View source for 2003 Heritage Classic

{{Short description|Outdoor National Hockey League game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox ice hockey game
| outdoor = yes
| game_name = Heritage Classic
| image = NHL Heritage Classic 03.gif
| visitor = '''[[2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]]'''
| home = [[2003–04 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton Oilers]]
| visitor_total = 4
| home_total = 3
| visitor_per1 = 0
| visitor_per2 = 2
| visitor_per3 = 2
| home_per1 = 0
| home_per2 = 1
| home_per3 = 2
| date = November 22, 2003
| arena = [[Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)|Commonwealth Stadium]]
| city = [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]]
| attendance = 57,167
| next = [[2011 Heritage Classic|2011]]
}}
The '''Heritage Classic''' was an outdoor [[ice hockey]] game played on November 22, 2003, in [[Edmonton, Alberta|Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], [[Canada]], between the [[Edmonton Oilers]] and the [[Montreal Canadiens]]. It was the first [[National Hockey League]] (NHL) game to be played outdoors as a part of regular season play. The Heritage Classic concept was modelled after the success of the "[[Cold War (ice hockey)|Cold War]]" game between the [[University of Michigan]] and [[Michigan State University]] in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/transformation_events_hertiage_classic.html |title=Edmonton Oilers Heritage Website – Heritage Classic<!-- Bot generated title --> |access-date=2006-10-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206204245/http://www.oilersheritage.com/history/transformation_events_hertiage_classic.html |archive-date=2012-02-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The event took place in Edmonton's [[Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)|Commonwealth Stadium]] in front of a crowd of 57,167, despite temperatures of close to −30&nbsp;°C (−22&nbsp;°F) with wind chill.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/hourlydata_e.html?timeframe=1&Prov=AB&StationID=1865&Year=2003&Month=11&Day=22 |title=Hourly Data Report for November 22, 2003 |work=Canada's National Climate Archive |publisher=[[Environment Canada]] |access-date=November 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305104811/http://www.climate.weatheroffice.gc.ca/climateData/hourlydata_e.html?timeframe=1&Prov=AB&StationID=1865&Year=2003&Month=11&Day=22 |archive-date=March 5, 2012 }}</ref> It was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers joining the NHL in 1979 and the 20th anniversary of their first [[Stanley Cup]] win in [[1984 Stanley Cup Finals|1984]]. The [[CBC Television|CBC]] television broadcast drew 2.747 million viewers in Canada, the second-highest audience for a regular-season NHL game.<ref>{{cite news |title=The NHL moves outdoors |first=Chris |last=Iofrida |date=2007-12-27 |work=[[CBC Sports]] |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/feature-nhl-outdoors.html |access-date=November 29, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071229182509/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/feature-nhl-outdoors.html |archive-date=2007-12-29}}</ref> This was the first NHL game broadcast in [[High-definition television|HD]] on CBC.<ref>{{cite news |title=Nov. 22, 2003: Thousands brave cold at inaugural Heritage Classic |first=John |last=Zazula |date=2016-10-20 |work=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/nov-22-2003-thousands-brave-cold-at-inaugural-heritage-classic-1.3813828 |access-date=2019-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804022229/https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/nov-22-2003-thousands-brave-cold-at-inaugural-heritage-classic-1.3813828 |archive-date=2021-08-04 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Preliminary events==
First, the ''MegaStars'' game was played between some of the best former players from both clubs. The Oilers were represented by the best players from their 1980s dynasty, led by [[Wayne Gretzky]]. The Canadiens were represented by players from their 1970s dynasty, led by [[Guy Lafleur]], and a few members of the 1986 and 1993 championship squads. Both teams were composed of players who had won Stanley Cups with the Oilers or Canadiens, except for the Oilers' first NHL captain, [[Ron Chipperfield]], and the Canadiens' [[Russ Courtnall]], who [[Réjean Houle|Rejean Houle]] said was selected for his speed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/heritageclassic/features/notthere.html |title=Not everybody was eager to play MegaStars game |date=2003-11-20 |work=[[CBC Sports]] |access-date=2011-01-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031123175412/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/heritageclassic/features/notthere.html |archive-date=2003-11-23}}</ref> [[Cam Connor]] and [[Mark Napier (ice hockey)|Mark Napier]] were the only players that played for both the Oilers and the Canadiens during their NHL careers; both played for the Canadiens during the game. [[Mark Messier]], the only active player at the time, received special permission from the [[New York Rangers]] front office to compete for Edmonton in the game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Messier Allowed To Play In Exhibition Game |agency=[[The Sports Network (wire service)|SportsNetwork]] |date=2003-11-21 |publisher=[[WCVB-TV]] |url=http://www.thebostonchannel.com/nhl/2654365/detail.html |access-date=2011-01-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320074644/http://www.thebostonchannel.com/nhl/2654365/detail.html |archive-date=2012-03-20 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''MegaStars'' game consisted of two 15-minute halves rather than three 20-minute periods, and was won by the Oilers by a score of 2–0. After the game, Messier jokingly called the low-scoring contest "a typical Oilers win," a reference to the numerous high-scoring games of the Oilers' heyday in the 1980s.

