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NHL confirms Ottawa will get outdoor game

Chris Neil

Ottawa Senators’ Chris Neil gestures during hockey practice at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa on Wednesday, May 8, 2013. The Senators lead the Montreal Canadiens 3-1 in their best-of-seven games first-round NHL hockey Stanley Cup playoffs hockey series. Game 5 is Thursday in Ottawa. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Sean Kilpatrick)

AP

The Ottawa Senators will be getting their much-anticipated outdoor game -- the only question is when.

“Ottawa is going to get one,” NHL COO John Collins told the Ottawa Sun. “It’s a great market. We had a great all-star experience (in 2012).

“It’s just a matter of picking a date to commit to it.”

As for when the NHL might commit, here’s the Sun’s Bruce Garrioch:

The Heritage Classic is coming to the national capital, likely in 2017 at the newly-built Lansdowne Live against the Montreal Canadiens.

That year is Canada’s 150th birthday, the 125th anniversary of the Stanley Cup, the 100th anniversary of the NHL and the Senators 25th year in the league.

Ottawa will participate in and outdoor game this year at the 2014 Heritage Classic, to take place at B.C. Place on Mar. 2 against the Vancouver Canucks. Collins noted that several other Canadian teams have put forth requests for a future outdoor game -- Toronto and Montreal most notably -- so it’s possible the Sens could take on either the Leafs or Habs when it’s their turn to play outside.