Blackhawks, Bruins coming to Notre Dame Stadium
The 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will feature the Chicago Blackhawks and Boston Bruins outdoors on Jan. 1, 2019 at Notre Dame Stadium.
“The Blackhawks and Bruins, two of our most historic franchises, will be meeting outdoors for the first time at the 2019 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “Notre Dame Stadium, with its capacity approaching 80,000, will provide an ideal setting for this ground-breaking event and will host the largest live audience ever to witness a game by either of these teams.”
"We are very excited to welcome the Chicago Blackhawks, Boston Bruins and NHL to Notre Dame Stadium for the 2019 Winter Classic," said University of Notre Dame Vice President and Director of Athletics Jack Swarbrick. "I believe it's only fitting that two of the NHL's legendary Original Six teams will take the ice for the first hockey game in one of America's most iconic athletic facilities. Hosting two franchises with so many connections to Notre Dame also provides a unique opportunity to celebrate our hockey legacy."
The Winter Classic will be broadcast live on NBC, Sportsnet and TVA Sports. Additional details including game time, ticket information and other events surrounding the game will be announced in the coming months.
The New Year’s Day matchup will be Chicago’s fourth NHL Winter Classic appearance and Boston’s third.
Notre Dame Stadium has entered a new era in 2017 with the completion of the Campus Crossroads Project, which extensively renovated the stadium.
Both participating NHL teams have ties to Notre Dame. Current Chicago Blackhawks general manager Stan Bowman, who led Chicago to Stanley Cup Championships in 2010, 2013 and 2015, graduated from the ND in 1995. The Blackhawks have also held a portion of their training camp at Notre Dame’s Compton Family Ice Arena four times over the past five years.
Former Irish forward Vinnie Hinostroza (2013-15) is a member of the Chicago Blackhawks organization and he has played 56 NHL games. Former Boston Bruins great Dave Poulin spent 10 years as head coach at Notre Dame and also played for the Irish from 1978-82. Current Bruins rookie forward Anders Bjork played three seasons with the Irish, culminating in last season’s run to the 2017 Frozen Four.
