NHL to Host Outdoor Games

The National Hockey League plays the Winter Classic outdoors once a year, but this season the league is looking to expand on that tradition.

With the league looking to generate fan interest during the 2020-21 season, sources have confirmed that Lake Tahoe will host a pair of games in February.

The Colorado Avalanche will reportedly take on the Vegas Golden Knights on Feb. 20, and the Boston Bruins will take on the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 21. NHL executives have not yet confirmed these dates or these matchups, but they are expected to take place.

This would be the second year in a row that the Avalanche play in an outdoor game. Last season, the Avalanche took on the Los Angeles Kings as part of the Stadium Series in a game that was played at Falcon Stadium on the campus of the US Air Force.

Colorado and Vegas are expected to be two of the best teams in the NHL this season, and they will be meeting in primetime on Feb. 20. The Bruins and Flyers are two original NHL teams, and that meeting will also draw plenty of viewers.

Fans will not be allowed to attend this event, but the league is expected to make it a made-for-television production. The 2021 Winter Classic has already been canceled by the league, but the NHL league office wanted to still play games outdoors this season.

According to reports, an ice rink will be set up at the famous Edgewood Tahoe Resort golf course, and that will produce some terrific views in the background. It’s unclear if the league will have any potential makeup dates set in case of inclement weather.

The league has condensed the 2020-21 NHL schedule, and travel could be a bit of a concern for all four teams making the trip to Lake Tahoe. A limited number in the traveling party is expected, and families are unlikely to be able to attend.

The NHL is looking for a new TV contract, and events like this should create some attention and bring in viewership. Featuring four of the best teams in the league this season will add to the excitement of the weekend.

Avs Set to Begin Training Camp

The Colorado Avalanche will begin training camp on Sunday in preparation for the season opener on Jan. 13. With just 10 days to get ready for the regular season, there will be a lot thrown at the players, and conditioning will be extremely important.

The team won’t actually take the ice until Monday as Sunday will be filled with COVID-19 testing and physical examinations. Most of the players have been in Colorado for a few days as they have begun the quarantining necessary to show up at the team facility.

There were 40 players invited to training camp this season, including newcomers Brandon Saad and Devon Toews. Among the invitees were 22 forwards, 14 defensemen, and four goaltenders.

Colorado begins the 2020-21 season against the St. Louis Blues.

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