The Shawinigan Cataractes organization had discussed it a few times in previous years before finally launching its first-ever Winter Classic in January 2015. It was a resounding success, with no fewer than 13,000 people attending the two games. The 200x85-meter refrigerated rink was set up in St-Tite, at the renowned site of the annual country festival. A light dusting of snow began to fall during the third period of the inaugural game between Victoriaville and Shawinigan, providing numerous enchanting photo opportunities for souvenir albums. The Quebec Remparts also participated in this outdoor hockey celebration, with a game that drew a record crowd of 7,323 fans to the stands.
In 2018, bleachers were erected around the Victor-Pépin ice rink in Drummondville. The frigid temperatures of Friday, February 9, and the snow the following Saturday, didn't deter fans from setting two new attendance records for a Voltigeurs home game (4,284 and 5,432).
The return to St-Tite came quickly, as just a year later, on Friday, February 8, 2019, the Cataractes hosted Alexis Lafrenière and the Rimouski Océanic, with the latter defeating the home team 4-0. The following day, the Cataractes beat the Remparts 5-1, avenging their first outdoor game of 2015.
In late fall 2025, four teams from the Cecchini circuit joined forces. Shawinigan, Drummondville, Victoriaville, and Sherbrooke created the 55 Cup tournament, which was held in true winter conditions, with snow and cold weather blanketing the beautiful grounds at the Trois-Rivières Hippodrome. The four-game series culminated in a final on Sunday featuring the teams that won their first game. The Drummondville vs. Victoriaville matchup on Sunday, December 7, 2025, was set to determine the "55 OMNIFAB CUP." Jan Larys, the Voltigeurs' goaltender, recorded the third shutout in QMJHL outdoor history, following those achieved by Tristan Côté-Cazenave (VIC | 2018) and Colten Ellis (RIM | 2019). And the Voltigeurs will take Highway 55 for the return home, following their brilliant 5-0 victory, celebrating their final win with the 55 Cup aboard their bus.