So far Canadian teams like the Toronto Maple Leafs have been left out in the cold when it comes to the NHL's annual outdoor showcase , but it seems that's about to change.
Several media outlets are reporting the Detroit Red Wings will take on the Toronto Maple Leafs in next season's Winter Classic.
The game would be played before as many as 110,000 fans at the University of Michigan's "Big House" in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Located about 70 kilometres west of Detroit, the venue attracted a world-record crowd of 104,173 for an outdoor game between the University of Michigan and Michigan State in 2010.
According to a report on ESPN.com, the deal is "all but finalized" with the league hoping to make it official by the all-star break in late January. The ESPN report goes on to say that all other events associated with the game, including an outdoor alumni contest, would be held at a yet-to-be determined venue in downtown Detroit.
Winter Classic's have previously been held in Buffalo, Chicago, Boston, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
For the last two years, HBO has documented the teams leading up to the Winter Classic in a show titled "24/7."
If the Leafs are in fact the opponent in the 2013 Winter Classic, they'll be the first Canadian team to take part in the event.
