Commentary: Utah, Take It Outside

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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and Utah Mammoth owner Ryan Smith announced on Wednesday that the 2027 Winter Classic is headed to the University of Utah Stadium at Salt Lake City.

And with that, the Mammoth become the final NHL team to play in a Winter Classic for the first time. The Florida Panthers hadn’t either, until last week, and we’re still raving about how that event went over in Miami (despite the Cats losing 5-1 to the visiting New York Rangers).

To be honest, these games are very addicting. I’m planning to be in Tampa Bay on February 1 when the Lightning take on the Boston Bruins at the outdoor Raymond James Stadium, and would love to be in Dallas next year for the Winter Classic in Jerry World!

By some weird NHL bylaw, the Utah Mammoth were able to dissociate with the Arizona Coyotes franchise (dissolving their record book and basically becoming an expansion team) but yesterday’s announcement did have me harkening back to the grand plans held by former Coyotes ownership, led at one time by Regina’s Gary Drummond and fellow Canadian Anthony Leblanc.

They had grand plans of hosting the World Juniors in the Valley of the Sun and possibly an outdoor game too. Lord knows there were enough facilities in the area to do it.

But alas, it all blew up and the team’s long gone.

It’s such a shame.

But Arizona’s loss is Utah’s gain and those fans are going to get to witness one of the greatest spectacles in sports; an NHL outdoor game.

My first was the 2019 NHL Heritage Classic in Regina between the Winnipeg Jets and Calgary Flames. Maybe you were there too? Florida coach Paul Maurice said last week that night was one of his greatest hockey memories and to be honest, mine too. The Jets won 2-1 in OT and there’s not much better than playing hockey outdoors on the Canadian prairies.

Meanwhile the day wasn’t even over yet and people were poopoo’ing Wednesday’s announcement, saying the Mammoth don’t deserve an outdoor game because they haven’t been in the league long enough.

Thank goodness we don’t listen to the haters.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

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