Heritage Classic 2003

[Rod1960]

EDMONTON - Anyone who was there 10 years ago can sum up the most vivid memory of the Heritage Classic in one word.

Two words, in some cases.

“Cold,” or “Damn cold!”

It was both, when the Edmonton Oilers and Montreal Canadiens skated out for that historic evening at Commonwealth Stadium, braving temperatures that dropped to -30C with the wind chill, but a decade later, as the city reflects on the game that started an annual tradition in the NHL, that’s what made it so special.

That, and the fact it was the league’s first ever outdoor game, there were 57,167 people in the stands, millions watching on television, and the opening act featured the Oilers dynasty reunited for one last game against some of the greatest players in Canadiens history.

“The Mega-Stars tops everything,” said Ryan Smyth, one of only two Oilers remaining from the outdoor game. “When you see the likes of Wayne Gretzky, Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe, the list goes on, Mark Messier, Guy Lafleur. That really topped everything.

“And in the intermission breaks they were shovelling off the snow. That added that little extra touch, that feel of an outdoor game. It was a historical moment.

“The atmosphere of the cold weather, Jose Theodore with his toque, these were a lot of great memories.”

Ales Hemsky, the only other Oiler who was here 10 years ago, still grins at a scene nobody thought would ever come true.

“In the end it was a great memory, a lot of fans, it was a great for the people,” he said. “It was pretty cool to see everybody there from Montreal and the all the big guys from the Oilers. It was pretty special.”

When the players first heard about the idea — an NHL version of the 2001 “Cold War” outdoor game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State University — they were all for it.

“We thought, ‘Wow, that would be cool,’ ” said Smyth. “And you’re thinking that in November it would be half-decent weather. You didn’t think it would be that cold.”

Organizers in Edmonton were expecting something a lot more comfortable, too, even though they had to push their preferred date back a week to Nov. 22 in case the Eskimos hosted the Western Final.

“The long-term annual average for that week was 4C,” said Oilers president Patrick Laforge, one of the driving forces behind the venture. “And the week before it was raining and 8 or 9, and we were worried about the ice, we didn’t think we could hold the ice.”

Freezing things wasn’t a problem by the time the Hall of Famers and North American media started rolling into town.

There were fears, in fact, that it would be TOO cold, for the safety of the players and fans who’d be in the stands for eight or nine hours, to play the game.

The cut-off temperature was supposed to be -25C, and it got dangerously close to that, but not a lot of people directly involved were worried about the weather.

“Twenty-five was the number,” said Laforge. “We were hovering at 22, 23 … as if it mattered. In the end, Bob Gainey, Kevin Lowe, Gary Bettman and (NHLPA president) Bob Goodenow wanted to play.

“Nobody ever talked about the number all day long. It was game day and that’s the way it was.”

No way the players were pulling out. Not out of something this cool.

“I know there was talk of cancelling the game,” said Smyth. “But that wasn’t in sight in any of the players’ minds in our lockerrooom.”

Although, standing rinkside to catch a glimpse of the MegaStars game, they knew the Heritage Classic was going to test everyone’s mettle.

“When we were standing out there we were thinking, ‘Oh, man, we’re going to have to bundle up,’ ” said Smyth “Guys had heat packs in their skates and gloves. You had to will yourself into the game.”

“They told us it shouldn’t be cold that day,” grinned Hemsky. “ And it ended up -30 (with the wind chill). But I guess we survived. We had some special things from the Eskimos. They gave us little packages that they used for hands and feet to make it a little easier for us.”

Little did anybody watching television know that portable heaters made things just as uncomfortable on the bench as it was on the ice.

“It was really hot. It was like 30 C on the bench and -30 C on the ice. That was kind of weird.”

“We were too cold on the ice and too hot on the benches,” said Smyth. “We could never get acclimatized.”

The thermostat for those 57,167 in the seats only had one setting: Brutal.

A 12-year-old Taylor Hall was there, bundled up in everything he owned, playing hookey from his own hockey game, watching from the stands with his dad.

“It was a fun day,” he said. “We found tickets online and drove up for the game, found some parking and just had a great day, me and my dad.

“I missed a hockey game, I never did that before in my life, but it was a great experience.”

Even if it meant sitting outside in -30 C wind chill for the whole eight hours.

“It was a long time. We’d kind of take breaks, go into the concourse and get a little warm for a bit. But it was freezing. I was wearing a big winter jacket and everything I could get my hands on, pretty much.”

The MegaStars game was probably a bigger attraction than the one worth two points in the NHL standings. After all, how can anyone compete with Gretzky, Messier (on a one-game leave from the New York Rangers), Kurri, Anderson and Fuhr against Lafleur, Shutt, Robinson and the Habs greats. People still talk about that glove save of Fuhr’s in the 2-0 shutout victory.

The Canadiens won the real game 4-3, with Edmonton defenceman Steve Staios picking up a goal and two assists, but nobody really cared.

It was special, and they were there. That’s all that mattered.

“Ten years is a long time, but it’s crazy how fast it goes,” said Smyth, quite proud of what the organization started. “With all the outdoor games taking place now it was obviously a historical moment.”

Laforge says the Oilers are looking at Heritage Classic II at some date in the near future.

Hall would love to see one from the other side of the boards.

“To be able to play in one of those games would be awesome,” he said. “That kind of game would be an awesome moment in your career.”

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2013/11/2...d-temperatures

10 years ago today I was in North Battleford visiting my daughter, she was 2. .... time flies. It was bitterly cold there as well.

[Jamie]

Perhaps the ONLY time in my life i would give the slow clap to Edmonton.

It was and will always be the best outdoor set up.
Well done. I still cant believe Calgary didnt do it first.

Good job Edmonton.

Jamie

[brownbomber]

Well Calgary is good at picking up the torch after others have blazed the trail. But anyway I remember working late that day, it was freezing and I was listening to the game on the radio. I was also agitating to get home to a saucy little hottie who had come over and made me dinner and was sitting there waiting for me. She's now my wife lol.

[HunterDave]

I could have picked up tickets from someone on the cheap but I came to my senses at the last minute and I watched the game on my comfy couch. To this day I haven't regretted it in the least.

[Walleye Willy]

I was there high up in the North West stands with my fanatic Montreal fan nephews from Winnipeg. We went early and stayed late and YES it was COLD.
I wouldn't do it again but I don't regret going with them. It was something to remember.
Oh, and the streaker was fun too!

[bb356]

Jose and his touque ... priceless !!!

[fishtank]

[Rod1960]

Some interesting interviews and a behind the scenes look at the construction of the rink:

http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocen...491886&lang=en

[RandyBoBandy]

Originally Posted by Rod1960

Some interesting interviews and a behind the scenes look at the construction of the rink:

http://video.oilers.nhl.com/videocen...491886&lang=en

Thanks for the link!! Never knew about that Oilers video thing Funny story I heard on the Gregor 1260TSN show. Patrick Laforge said about the "streaker", we made him sign an agreement that he could NEVER attend another Oiler/Canadiens game held outdoors at Commonwealth Stadium Dude got his clothes back and was able to return to his seat according the PL

[Hunter65]

I was there with a buddy, can't remember how we got tickets. It was cold. We had a thermos of "hot chocolate". I wore my insulated coveralls and still froze. We had a blanket that we might have shared, not that I'm proud of that. Not sure why we went there so early. Maybe the game started late. Couldn't see all that great, too far away, in the NE corner. If it wasn't so cold, it wouldn't have been that much fun.