The Chicago Blackhawks are playing in the Winter Classic once again this season, so they’ll be one of four teams featured in the upcoming EPIX documentary on the lead up to this year’s outdoor games. The NHL and EPIX released the schedule for Road To the NHL Outdoor Classics on Monday, setting the stage for the Jan. 2 matchup against the St. Louis Blues.
The series, which will be broadcast and streamed by EPIX, begins on Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. CT. There will be four weekly episodes, with the conclusion coming Jan. 6 following the games. The other teams being covered are the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, who will play in the Centennial Classic at BMO Field in Toronto on New Year’s Day.
Here’s the complete schedule:
Episode 1 — Friday, Dec. 16 at 9 p.m. CT
Episode 2 — Friday, Dec. 23 at 9 p.m. CT
Episode 3 — Friday, Dec. 30 at 9 p.m. CT
Episode 4 — Friday, Jan. 6 at 9 p.m. CT
The EPIX series is a continuation of the original HBO series that started airing in 2011. The network that airs Game of Thrones, Veep, and Westworld decided to part ways with the NHL in 2014, though, which is when EPIX stepped in to keep the series alive.
The Blackhawks appeared in EPIX’s Road To The NHL Winter Classic in 2015 before the team played the Washington Capitals at Nationals Park. The upcoming game against the Blues at Busch Stadium will be the Blackhawks’ fifth outdoor game. It’s no joke that the NHL likes scheduling Chicago for these marquee games:
2009 Winter Classic: Blackhawks vs. Red Wings at Wrigley Field
2014 Stadium Series: Blackhawks vs. Penguins at Soldier Field
2015 Winter Classic: Blackhawks vs. Capitals at Nationals Park
2016 Stadium Series: Blackhawks vs. Wild at TCF Bank Stadium
2017 Winter Classic: Blackhawks vs. Blues at Busch Stadium
These documentaries can be a lot of fun, so we’ll make sure to watch them and let you know whether they’re worth checking out in a few weeks.