==Regular season game==
The second game was an official NHL regular season contest between the Edmonton Oilers and the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal won the game 4–3. [[Richard Zedník|Richard Zednik]] of the Canadiens scored the first [[goal (ice hockey)|goal]] of the game, and also scored the game-winner. Goaltender [[José Théodore|Jose Theodore]] wore a Canadiens [[tuque]] over the top of his [[goalie mask]].<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Habs Theodore dons a toque |date=2003-11-22 |url=https://www.nhl.com/video/habs-theodore-dons-a-toque/t-277437414/c-40279803 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103094222/https://www.nhl.com/video/habs-theodore-dons-a-toque/t-277437414/c-40279803 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 3, 2017 |publisher=[[National Hockey League]] |access-date=2017-01-02}}</ref>

The game was released to [[DVD]] by the CBC, and included special features such as player interviews.

==Inspiration for ongoing outdoor games==
The first NHL game to be played outdoors was a pre-season exhibition game on September 27, 1991, when the [[Los Angeles Kings]] played the [[New York Rangers]] outside [[Caesars Palace]] in [[Las Vegas]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kings No Stranger to Outdoor Game |first=Melody |last=Huskey |date=2008-12-31 |work=[[Los Angeles Kings]] |url=http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?bcid=401141 |access-date=2023-10-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100119191544/http://kings.nhl.com/club/news.htm?bcid=401141 |archive-date=2010-01-19}}</ref>

Following the success of the 2003 Heritage Classic, the league moved forward with the periodic [[NHL Heritage Classic]] series, which{{snd}}as of the [[2023 Heritage Classic]] (in Edmonton, to mark the 20th anniversary of the original){{snd}}have each been hosted by a Canadian NHL team, at a venue in or near the host team's city.

In 2008, the league began the [[NHL Winter Classic]] series, an outdoor regular season game played annually on [[New Year's Day]], which to date have all been hosted by an American NHL team, at a venue in or near the host team's city.

In 2014, the league instigated the semi-regular [[NHL Stadium Series]], an outdoor regular season game, which to date have all been hosted by an American NHL team, at a venue in or near the host team's city.

