FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Canadian punk-rock band Simple Plan has performed hundreds of shows, but Friday they were doing something for the first time.
The Montreal-based band, all of whom are huge hockey fans, performed "O Canada" prior to the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins at Gillette Stadium.
"We've been around for 17 years and this is the first time we have ever done the national anthem," drummer Chuck Comeau, whose dad used to have Canadiens season tickets, said prior to the game.
This isn't the first time they have performed at an NHL event.
"As hockey fans, we did the All-Star Game (2009 in Montreal), now we are doing the Winter Classic. All that's left is a Stanley Cup Final and we'll have the perfect trilogy," Comeau said.