NHL announces Minnesota Wild to host 2021 Winter Classic

Minnesota Wild left wing Zach Parise (11) celebrates a goal against the New York Islanders. (Paul Battaglia/AP)

The Winter Classic is heading to the State of Hockey.

On Wednesday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman announced that the Minnesota Wild will host the 2021 Winter Classic next Jan. 1. The 13th annual New Year’s Day outdoor game will take place at Target Field in Minneapolis, home of the Minnesota Twins. The league has yet to determine who their opponent will be, but according to Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, teams reportedly in contention include the Winnipeg Jets, Chicago Blackhawks, Colorado Avalanche, and St. Louis Blues.

“The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic is about taking hockey back to its outdoor roots – and there is no better place to celebrate the incredible strength surrounding our game than in Minnesota,” Bettman in a press release. “The Minnesota Wild organization and their fans in the Twin Cities and across the state have been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to host the NHL’s New Year’s showcase and we are thrilled to be bringing next year’s game to Target Field.”

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