Utah Mammoth to Host 2027 Winter Classic vs. Avalanche

The National Hockey League announced Wednesday that the Utah Mammoth will host the 2027 Winter Classic, the league's premier regular-season outdoor game, against the Colorado Avalanche at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The matchup, set for early January 2027 with an exact date still to be determined, marks the Mammoth's first outdoor game and the Avalanche's fourth appearance in the event.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman joined Mammoth owners Ryan and Ashley Smith, along with forward Logan Cooley, for the on-site reveal at the University of Utah's football venue. The announcement highlights the rapid integration of Utah's expansion franchise, which relocated from the Arizona Coyotes in April 2024 and enters its third NHL season with a competitive 20-20-3 record, placing fourth in the Central Division and two points from a Western Conference wild-card spot.

The Mammoth, led by captain Clayton Keller and a young core including Cooley, Dylan Guenther and Mikhail Sergachev, have surprised observers with their speed and resilience. Across the ice, the Avalanche lead the league with one of the strongest starts in recent history, boasting a 31-4 record in regulation through 42...