Hockey. Outdoors. It's tough to beat.
As the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets gear up for the fourth running of the Heritage Classic on Sunday, now seems like a good time to reflect on some of the memorable moments the awe-inspiring spectacle has provided hockey fans.
Gretzky's return
The first installment of the event, held in 2003, set an incredibly high bar that has yet to be topped.
The Oilers and Montreal Canadiens were the participants, doing battle in sub-zero temperatures at Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton.
Before the real event, a star-studded alumni game took center stage, highlighted by Wayne Gretzky donning an Oilers jersey for the first time in a long time.
Wayne previously swore he'd never suit up for a gimmicky alumni game, but the return of No. 99 - in hockey's purest form - was a truly unforgettable moment.
Theodore rocks the toque
It's cold in Edmonton. Just ask Jose Theodore.
When the actual Oilers and Canadiens rosters took the ice a day after Gretzky and Co. stole the show, it was a classic, yet glaringly logical, decision by Theodore that provided the game's most memorable moment.
The Montreal goaltender, in typical Canadian fashion, wore a toque during the Habs' 4-3 victory, ultimately creating one of the sport's most timeless images.
Luongo's Last Dance
Roberto Luongo's Heritage Classic memories don't entail the same sort of fondness.
Then a member of the Vancouver Canucks, Luongo looked forward to the 2014 matchup versus the Ottawa Senators all season long, but former Canucks coach John Tortorella started Eddie Lack over the franchise's all-time leader in wins and shutouts.
Luongo watched the game - a 4-0 loss - from the bench, and two days later, was traded to the Florida Panthers, ending the much publicized saga between the goaltender and the organization.
