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Minnesota, Colorado, St. Louis mentioned as future Winter Classic candidates

Winter Classic

The NHL wants to bring outdoor hockey games to as many markets as possible.

Even Tampa Bay?

Well, never say never, but the league’s chief operating officer, John Collins, has a few other places in mind first.

In an interview with the Canadian Press, Collins mentioned Minnesota, St. Louis and Colorado as markets that “should be involved.”

Presumably he meant they “should be involved” as hosts, not just visitors.

“I think there are a lot of markets that would be fantastic,” Collins said. “I’d like to ultimately see these games not viewed as a regional matchup or a Canada game or a U.S. game, but really kind of a celebration of hockey. If you’re a hockey fan — whether you’re a Canadian hockey fan or an American hockey fan or a Flyers fan or Flames fan — these games are special and unique and you should be tuning in even if your favorite team isn’t playing in the game.

“It’s kind of that line that we use all the time: ‘Nobody ever canceled their Super Bowl party because they didn’t like the two teams that were playing in the game.’”

Collins makes a good point. Though for the record, if it’s Atlanta and Cincinnati in this year’s Super Bowl, party’s canceled.