1956 Boston Bruins exhibition game in Newfoundland

Outdoor National Hockey League game August 2023 yes 1956 Boston Bruins exhibition game Boston Bruins Conception BayNorth Hockey League — — — — — — — — April 9, 1956 Conception Bay Sports Arena Bay Roberts 1954 1991 The 1956 Boston Bruins exhibition game in Newfoundland, played on April 9, was the first outdoor ice hockey game played in Canada featuring a team from the National Hockey League (NHL). Background The 1955–56 Boston Bruins ended the 1955–56 NHL season in fifth place with a record of 23–34–13, missing the final playoff spot, which went to the 1955–56 Toronto Maple Leafs with a record of 24–33–13.https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_1956.html 1955-56 NHL Summary hockey-reference.com February 21, 2021 On March 22, it was reported that the Bruins would play an exhibition series of games "throughout the Maritimes and possibly Newfoundland."https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71713360/boston-bruins-tour-maritimes/ Boston Bruins Tour Maritimes CP Edmonton Journal 12 March 22, 1956 February 21, 2021 newspapers.com During this era, it was customary for NHL teams that did not make the playoffs to go on a postseason exhibition tour. Starting in late March 1956, the Bruins played exhibition games in New Brunswick, including a seven-game series against the Beavers of Saint John contested at multiple venues.https://www.newspapers.com/clip/71721388/bruins-edge-beavers/ Bruins Edge Beavers CP Ottawa Journal 23 March 26, 1956 February 21, 2021 newspapers.comhttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/71721796/council-will-help-beavers/ Council Will Help Beavers CP Ottawa Citizen 15 March 28, 1956 February 21, 2021 newspapers.com The Bruins then played in Newfoundland at Corner Brook (April 7), Bay Roberts (April 9), St. John's (April 10–12), Grand Falls (April 14), and Gander (date unclear). These exhibition games were not held under normal rules, as members of the Bruins would sometimes change teams with local players.http://www.gaflight.org/Boston%20Bruins.htm The Boston Bruins come to Gander Don Carter gaflight.org https://web.archive.org/web/20150406013303/http://www.gaflight.org/Boston%20Bruins.htm April 6, 2015 Wayback Machinehttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/71723244/sawchuk-scores-goal-in-11-6-victory/ Sawchuk Scores Goal In 11-6 Victory CP Ottawa Journal 29 April 4, 1956 February 21, 2021 newspapers.com Game thumb|right|upright=.5|Terry Sawchuk in 1963 The April 9 game was played in Bay Roberts, Newfoundland, at the Conception Bay Sports Arena, an unfinished outdoor arena with an artificial ice surface that had opened in February 1956. In keeping with the exhibition nature of the game, each of the four local teams from the Conception Bay North Hockey Leaguehttp://globalgenealogy.com/countries/canada/newfoundland/resources/306013.htm Historic Bay Roberts 299–300 2011 Baker Melvin 2015-08-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20150910195933/http://globalgenealogy.com/countries/canada/newfoundland/resources/306013.htm 2015-09-10 dead played a period against the Bruins, and the game wound up with a "free-for-all" where all 23 members of the local teams played at once against the Bruins.Newfoundland Daily News April 10, 1956 Bruins at Bay Roberts ArenaOcal Arda 5 Facts You Probably Don't Know About NHL Outdoor Games https://www.msgnetworks.com/2017/12/29/5-facts-you-probably-dont-know-about-nhl-outdoor-games/ MSG Network December 29, 2017 At some point, local player Gerard Saunders scored a goal against Bruins' goaltender Terry Sawchuk, one of only three goals that Sawchuk allowed during the Newfoundland exhibition games.http://nlhhs.org/1956-boston-bruins-tour.html Boston Bruins Exhibition Tour of Newfoundland in April 1956 March 14, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402135955/http://nlhhs.org/1956-boston-bruins-tour.html April 2, 2015 Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Heritage The game was historic as it was only the second ice hockey match played outdoors that featured an NHL team—the first had been the 1954 Detroit Red Wings prison game in Michigan. It also had significance as the first outdoor game in Canada featuring an NHL team, and the first to be open to public spectators. The next outdoor game to be held in Canada with NHL participation would be the 2003 Heritage Classic in Edmonton. References Further reading https://www.thetelegram.com/sports/hockey/sixty-years-ago-the-boston-bruins-made-nhl-history-in-bay-roberts-131371/ Sixty years ago, the Boston Bruins made NHL history — in Bay Roberts The Telegram St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador September 30, 2017 February 21, 2021 External links Newfoundland and Labrador Hockey Heritage website article on series Category:1955–56 NHL season Category:Boston Bruins games Category:Ice hockey in Newfoundland and Labrador Category:NHL outdoor games Boston Bruins exhibition game in Newfoundland Boston Bruins exhibition game in Newfoundland