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Get Ready Hamilton, Here Comes the Maple Leafs and Sabres

The Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs are planning a Heritage Classic outdoor game in Hamilton. What makes that game so special?

Today news broke that an outdoor game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Toronto Maple Leafs might be coming on March 13, 2022. At least, that’s what the NHL is pondering. However, it’s likely there’s a lot of things to work out prior to that event actually happening.

Related: Maple Leafs’ Rasmus Sandin Really Must Be Ready for Prime Time

Early Reports of an NHL Heritage Classic Game in Hamilton

Mike Harrington of The Buffalo News reported on Sunday that the NHL is eyeing a matinee NHL Heritage Classic game between the Sabres and Maple Leafs that would take place in Hamilton, Ontario, as part of the regular NHL season. If it comes to fruition, it would be the fourth time the Maple Leafs will play an outdoor game. It would also be the team’s third time as the away team.

Jack Campbell Toronto Maple Leafs goalie
How would Jack Campbell do for the Maple Leafs outdoors?

The date of March 13 was chosen because the Maple Leafs and the Sabres are right now scheduled to play an afternoon game that day at Buffalo’s KeyBank Center. However, the public seemed to get wind of something going on because tickets for that game were absent from the Sabres’ ticket options that were shared last week.

The Game Would Be at Tim Horton’s Field

Tim Horton’s Field, which is the home of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats would be the venue for the game. The stadium regularly can sit about 23,000 fans; however, it can be expanded to about 40,000 fans for special events – and the stadium will be the site of the Grey Cup game this season to crown the CFL champion.

Morgan Rielly Toronto Maple Leafs NHL
Will Morgan Rielly still be with the Toronto Maple Leafs NHL in March 2022?

Because the game was originally scheduled to be played in Buffalo, the Sabres would be considered the home team. The last Canadian-based Heritage Classic was held in Regina in 2019. In that game, which was the fifth Heritage Classic, the Winnipeg Jets beat the Calgary Flames by a score of 2–1.

Related: Why the Maple Leafs’ Joey Anderson Might Be Gone Soon?

Would Buffalo Be the First Non-Canadian Team to Play?

The Maple Leafs are the only Canadian team who haven’t participated in a Heritage Classic game, but they have played in three outdoor games. The Sabres have played in two outdoor games. In fact, if the game is actually played between the Sabres and the Maple Leafs, the Sabres would be the first non-Canadian team to play.

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. MICHAEL C ZACK

    August 30, 2021 at 7:19 am

    Let this start the drumbeat to allow a franchise in Hamilton.
    I say allow because the leafs and more importantly the Ontario teacher pension fund hold the veto power and also the people hostage because it would be their ox that is gored. Put the interest of the fans/players,/Ontario citizens and all of Canada first and allow that second franchise in metropolitan Toronto. Let’s go St Pat’s.

    • Old Prof

      August 31, 2021 at 11:04 pm

      There’s been talk about a second franchise in the area since Phoenix got into trouble

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