The NHL will cancel the Winter Classic on Thursday, a source tells ESPN.
The league’s signature regular-season event was originally scheduled for Jan. 1 at Michigan Stadium between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs; however, the lockout will reportedly mean its postponement.
Why cancel this week when the game’s not for two months and the NHL has only canceled regular-season contests through November?
According to CBC.ca, if the Winter Classic is scratched by Nov. 2 or sooner, the NHL will only forfeit $100,000 of the $3 million in rent payable to the University of Michigan.
The NHL was hoping to break a hockey attendance record on Jan. 1.
So much for that apparently.