Report: Bruins A Possible Opponent For Capitals In Washington's 2015 Winter Classic
BOSTON (CBS) -- Might the Bruins spend another New Year's Day playing in a Winter Classic?
According to CSN Philly's Tim Panaccio, they may, as he reported the Bruins and Flyers are finalists to be the visiting team when the Capitals host a Winter Classic next season. The Capitals will be hosting the game, though the team announced that the venue and opponents will be announced at a later date.
The Bruins hosted a Winter Classic of their own at Fenway Park on New Year's Day 2010, beating the Flyers 2-1 in overtime.
In January 2012, Bruins president Cam Neely told Felger & Mazz that the Bruins were "extremely interested in being involved in a Winter Classic again."
"My hopes are and my belief is that we'll be involved in a Winter Classic in the near future," Neely said at the time.
Later in January 2012, Neely told Felger & Mazz that the Bruins would be open to being featured on the HBO series "24/7," which the organization has already essentially done by creating its own TV program, "Behind The B."
"[The NHL] is aware of our interest in being involved, as most of the teams would like to be involved," Neely told Felger & Mazz. "Whether we're a host or not, I've shared with them that we'd like to be involved with the Winter Classic game. I think it's a fantastic event. It's fun to be a part of, I'd love to host it again as an organization down the road once they've gone through the cities that probably are deserving of it, but that doesn't mean we can't be a road team. I think it'd be a lot of fun."
The Bruins may have a leg up on the Flyers if the league is seeking variety in the game, as Philadelphia also hosted a Winter Classic game in 2012 against the Rangers.
Due to last season's lockout, the NHL did not hold a Winter Classic, an unofficial tradition that began in Buffalo in 2008 with a Penguins-Sabres game at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Blackhawks hosted the Blackhawks in 2009 at Wrigley Field, the Bruins hosted the Flyers in 2010 at Fenway Park, the Penguins hosted the Capitals at Heinz Field in 2011 and the Flyers hosted the Rangers at Citizens Bank Park in 2012.
This season's Winter Classic will be held in Ann Arbor, Mich., with the Red Wings hosting the Toronto Maple Leafs.
