QUEBEC CITY — The NHL is returning to Quebec City to play in its new arena — at least for one game.
The Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins will take the ice of the newly minted Videotron Centre for a pre-season game on Sept. 28, Evenko announced.
The game is a boon to Quebec City hockey fans, who have been clamouring for a team ever since the Nordiques left town following the 1994-95 season, and will view the presence of hockey’s top league as a step toward becoming the full-time home of another team.
Analysts have said for years the city needs a new arena if it wants to lure a franchise back to the province’s capital.
The league has remained non-committal on the city’s chances of getting a team, even with the new rink in place.
Even before the announcement, with playoff hockey in full swing many fans already had their minds on Quebec City as possibly future NHL city.
The Videotron is a joint project between Quebecor and Quebec City, with a capacity of more than 18,000 and a total price tag of $400,000,000.
The match will be the fourth pre-season meeting between the two teams, which are currently both competing in the NHL playoffs.
Tickets go on sale April 25 at 10 a.m.
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