Setup has begun for the 2023 NHL Heritage Classic with the arrival of the NHL mobile refrigeration truck at Commonwealth Stadium.
The Edmonton Oilers will host the Calgary Flames in the outdoor game at the 57,000-seat facility October 29. The game marks the 20th anniversary of the first NHL regular-season outdoor game, held at Commonwealth Stadium in 2003. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the Oilers 4-3.
The refrigeration truck travels to venues from its storage location in Ontario. The first truck was built in 2008, and the one being used for the upcoming Heritage Classic was constructed in 2013. The refrigeration truck makes the process of laying down a sheet of ice worthy of hosting an NHL game more efficient than it used to be.
A crew of 18 will begin making the ice once all the equipment is put in place this week.
NHL Sr. Directors of Facilities and Hockey Operations Mike Craig and Derek King spoke with Media about the setup.
Craig was part of the crew that worked on the ice surface 20 years ago under his father, Dan, who for decades was one of the leading icemakers in the world.
Dan Craig was in charge of the rink at the Oilers’ former arena, then known as Northlands Coliseum, which was long considered to have the best ice surface in the NHL, before going on to work for the League. He retired in 2021.
Other than it being cold, there are other weather-related problems that have arisen in the NHL’s 37 outdoor games.
Tickets for the 2023 Heritage Classic can be purchased here
