Lansing, MI – The sixth annual Winter Classic will be contested between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at Michigan Stadium, better known as "The Big House."
That's according to MLive.com on Wednesday, quoting a source which stated that both clubs have finalized a deal to hold the game at the University of Michigan's home field on January 1, 2013.
The site stated that the Red Wings organization lobbied to have the game played at Comerica Park in Detroit, but the football stadium, located in Ann Arbor, holds more than 110,000 seats as opposed to nearly 41,000 for the Detroit Tigers' home field.
To appease Wings owner Mike Ilitch, a rink will be constructed at Comerica, which will host either the Alumni Game or the Great Lakes Invitational, the site revealed.
The Red Wings appeared in one previous Winter Classic, the 2009 contest, which took place at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Detroit beat the Blackhawks by a 6-4 count.
On the other hand, once details are finalized it will mark the first time a Canadian team will be featured at the event, which has been contested at American venues. The NHL sponsored two Heritage Classics, one in 2003 between the Oilers and Canadiens in Edmonton, and last February between the Habs and Flames in Calgary.
An official announcement is not expected to happen until early February.
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