== Game summary ==
{{NHLPlayoffs
|team1= Montreal Canadiens
|team2= Edmonton Oilers
|stadium1= [[Commonwealth Stadium (Edmonton)|Commonwealth Stadium]]
|date1= Nov 22, 2003
|score1= 4–3
|won1 = 1
|recap1 = sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=231122006
}}
{| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=6 | Scoring summary
|-
! style="width:12%;"| Period
! style="width:7%;"| Team
! style="width:28%;"| Goal
! style="width:35%;"| Assist(s)
! style="width:7%;"| Time
! style="width:11%;"| Score
|-
|align=center| '''1st'''
| colspan="5" align=center | ''No scoring''
|-
| rowspan="3" align=center | '''2nd'''
| MTL
| [[Richard Zedník|Richard Zednik]] (5)
| [[Patrice Brisebois]] (7), [[Michael Ryder]] (7)
| 0:39
| '''1–0 MTL'''
|-
| MTL
| [[Yanic Perreault]] (6) ([[Power play (sporting term)|PP]])
| Craig Rivet (8), [[Mike Ribeiro]] (11)
| 10:53
| '''2–0 MTL'''
|-
| EDM
| [[Eric Brewer (ice hockey)|Eric Brewer]] (1)
| [[Jarret Stoll]] (1), [[Steve Staios]] (7)
| 13:45
| '''2–1 MTL'''
|-
| rowspan="4" align=center | '''3rd'''
| MTL
| Yanic Perreault (7)
| [[Niklas Sundström|Niklas Sundstrom]] (3), [[Craig Rivet]] (4)
| 2:22
| '''3–1 MTL'''
|-
| EDM
| Jarret Stoll (4)
| Steve Staios (8)
| 13:06
| '''3–2 MTL'''
|-
| MTL
| Richard Zednik (6)
| [[Sheldon Souray]] (3)
| 14:18
| '''4–2 MTL'''
|-
| EDM
| Steve Staios (3)
| [[Radek Dvořák|Radek Dvorak]] (8)
| 14:57
| '''4–3 MTL'''
|}
:''Number in parentheses represents the player's total in goals or assists to that point of the season''
{| style="width:100%;" class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan=6 | Penalty summary
|-
! style="width:12%;"| Period
! style="width:7%;"| Team
! style="width:28%;"| Player
! style="width:35%;"| [[Penalty (ice hockey)|Penalty]]
! style="width:7%;"| Time
! style="width:11%;"| PIM
|-
|align=center| '''1st'''
| EDM
| [[Cory Cross]]
| [[High-sticking]]
| 13:49
| 2:00
|-
| rowspan="2" align=center | '''2nd'''
| EDM
| [[Ryan Smyth]]
| [[Hooking (ice hockey)|Hooking]]
| 9:31
| 2:00
|-
| MTL
| [[Chad Kilger]]
| Hooking
| 11:42
| 2:00
|-
| rowspan="2" align=center | '''3rd'''
| MTL
| [[Francis Bouillon]]
| [[Roughing]]
| 12:58
| 2:00
|-
| EDM
| [[Jason Chimera]]
| Roughing
| 12:58
| 2:00
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;text-align: center;" 
! colspan=4 | Three star selections
|-
!style="width:15%;"|
!style="width:15%;"|Team
!style="width:35%;"|Player
!style="width:35%;"|Statistics
|-
| 1st || MTL || [[Yanic Perreault]] || 2 Goals
|-
| 2nd || EDM || [[Steve Staios]] || 1 Goal, 2 Assists
|-
| 3rd || MTL || [[Richard Zedník|Richard Zednik]] || 2 Goals
|}

==Entertainment==
During the pre-game ceremony, [[Wayne Gretzky]]'s daughter Paulina Gretzky performed "[[I Will Remember You (Sarah McLachlan song)|I Will Remember You]]" by [[Sarah McLachlan]] while Oilers anthem singer [[Paul Lorieau]] performed "[[O Canada]]" in English and French along with a choir.

