match-up on September 27, 1991. The game took place in the parking lot of Caesars Palace[8] in Las Vegas, Nevada, and featured the Los Angeles Kings and the New York Rangers.[9] The game was televised live on Prime Ticket, and, due to its uniqueness, has since been repeated numerous times on other networks, such as MSG Network and the NHL Network.[10] During the game, Kings goaltender Kelly Hrudey wore a camera mounted on his mask, and shots from his point of view were used during the broadcast.[11]
  • There was no separate American live telecast of the 2003 Heritage Classic. ESPN, the American rights-holder at the time, was already committed to broadcasting college football on its channels during that day. American viewers who wanted to watch the game live could view the Canadian CBC broadcast on NHL Center Ice.[12]
  • In 2008, some NBC affiliates decided instead to air the game on secondary channels often used for weather service. Therefore, in some markets, fans with a satellite service carrying DirecTV or DISH Network were unable to watch the game. Despite this, and competing with broadcasts of college football bowl games (this was particularly noted in the Detroit, Michigan market, usually a strong market for hockey ratings, where the Wolverines were playing in the Capital One Bowl), the game garnered a 2.6 rating and 5 share, the highest rating for a regular season NHL game since 1996, and the highest share since Wayne Gretzky's final game in 1999,[13] in a near tie with second-place CBS' 2.7 rating for Gator Bowl coverage.[14] The production earned a 38.1 rating in Buffalo and 17.7 rating in Pittsburgh, to lead all markets.[13]
    • NBC had an airplane flying overhead to provide bird's-eye views of the rink, including a live webstream from its camera throughout the game.[15] The announcers stood in a constructed perch on the penalty box side of the rink, in front of the stadium stands.
  • In 2009, Dave Strader filled-in for Mike Emrick on play-by-play for NBC because Emrick had laryngitis.
    • On January 3, 2009, the NHL reported that the overnight television ratings had increased 12% over the 2008 game. Nationally, the game had 2.9 overnight rating and a 6 share. In Chicago, Thursday's game drew a national high of an 11.8 rating and 21 share, with Detroit second at 10.5 and 21 (this despite that yet again, a Michigan-based team was playing in the Capital One Bowl opposite the Winter Classic—this time the Michigan State Spartans). Other above-average markets included Buffalo (whose 10.1 rating/20 share was comparable to Detroit's), St. Louis (5.3/10), Pittsburgh (4.4/8), Denver (4.2/10), Providence (3.5/7), Indianapolis (3.4/6), West Palm Beach (3.3/6), and Orlando (3.2/5).[16] Each overnight ratings point equals about 735,000 TV homes.[17] On January 12, the final ratings figure was announced. There was an average of 4.4 million viewers of the game on NBC, and this was the largest since the February 23, 1975 match between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers.[18]
  • The 2011 Winter Classic was delayed by seven hours due to rainy weather and ended up being played in prime time.
  • The 2012 game was played on January 2 since January 1 landed on a Sunday.
  • The 2013 game was cancelled on November 2, 2012, due to the 2012–13 NHL lockout.
  • NHL Network simulcast Sportsnet's coverage of the 2016 Heritage Classic.
  • NBCSN simulcast CBC and Sportsnet's coverage of the 2017 100 Classic so does CBC and Sportsnet's coverage of the 2019 Heritage Classic.

