High-paid NHL stars weren't the only ones who got to to glide across the outdoor rink at TD Place this weekend.
On Sunday afternoon — one day after the Ottawa Senators shut out the Montreal Canadiens 3-0 in the NHL winter classic — the Ottawa 67's and the Gatineau Olympiques faced off for their own match in the biting cold.
Fans bundled themselves in scarves, jackets and tuques and watched the QMJHL's Olympiques come away with a 4-1 win over the 67's, who play in the OHL.
The temperature had dropped to –16 C by the time the final whistle blew, and with the wind it felt about four degrees colder.
Hockey fans brave bitingly cold temperatures at TD Place in Ottawa on Dec. 17, 2017, as the OHL's Ottawa 67's take on the QMJHL's Gatineau Olympiques in an outdoor game. (Kim Valliere/Radio-Canada)
Fans of the Ottawa 67's and the Gatineau Olympiques bundled up and braved the cold for an outdoor game between the two clubs at TD Place Arena on Dec. 17, 2017. (Kim Valliere/Radio-Canada)
@Ottawa67sHockey 3 generations enjoying the game! So cold but awesome pic.twitter.com/LKdY4kRGAS
— Kimann Viau (@KimannViau) December 17, 2017
Vous êtes nombreux avec nous!! Publiez vos photos avec les mots-clic #ClassiqueHivernaleOlympiques67s et #UnisEnsemble! 2/2 pic.twitter.com/XUQqzyukFa
— Olympiques Gatineau (@LesOlympiques) December 17, 2017
Game delayed
It certainly didn't help that the puck ended up dropping later than expected.
Officials decided to delay the game by an hour because Sunday's sunshine could have caused "potentially unsafe ice conditions," the 67's said in a statement before the game.
The game eventually got underway just after 4 p.m.
Even though the 67's and the Olympiques play in different leagues, Sunday's game will count toward their final standings.
