Classic will feature the Panthers against the Rangers at the Miami Marlins' home park and the Stadium Series game will be played between the Lightning and Bruins at the home of the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NHL announced Wednesday that the Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers will play host to the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park in Miami — home of baseball’s Marlins — on Jan. 2, 2026, in the Winter Classic, with the Tampa Bay Lightning playing host to the Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 1, 2026, in a Stadium Series game.

Ice hockey may not evoke thoughts of beaches, sunshine and palm trees but that did not stop the NHL from announcing on Wednesday that, for the first time, it will hold outdoor games in Florida next season.

Former U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz, who withdrew as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general following a House Ethics Committee report accusing him of sexual misconduct and drug use, said he is considering a run for Florida governor in 2026.

The former congressman, who was the subject of a federal investigation and a congressional ethics probe, said he has "a compelling vision for the state."