See also

Canada (English)
Year Network Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Ice level reporters Studio host Studio analysts
2020 Stadium Series Sportsnet 360 Kenny Albert Eddie Olczyk Brian Boucher and Rutledge Wood Kathryn Tappen Patrick Sharp and Rutledge Wood
2020 Winter Classic Sportsnet Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Brian Boucher Mike Tirico and Kathryn Tappen Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Patrick Sharp
2019 Heritage Classic CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Scott Oake and Kelly Hrudey Ron MacLean Don Cherry, Kelly Hrudey, Brian Burke, and Elliotte Friedman
Sportsnet
2019 Stadium Series Sportsnet One Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
Sportsnet 360
2019 Winter Classic Sportsnet Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Mike Tirico and Kathryn Tappen Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2018 Stadium Series CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Kyle Bukauskas Ron MacLean Don Cherry, Kelly Hrudey, Nick Kypreos, and Elliotte Friedman
Sportsnet
2018 Winter Classic Sportsnet Mike Emrick Mike Milbury Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Keith Jones and Jeremy Roenick
NHL 100 Classic CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Garry Galley and Kyle Bukauskas Ron MacLean Don Cherry, Kelly Hrudey, Nick Kypreos, and Elliotte Friedman
Sportsnet
2017 Stadium Series Sportsnet Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2017 Winter Classic Sportsnet Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Bob Costas and Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
NHL Centennial Classic Sportsnet Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Scott Oake Ron MacLean Don Cherry, Kelly Hrudey, Nick Kypreos, and Elliotte Friedman
2016 Heritage Classic Sportsnet Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Scott Oake David Amber Kelly Hrudey, Nick Kypreos, and Elliotte Friedman
2016 Stadium Series (Denver) Sportsnet Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Kathryn Tappen Jeremy Roenick
2016 Stadium Series (Minneapolis) Sportsnet Mike Emrick Eddie Olczyk Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick Liam McHugh Mike Milbury, Keith Jones, and Jeremy Roenick
2016 Winter Classic Sportsnet Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy and Scott Oake George Stroumboulopoulos Nick Kypreos and Elliotte Friedman
2015 Stadium Series CBC Paul Romanuk Mike Johnson Kelly Hrudey and Cassie Campbell-Pascall George Stroumboulopoulos Elliotte Friedman
2015 Winter Classic CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy and Scott Oake George Stroumboulopoulos Nick Kypreos
2014 Heritage Classic CBC Jim Hughson Kelly Hrudey Glenn Healy and Cassie Campbell-Pascall Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2014 Stadium Series (New York) CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy and Cassie Campbell-Pascall Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2014 Stadium Series (Los Angeles) CBC Mark Lee Kelly Hrudey Scott Oake Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2014 Winter Classic CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy, Scott Oake, and Andi Petrillo Ron MacLean Don Cherry, P. J. Stock, Kevin Weekes, and Elliotte Friedman
2012 CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2011 Heritage Classic CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2011 Winter Classic CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2010 CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Glenn Healy and Elliotte Friedman Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2009 CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson Elliotte Friedman Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2008 CBC Jim Hughson Craig Simpson and Greg Millen Elliotte Friedman Ron MacLean Don Cherry
2003 CBC Chris Cuthbert Greg Millen and Glenn Healy Elliotte Friedman and Steve Armitage Ron MacLean Don Cherry

Notes

Canada (French)
Year Network Play-by-play Colour commentator Ice level reporters Studio host Studio analysts
2020 Stadium Series TVA Sports 2 Sébastien Goulet Alain Chainey
2020 Winter Classic TVA Sports Félix Séguin Alain Chainey
2019 Heritage Classic TVA Sports 2 Sébastien Goulet Yvon Pedneault
2019 Stadium Series TVA Sports 2 Denis Casavant Alain Chainey
2019 Winter Classic TVA Sports Félix Séguin Alain Chainey
2018 Stadium Series TVA Sports Denis Casavant Yvon Pedneault
2018 Winter Classic TVA Sports Félix Séguin Alain Chainey
2017 100 Classic TVA Sports Félix Séguin Patrick Lalime Renaud Lavoie and Marc-André Perreault
2017 Stadium Series TVA Sports 2 Sébastien Goulet Yvon Pedneault
2017 Winter Classic TVA Sports Félix Séguin Yvon Pedneault
2017 Centennial Classic TVA Sports Denis Casavant Alain Chainey Mathieu Dandenault Frédéric Lord
2016 Heritage Classic TVA Sports 2 Sébastien Goulet Yvon Pedneault
2016 Stadium Series (Denver) TVA Sports 2 Sébastien Goulet Éric Fichaud
2016 Stadium Series (Minneapolis) TVA Sports Denis Casavant Alain Chainey
2016 Winter Classic TVA Sports Félix Séguin Patrick Lalime Renaud Lavoie
2015 Stadium Series TVA Sports 2 Denis Casavant Yvon Pedneault
2015 Winter Classic TVA Sports Félix Séguin Patrick Lalime Renaud Lavoie
2014 Heritage Classic RDS Michel Y. Lacroix Norman Flynn
2014 Winter Classic RDS Michel Y. Lacroix Norman Flynn Renaud Lavoie
2012 RDS Michel Y. Lacroix Denis Gauthier Renaud Lavoie Claude Mailhot Jocelyn Lemieux
2011 Heritage Classic RDS Pierre Houde Benoît Brunet Joël Bouchard Alain Crête Mario Tremblay
2011 Winter Classic RDS Michel Y. Lacroix Denis Gauthier Renaud Lavoie Yanick Bouchard Jocelyn Lemieux
2010 RDS Michel Y. Lacroix Norman Flynn Renaud Lavoie Yanick Bouchard Bob Hartley
2009 RDS Pierre Houde Benoît Brunet Chantal Machabée Alain Crête Michel Bergeron, Joël Bouchard, and Jacques Demers
2008 RDS Pierre Houde Yvon Pedneault Chantal Machabée Alain Crête Benoît Brunet, Michel Bergeron and Jacques Demers
2003 RDS and SRC (simulcast) Pierre Houde Yvon Pedneault

