Leafs and Sabres will play at the Heritage Classic in Hamilton

By Olivia Lawrence
RP Show Intern

As a much anticipated NHL season approaches, the NHL announced some exciting news about the 2022 Heritage Classic on March 13. The Toronto Maple Leafs will play an outdoor game against the Buffalo Sabres at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton Ontario—the home of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger Cats. The game will be the 35th regular-season outdoor game in NHL history, and the third game scheduled for the 2021-22 NHL season. This will be the third outdoor game for the Leafs, and the fourth for the Sabres. Buffalo will become the first American-based team to play in the Heritage Classic. 

Rod Pedersen is very excited about the announcement, and Scott Laughlin from Sirius XM NHL radio agrees. Hamilton is close to half-way between Toronto and Buffalo which is an appealing location for both fan bases. There is a strong Sabres fan base in Southern Ontario, and Western New York has easy access.  

“I just think it’s great,” said Laughlin. “Not only for the Sabres and the Leafs but for the Hamilton Tiger Cats. I already saw earlier today that the Cats season ticket holders have first dibs, so I think it’s a no brainer for the NHL to make this work.”

Some NHL fans are diminishing the matchup—Buffalo is predicted to really struggle this season. The Sabres franchise definitely still has some work to do with their young hockey club. Rod reminds us however, that many people were critical when the teams were announced for the last Heritage Classic here in Regina. A lot of people were hoping it was the Edmonton Oilers and the Leafs, but the game between the Winnipeg Jets and the Calgary Flames was amazing.  

This is because the Heritage Classic is known for its incredible energy, so any enthusiasm about the outdoor game should not be diminished. As long as Mother Nature holds up, there is no doubt it will be a great game for these two rivals and their large fan bases.