Campbell Scientific Canada's Role in Hockey History

November 22, 2003 - 14 years ago this day, hockey history was made. The first outdoor NHL game was played during regular season, known as the Heritage Classic. Commonwealth stadium was selected as the perfect stage for the game in commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the Oilers joining the NHL.

There was one major concern with the event - Edmonton in November can get really, really, ridiculously cold. The Edmonton Oilers knew they needed a reliable way to determine the temperature on game day to ensure the safety and comfort of both fans and hockey players. To acquire this information, they tasked none other than Campbell Scientific Canada (CSC) to deploy weather stations and record weather data.

CSC employees jumped at the opportunity to participate, knowing their rugged equipment would be able to withstand any degree of Edmonton weather. The station was set to monitor, display and record air temperature, relative humidity, wind chill, wind speed and direction.

CSC employee, Danielle, setting up a weather station

CSC employee, Danielle, setting up the weather station for the event.

The system was installed on November 18 to collect background data and to ensure the RF400 radio link was functional to transmit data. Come game day, the real-time readings would be displayed on an RTDM screen, custom designed for the Edmonton Oilers Hockey club. The data would be updated every 15 minutes. Equipment deployed included a CR10X datalogger, an HMP45C for measuring relative humidity, and a 05103-10 Wind Monitor.

Game day arrived, and Edmonton woke up to a crisp temperature of –23.0 °C. Luckily, by 2pm the temperature had risen to a much more comfortable –15°C. The go-ahead was given to run an Old Timers game, allowing some hockey greats to break in the ice. Key players included Coffey, Fuhr, Lafleur and of course, Gretzky.

Gretzky chasing the puck while CSC staff record weather data in the background

Gretzky chasing the puck while CSC staff record weather data in the background.

At 4pm, the puck drop for the Heritage Classic game was drawing near. The temperature had dropped to –17.23°C. Wind chill was a non-factor, as the wind speed was averaging less than 4 kph. Despite the dropping temperature, fans began to crowd the stadium. It would take more than cold weather to make Edmontonians, known to be some of the most dedicated hockey fans, shy away from a good ol’ hockey game. With excitement in the air, the okay was given for the game to commence.

Average Are Temperature From 2pm to 8pm November 22, 2003

Average Are Temperature From 2pm to 8pm November 22, 2003.

Average Wind Speed From 2pm to 8pm November 22, 2003

Average Wind Speed From 2pm to 8pm November 22, 2003.

57,167 fans showed up at Commonwealth Stadium to watch the Edmonton Oilers go tête à tête against the Montréal Canadiens. More than 2.7 million viewers tuned in on their TVs to enjoy not only the first Heritage Classic, but the first ever hockey game to be broadcast in High Definition.

Fans filled the stadium despite chilly temperatures

Fans filled the stadium despite chilly temperatures.

With the weather station set-up and the game in motion, CSC employees found time to enjoy some hockey and take in the atmosphere of the day. It was a tense competition, with great goals coming from both teams. The Canadiens ultimately took home the win, with Richard Zednik scoring both the game opener and the game winner. The final score was 4 - 3.

Despite the loss, hockey fans were elated to be part of a beautiful day in Canadian history. A day full of great hockey, brisk weather, and the feeling of being part of something great. Oh, and witnessing a streaker bearing nothing but a toque.

A fan bares the cold