NHL Winter Classic
What is the lowest temperature ever recorded in a Winter Classic? This was the coldest NHL game of all time
The coldest ever Winter Classic was indeed an evening where a winter coat was a necessity.
This year, global warming has given us some wild weather across the world, and sport has not gone unaffected.
The 2025 NHL Winter Classic was under threat due to heavy rain, with the outdoor event at risk of postponement due to delays in preparation needed to create the specific conditions for the athletes.
What was the coldest ever NHL Winter Classic?
The coldest ever Winter Classic came relatively recently, back in 2022 at Target Field in Minneapolis. On that day, a new record was set for the coldest game in NHL history.
When the 6:20 p.m. puck drop came around, temperatures were hovering at minus 7 degrees, with a wind chill of approximately minus 18 degrees, according to reports. However, by 8:30 p.m., temperatures had dropped further to around minus-9 degrees.
On that night, the Minnesota Wild went up against the St. Louis Blues, with the latter fighting to a 6-4 victory.
Fans were ‘treated’ to hand warmers and free soup, with the worry spreading that the playing conditions could be affected by the temperatures.
Mike Craig, the NHL’s senior manager of facilities operations revealed that “once we get too cold, we can have some issues with it being brittle or skate marks where it does chip away, so we really try to control that temperature."
This year, Wrigley Field in Chicago will host the 2025 NHL Winter Classic as the Chicago Blackhawks take on the St. Louis Blues. The game is set to get going on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. ET.
The Blackhawks, once among the NHL’s top franchises with Stanley Cup victories in 2010, 2013, and 2015, had previously participated in the annual outdoor game four times. However, the team has struggled in recent years, with only one playoff appearance since 2017.
Meanwhile, the Blues will be making their third appearance in the outdoor game, having defeated the Blackhawks in the 2017 matchup at St. Louis' Busch Stadium.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.