It was hardly a secret, but the NHL made it official Saturday: the Avalanche and Detroit Red Wings will play at Coors Field, home for baseball's Colorado Rockies, on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016.
It will be the first league outdoor game in Colorado as part of the Coors Light NHL Stadium Series and will come in the Avalanche's 20th anniversary season since the franchise arrived in Denver from Quebec.
The league made the announcement in Columbus during All-Star Weekend.
“We are incredibly proud and excited to be hosting this extraordinary event,… Avalanche president and governor Josh Kroenke said in a statement. "The Coors Light NHL Stadium Series has been very successful and we are honored to be part of it. We would like to thank the National Hockey League for selecting our organization. I’m especially happy for Avalanche fans, who have been instrumental in our team’s success since arriving in Denver. “The outdoor game will be the headline event of our franchise's 20th anniversary season in Colorado, with many other great events planned throughout the year."
No details have been released yet, but an Avalanche/Red Wings event wouldn't be complete without an alumni game.
The teams were part of a bitter and often bloody rivalry between 1995 and 2002 when both were competing for and winning Stanley Cups. Detroit has been a lot more successful since then, but the Avalanche were hoping the Red Wings would be the opponent.
"This is a great day for our organization and our fans,… Avalanche executive vice president/general manager Joe Sakic said. "Playing in an outdoor game will be an amazing experience for everyone. To have this game in the state of Colorado, in a terrific venue like Coors Field, is something we are truly looking forward to.… Further details, including ticket information, will be announced at a later date.
Two other outdoor games will be played in 2016: Boston will face Montreal in the Winter Classic on New Year's Day at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.; and Minnesota will play Chicago on Feb. 21 at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus.
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Eight teams will compete in the World Cup of Hockey at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto from Sept. 17-Oct. 1, 2016: Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Russia, Sweden, USA, Team Europe and Team North American Youngstars.
Team Europe will be comprised of players born outside the Czech Republic, Finland, Russia and Sweden. Among those eligible: Austria, Belarus, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
Players from Canada and the U.S. age 23 and under will be eligible for Team North American Youngstars.
Each team will have a roster of 23 players, 20 skaters and three goalies. At least 16 players, including two goalies, must be named by the respective national associations no later than March 1, 2016. The remaining players need to be named by June 1, 2016. Team Europe and Team North American Youngstars rosters will be named by management teams led by the NHL and NHL Players Association.
World Cup of Hockey training camps are expected to start Sept. 4, 2016.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said no decision has been made regarding NHL participation in the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.