== Team rosters ==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:65%; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=4 | Montreal Canadiens
|-
! #
!
! Player<ref name="ESPN">{{cite news |title=Theodore makes 34 saves, fashion statement {{!}} Box Score |work=[[ESPN]] |date=2003-11-22  |url=https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore/_/gameId/231122006 |access-date=2009-08-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630052124/https://www.espn.com/nhl/boxscore/_/gameId/231122006 |archive-date=2021-06-30 |url-status=live}}</ref>
! Position
|-
| '''5'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Stéphane Quintal|Stephane Quintal]] (A)
| D
|-
| '''11'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|FIN}}
| align=left | [[Saku Koivu]] (C)
| C
|-
| '''15'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Darren Langdon]]
| LW
|-
| '''20'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|SVK}}
| align=left | [[Richard Zedník|Richard Zednik]] (A)
| RW
|-
| '''22'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Steve Bégin|Steve Begin]]
| C
|-
| '''24'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|SWE}}
| align=left | [[Andreas Dackell]]
| RW
|-
| '''25'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Chad Kilger]]
| LW
|-
| '''30'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Mathieu Garon]]{{Ref|2|2}}
| G
|-
| '''37'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|SWE}}
| align=left | [[Niklas Sundström|Niklas Sundstrom]]
| RW
|-
| '''38'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CZE}}
| align=left | [[Jan Bulis]]
| LW
|-
| '''43'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Patrice Brisebois]]
| D
|-
| '''44'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Sheldon Souray]]
| D
|-
| '''51'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}}
| align=left | [[Francis Bouillon]]
| D
|-
| '''52'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Craig Rivet]]
| D
|-
| '''60'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[José Théodore|Jose Theodore]]
| G
|-
| '''71'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Mike Ribeiro]]
| C
|-
| '''73'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Michael Ryder]]
| RW
|-
| '''79'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|RUS}}
| align=left | [[Andrei Markov (ice hockey)|Andrei Markov]]
| D
|-
| '''90'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Joé Juneau|Joe Juneau]]
| C
|-
| '''94'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Yanic Perreault]]
| C
|-
| colspan=4 |''Head coach:'' {{flagicon|CAN}}  [[Claude Julien (ice hockey)|Claude Julien]]
|}
{{col-break|gap=1em}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:65%; text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=4 | Edmonton Oilers
|-
! #
!
! Player<ref name="ESPN"/>
! Position
|-
| '''1'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}}
| align=left | [[Ty Conklin]]
| G
|-
| '''2'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Eric Brewer (ice hockey)|Eric Brewer]]
| D
|-
| '''10'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Shawn Horcoff]]
| C
|-
| '''14'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Raffi Torres]]
| LW
|-
| '''15'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Brad Isbister]]
| LW
|-
| '''16'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|USA}}
| align=left | [[Mike York]]
| C
|-
| '''18'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Ethan Moreau]] (A)
| LW
|-
| '''20'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CZE}}
| align=left | [[Radek Dvořák|Radek Dvorak]]
| RW
|-
| '''21'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Jason Smith (ice hockey)|Jason Smith]] (C)
| D
|-
| '''23'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Cory Cross]]
| D
|-
| '''24'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Steve Staios]]
| D
|-
| '''27'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Georges Laraque]]
| RW
|-
| '''28'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Jason Chimera]]
| C
|-
| '''32'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Scott Ferguson (ice hockey)|Scott Ferguson]]
| D
|-
| '''34'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Fernando Pisani]]
| RW
|-
| '''36'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Jarret Stoll]]
| C
|-
| '''40'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Steve Valiquette]]{{Ref|1|1}}
| G
|-
| '''47'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Marc-André Bergeron|Marc-Andre Bergeron]]
| D
|-
| '''83'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CZE}}
| align=left | [[Aleš Hemský|Ales Hemsky]]
| RW
|-
| '''94'''
| align=center| {{flagicon|CAN}}
| align=left | [[Ryan Smyth]] (A)
| LW
|-
| colspan=4 |''Head coach:'' {{flagicon|CAN}}   [[Craig MacTavish]]
|}
{{col-end}}
:{{Note|1|1}} Steve Valiquette dressed for the Edmonton Oilers as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game. <br/> {{Note|2|2}} Mathieu Garon dressed for the Montreal Canadiens as the back-up goalie and did not enter the game.

===Scratches===
*Montreal Canadiens: [[Donald Audette]] (ankle), [[Ron Hainsey]] (healthy), [[Marcel Hossa]] (healthy)
*Edmonton Oilers: [[Alexei Semenov (hockey player)|Alexei Semenov]] (healthy), [[Tony Salmelainen]] (healthy), [[Peter Sarno]] (healthy)

===Officials===
* [[Official (ice hockey)#Referees|Referees]] — [[Dan Marouelli]], [[Kevin Pollock]]
* [[Official (ice hockey)#Linesmen|Linesmen]] — [[Greg Devorski]], [[Randy Mitton]]

==See also==
*[[2003–04 Edmonton Oilers season]]
*[[2003–04 Montreal Canadiens season]]
*[[List of outdoor ice hockey games]]
*[[List of ice hockey games with highest attendance]]
*[[Pond hockey]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.cbc.ca/sports/indepth/heritageclassic/features/whatif_boxscore.html CBC build-up: Video Game Showdown]
* [https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/fuhr-ranford-shine-at-heritage-classic-1.369020 Fuhr, Ranford shine at Heritage Classic]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070912183229/http://www.letsgosabres.com/pressbox/fullstory.php?newsid=10415 Sabres to host Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium]
* [http://www.bostonherald.com/track/inside_track/view/2009_04_09_main_track_story/srvc=home&position=4 Ice is nice at Fenway for Bruins]

{{NHL outdoor games}}
{{Edmonton Oilers}}
{{Montreal Canadiens}}
{{Navboxes|list1=
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[[Category:2003–04 NHL season|Heritage Classic]]
[[Category:Edmonton Oilers games]]
[[Category:Ice hockey competitions in Edmonton]]
[[Category:Montreal Canadiens games|2003 Heritage Classic]]
[[Category:NHL Heritage Classic|2003]]
[[Category:2000s in Edmonton]]
[[Category:November 2003 sports events in Canada]]