MONTREAL – The beginning of any hockey game is just as symbolic as the game itself – needless to say, the NHL Winter Classic is one of the biggest events of the year.
This season, two of the original six teams, the Montreal Canadiens and the Boston Bruins will face off at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 1.
The two teams have one of the biggest, oldest and most well known rivalries in the history of the NHL, and to a certain extent, that includes the national anthem singers of both teams.
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So, one Bruins fan, Ross McDonagh, was shocked when he found out that neither team’s national anthem singer was invited to perform.
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“NBC has ditched Rene Rancourt, who has sung the national anthem for over 35 years at Boston Bruins home games and not even considered Ginette Reno, who sings at Canadiens playoff games, in favour of the winner of the NBC series The Voice,” McDonagh wrote.
He started an online petition to pressure NBC to overturn its decision.
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“Hockey is about rivalry, excitement, passionate fans and most of all-tradition. Please NBC, allow the teams two anthem singing stars to perform at the NHL Winter Classic.”
As of 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, the petition had gathered over 4,000 signatures.
Who do you think should sing the national anthems at the NHL Winter Classic? Let us know!
rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
Follow @rachel_lau
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