Last updated: 10 October 2026 · outdoor-game dates per NHL.com's official events calendar.
Three NHL games this season are played outdoors, and they share a problem nobody writes about: you are going to stand in freezing weather for three hours wearing a jersey as your outermost layer. That changes which jersey you should buy — not the design, the build and the size.
The three outdoor games this season
| Game | Host | Opponent | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Classic | Winnipeg Jets | Montreal Canadiens | Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg | 25 Oct 2026 |
| Winter Classic | Utah Mammoth | Colorado Avalanche | Rice–Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City | 31 Dec 2026 |
| Stadium Series | Dallas Stars | Vegas Golden Knights | AT&T Stadium, Arlington | 20 Feb 2027 |
Dates and venues are published on NHL.com's events calendar. Note what the calendar does not tell you: October in Winnipeg and December in Salt Lake City are not the same evening, and the difference decides whether you are comfortable or miserable.
The layer problem: why sizing up is the wrong move
Here is the counter-intuitive part. Almost every "what to wear to a game" guide tells you to buy a size bigger so you can layer underneath. For an NHL sweater that advice is wrong.
An NHL jersey is already patterned to be worn over equipment — in practice, over a hoodie. It is the roomiest cut we sell. So the layering allowance is built in. Sizing up on top of that gets you a sweater that swallows you, and a sweater that is too big loses the one thing that actually keeps you warm outdoors: the layer of still air trapped between the garment and your body. A loose sweater lets cold air circulate; a close-fitting one holds warmth.
What to wear under it
Three layers, and only the outer one is a jersey:
- Base layer — merino or synthetic, not cotton. Cotton holds sweat against your skin, and once it is damp you are cold for the rest of the game. A thin merino base is the single biggest comfort difference you can buy.
- Mid layer — fleece or a thin down vest. This is the layer that does the insulating. A sleeveless vest is often the smart choice: it keeps your core warm without padding out your arms, which is where a sweater starts to look bulky.
- Outer layer — the jersey itself. It is a windbreak and a costume, not insulation. Treat it that way and the whole outfit makes sense.
Below that: a hat, gloves you can grip a drink with, and something for your feet. Stadium concrete is colder than it looks.
Which tier for an outdoor game
Outdoor games are the one regular-season occasion where the tier difference is genuinely visible, because everyone is photographed and the cameras are on the crowd as much as the ice.
- Breakaway (screen-printed crest, around $60) — fine, and the lightest option if you are going to be moving around. The printed crest is also more forgiving of being crushed under a coat on the way in.
- Premier (embroidered crest, stitched numbers, $80–$100) — the tier that photographs properly. A hockey crest is enormous and sits dead centre of every frame; embroidered versus printed is the difference people notice in a stadium photo.
- Pro (pro-weight twill, fight strap, around $130) — the heaviest build. In sub-zero conditions the extra fabric weight is not a virtue; it is weight you carry. Buy this tier for the build, not for the weather.
The construction detail behind those three tiers is in our NHL jersey tiers guide.
Three host-team sweaters
If you are going to one of the three games and want to be dressed for the host city, these are the ones we would start with:
Every team at all three games is stocked on its own shelf: Jets, Canadiens, Mammoth, Avalanche, Stars and Golden Knights. Printing is free on every style, so a blank sweater with your own name costs the same as a stocked one.
Cold-weather care: the part nobody mentions
An outdoor game puts a sweater through something a normal game night does not: a hard temperature change. You walk in from minus-whatever into a heated concourse, then back out again. Condensation forms on the fabric. Then it freezes.
Three things worth doing:
- Do not leave it in the car overnight. Repeated freeze–thaw cycles are unkind to printed graphics in particular.
- Air it before it goes back in the closet. Let any condensation evaporate at room temperature — folded damp fabric is where printed edges start to lift.
- Wash cold, inside out, never the dryer. This matters more on a sweater than on any other jersey we sell, because the knit is heavier and heat shrinks it before it does anything to the crest.
The full routine is in our jersey care guide, and the six-league sizing guide has the flat measurements if you want to confirm your size before ordering.
Buying in time: the only outdoor game with a deadline
Two of the three games are comfortably far away. One is not.
| Game | Date | Days away | Order by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heritage Classic | 25 Oct 2026 | 15 | Express, this week |
| Winter Classic | 31 Dec 2026 | 82 | Any time |
| Stadium Series | 20 Feb 2027 | 133 | Any time |
In-stock jerseys dispatch in 1–3 days; delivery then runs 7–15 days standard or 5–7 express. For Winnipeg on 25 October, standard shipping is already too slow — express is the only route that lands in time, and custom printing adds a further 3–7 workshop days on top.
Frequently asked
Bottom line
Buy your measured size, not a size up — an NHL sweater already fits over a hoodie, and a loose one loses the warm air layer that actually keeps you comfortable. Spend the difference on a merino base layer instead. Choose Premier if the game is going to be photographed, because an embroidered crest is what reads in a stadium shot, and choose Breakaway if you want the lightest thing on your shoulders. And if you are going to Winnipeg on 25 October, order this week on express — standard shipping has already run out of time.
When are the NHL outdoor games in 2026-27?
Three. The Heritage Classic is on 25 October 2026, with the Winnipeg Jets hosting the Montreal Canadiens at Princess Auto Stadium. The Winter Classic is on 31 December 2026, with the Utah Mammoth hosting the Colorado Avalanche at Rice–Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City. The Stadium Series is on 20 February 2027, with the Dallas Stars hosting the Vegas Golden Knights at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Should I size up an NHL jersey for an outdoor game?
No. An NHL sweater is already cut to be worn over equipment, which in practice means over a hoodie — it is the roomiest jersey we sell. Sizing up on top of that produces a sweater that swallows you and lets cold air circulate underneath, which makes you colder rather than warmer. Buy your measured size and put the extra money into a base layer.
Which NHL jersey tier is best for an outdoor game?
Premier is the tier that photographs best, because the crest is embroidered rather than printed and a hockey crest sits dead centre of every frame. Breakaway is the lightest option if you will be moving around. Pro is the heaviest build — worth buying for the construction, but the extra fabric weight is not an advantage in sub-zero conditions.
How do I keep a hockey sweater warm at an outdoor game?
The sweater is the outer layer, not the insulation. Wear a merino or synthetic base layer (never cotton, which holds sweat against the skin) and a fleece or thin down vest over it, then the sweater. Add a hat and gloves. A sleeveless mid layer is often the best choice because it warms your core without making your arms look bulky.
Can I still get a Heritage Classic jersey delivered in time?
Standard shipping runs 7–15 days and express runs 5–7 days, so for the 25 October Heritage Classic, express is the only option that reliably lands in time. Custom name-and-number printing adds 3–7 workshop days before dispatch, which rules a custom jersey out for that date. The Winter Classic and Stadium Series both have months of runway.