Notes
  • On November 26, 2013, Rogers announced that it had reached a 12-year, $5.2 billion deal to become the exclusive national rightsholder for the National Hockey League, beginning in the 2014-15 season. Quebecor Media sub-licensed national French-language rights to the league for $110 million per season, making TVA Sports the official French-language cable broadcaster of the NHL. RDS retains regional rights to Montreal Canadiens games not broadcast by TVA Sports.[21][22][23][24][25] Former Montreal Canadiens goalie José Theodore joined the network as an analyst.[26] NHL games occupy a significant portion of TVA Sports' programming, with a particular emphasis on the Canadiens and other teams popular in Quebec, such as the Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Certain nights will feature themed selections of games, such as a viewers' choice game on Monday nights, rivalry games, and games focusing on star players. TVA Sports' flagship Saturday night broadcast, La super soirée LNH, will air 22 Montreal Canadiens games per season, along with a second game on TVA Sports 2. TVA Sports also airs the All-Star Game, Winter Classic, and Stanley Cup Playoffs.[27][28]

Finnish television
Year Network Play-by-play
2011 Nelonen Pro 1 Antti Mäkinen

References
  1. Cohen, Tom (2003-11-21). "Old-time hockey as Oilers, Canadians play in first outdoor NHL game". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2014-06-10. Retrieved 2013-11-19. – via Highbeam (subscription required)
  2. Dolezar, Jon A. (2003-11-14). "The great outdoors". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
  3. "It's Nice Outside—Oilers Stage Heritage Classic". Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation. Archived from the original on 2012-02-06. Retrieved 2013-11-19.
  4. Wyshynski, Greg. “Chatting with NBC Sports executive producer Sam Flood about Winter Classic, cable cam for hockey, Mike Milbury and HBO '24/7'”, "Puck Daddy," December 21, 2010
  5. Brink, Bill. “Winter Classic is a cool concept”, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, December 26, 2010
  6. Dowbiggen, Bruce. “How hockey found its signature moment”, The Globe and Mail, December 30, 2010
  7. Your Announcers and Open Thread For the 2010 Winter Classic
  8. Springer, Steve (1991-08-27). "Ice in Desert? It's No Mirage Hockey: Kings, Rangers play in Caesars Palace parking lot tonight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  9. Huskey, Melody (2008-12-31). "Kings No Stranger To Outdoor Game". Archived from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  10. "Beezer on Winter Classic (video)". Blue Shirts United. 2011-12-22. Archived from the original on 2012-01-05. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  11. "Kelly Hrudey: Bonus Clip From MSG's Vault (video)". MSG. 2011-12-21. Retrieved 2012-01-05.
  12. "NHL's outdoor epic on ice for U.S. broadcast". USA Today. 2003-11-21. Retrieved 2014-01-04.
  13. "TV ratings bonanza for Winter Classic". Associated Press. 2008-01-02. Archived from the original on 2008-02-24. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  14. Zelkovich, Chris; McGran, Kevin (2008-01-03). "'Ice Bowl' proves to be hot ticket for league, NBC". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
  15. "NBC Sports to broadcast first U.S. outdoor game in NHL history on New Year's Day". NBC Sports. 2007-12-27. Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  16. NHL WINTER CLASSIC ON NBC DELIVERS BEST REGULAR SEASON OVERNIGHT IN NEARLY 13 YEARS. NBC press release. 3 January 2009.
  17. Kuc, Chris (January 3, 2009). "Winter Classic draws impressive ratings". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 14, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2010.
  18. "Wings' game draws largest TV audience in 33 years". Detroit News. January 12, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
  19. "CBC Sports HDTV to make debut". Archived from the original on 2007-11-08. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
  20. Canadian Press (December 31, 2010). "Winter Classic moved to Saturday night". CBC Sports. Retrieved January 2, 2011.
  21. "NHL signs 12-year TV, Internet deal with Rogers; CBC keeps 'Hockey Night in Canada'". Toronto Star. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  22. "Rogers reaches 12-year broadcast deal with NHL worth $5.2-billion". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 27 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  23. "What the new NHL broadcast deal means for hockey fans". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  24. Cousineau, Sophie (2013-11-28). "TVA to pay Rogers $120-million a year to be NHL's French-language broadcaster". The Globe and Mail. Toronto. Retrieved 2013-12-20.
  25. "RDS, Canadiens announce 12-year regional rights deal". TSN.ca. Retrieved 22 December 2013.
  26. "Hickey on Hockey notebook: Habs fail to earn day off". Montreal Gazette. Archived from the original on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2014.
  27. "TVA SPORTS DÉVOILE SON CALENDRIER". TVASports.ca. Groupe TVA. 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2014-09-20.
  28. "NHL, TVA Sports launch French-language agreement". NHL.com. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
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