The NHL has announced that the 2019 Bridgestone Winter Classic will be played between the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins On January 1st of 2019. Both teams have participated in the game before, with Chicago being featured in 2009, 2015 and 2017, and Boston in 2016.
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This year’s game is set to take place at Citi Field between the New York Rangers and Buffalo Sabres and will mark the first time the state has hosted a Winter Classic game. In 2019, another state will get its first shot at hosting the event, as it is set to be played at Notre Dame Stadium in Notre Dame, Indiana. It is the home of the Univeristy of Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish and is located less than 100 miles from Chicago.
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The stadium is capable of seating 80,795 for football games, and could be increased considering the rink will only take up a fraction of the field. The hockey world reacted to the news and the two teams chosen to play in it.
The original six rivalry is sure to be a good one, as there are likely still some hard feelings from the 2013 Stanley Cup which saw the two teams square off. Chicago ultimately won the intense series in six games.
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The countdown is officially on.
