September 9, 2010

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Andrews, Neely, Parker, York to receive 2010 Lester Patrick Trophy

September 2, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

ANDREWS, NEELY, PARKER, YORK
TO RECEIVE 2010 LESTER PATRICK TROPHY

NEW YORK (September 2, 2010) — Hockey Hall of Famer Cam Neely, college coaching legends Jack Parker and Jerry York and AHL President David Andrews have been named recipients of the 2010 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States.

The award, one of the most prestigious in hockey, was presented to the National Hockey League by the New York Rangers in 1966. It honors the memory of Lester Patrick, who spent 50 years in hockey as a player, coach and general manager and was a pioneer in the sport’s development.

The recipients will be honored at an evening reception in Boston in late October. Further details on the event will be announced at a later date.

One of the greatest power forwards in NHL history, Neely also is one of the most revered Boston Bruins of all time. Though cut short by injury, his career was prolific – he scored 395 goals with 299 assists and 1,241 penalty minutes in 726 regular-season games and 57 more goals in 93 playoff games. He scored 50 goals in a season three times — including in 1993-94, when he reached the milestone in just his 44th game, fewer than anyone other than Wayne Gretzky.

The winner of the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy in 1994, Neely had his jersey No. 8 retired by the Bruins. In 2005, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Two years later, he joined the Bruins’ front office as vice president and, on June 16, 2010, he was named team president

A Boston University institution, Parker played on Terrier teams that won three straight Beanpot Tournaments (1966-68) and reached the NCAA semifinals in 1966 and ’67. The Somerville, Mass., native captained the 1967-68 team.

He became head coach of his alma mater in 1973 and has been a relentless and resounding success ever since. Parker has coached BU to three national championships (1978, 1995, 2009) and been named the Spencer Penrose Division I coach of the year three times. He is one of only three coaches in NCAA history (Ron Mason, Jerry York) to have won 800 games and the only one to have done it at one school. Entering his 38th season as BU’s head coach, Parker has compiled a record of 836-432-104 while coaching many of the game’s greats – including Mike Eruzione, Jim Craig, Keith Tkachuk, Tony Amonte, Chris Drury and Rick DiPietro.

A rival of Parker’s since the two battled as Massachusetts high school stars, York was a prolific scorer for Boston College from 1964-65 through 1966-67. In 81 collegiate games, York scored 64 goals and racked up 134 points while being named a first-team All-American as a senior. He is the second-winningest coach in NCAA history – his 850 career victories are second only to the 924 for the retired Ron Mason – a four-time NCAA champion and one of only two men to have coached two schools (Bowling Green and Boston College) to national championships.

After seven years at Clarkson College and 15 at Bowling Green, where he won the 1984 NCAA title, York returned to his alma mater in 1994. He has since built Boston College into a perennial power, winning seven Hockey East tournament titles and three more national championships – including the 2010 title. He has coached three Hobey Baker Award winners (George McPhee, Brian Holzinger and Mike Mottau) as well as Rob Blake, Dan Bylsma, Brooks Orpik and Rob Scuderi.

An accomplished goaltender who starred for Dalhousie University and the University of British Columbia and played professionally in The Netherlands, Andrews has been the president of the American Hockey League since 1994, guiding the AHL through a period of explosive growth.

Under his direction, the AHL has expanded to include 30 teams and stretch across the North American continent while becoming the sole primary development league for the NHL. Andrews was instrumental in restoring the AHL All-Star Classic in 1995, after a 35-year absence, and the event now is televised internationally. A native of Nova Scotia who now resides in Wilbraham, Mass., Andrews has been inducted into the the British Columbia Hockey Hall of Fame (2005) and the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame (2006).

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Filed Under: NHL

National Hockey League Names NFL Programming Executive Charles Coplin To Newly Created Position As Executive Vice President Of Content

September 1, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE NAMES NFL PROGRAMMING EXECUTIVE CHARLES COPLIN
TO NEWLY CREATED POSITION AS EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT

Emmy Award Winner And Producer Of Historic TV Programs, Including Super Bowl Halftime Shows,
Coplin Will Lead Effort To Unify The League’s Message To Fans Across Multiple Media Platforms,
And Optimize Television Programming and Production

NEW YORK CITY (August 31, 2010) – The National Hockey League today announced that it has appointed Charles Coplin to the new position of executive vice president of content. Coplin had been with the NFL since 2001, most recently as the NFL’s vice president of programming, where he shared Emmy Awards for his work on the America’s Game documentary series, and where his Super Bowl halftime productions were among the most acclaimed in NFL history.

In his new role at the NHL, Coplin will integrate and focus the efforts of all League media and content, including NHL.com; oversee and optimize programming and production for NHL Network; manage all television broadcast and rights-holder relationships; and direct the NHL Digital Studios and original broadband productions.

“Charles Coplin is among the most respected senior executives in sports content, programming and production, and will take our relationship with fans across all platforms and events to the next level,” said NHL Chief Operating Officer John Collins.  “Charles is a proven innovator who will drive a very ambitious content development schedule that meets fan demand for news, video, all-access programming and 24/7 NHL on every platform.”

“The NHL is very well positioned to capitalize on its maturing media products and big event strategy, unprecedented fan consumption, and the trends in multi-platform digital consumption,” said Coplin.  “By focusing and tightly integrating all of our media products, and bringing best-in-class production value, we will continue to drive fan behavior by providing the best content and access across all events and media platforms.”

Award-Winning Television Programmer

Coplin had served a dual role at the NFL as both a television programmer and producer of special NFL events. Coplin was responsible for programming the NFL Network since prior to its launch in November 2003. In this role Coplin hired the heads of production and was responsible for the NHL Network’s development, content acquisition, budgeting and scheduling. He was nominated for several Emmys for his work on America’s Game and the NFL Network Game of the Week and has worked with different members of the NFL to produce such programming concepts as inside coverage of the NFL’s annual scouting combine. Ratings for the NFL Network improved every year under Coplin’s watch.

Producer Of The Most Watched Events In The World

In 2004, the NFL turned to Coplin to oversee and executive produce all aspects of its live special-event television performances. Coplin was responsible for the selection of talent, budget, and all other aspects of such performances including set lists, wardrobe and staging.

Over the last three years Coplin worked with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, Beyonce, Green Day, Ozzy Osborne, Jessica Simpson and many others. In 2005 he negotiated an unprecedented deal for a season-long relationship between the NFL, ABC and the Rolling Stones which culminated in their performance at Super Bowl XL. In 2006, Coplin was responsible for the production of the U2 and Green Day performance for the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome in an effort to raise money for Music Rising to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina. At the time, this was the second highest rated television program in the history of cable television and named by Entertainment Weekly as the top live television moment of 2006. Later that year, the NFL’s season concluded with a Super Bowl halftime performance by Prince, which was cited by The New York Times, USA Today, Rolling Stone and others as perhaps the best NHL Super Bowl Halftime Show ever. This Super Bowl broadcast was, at the time, the second most watched show in the history of television.

Prior to being the NFL’s vice president of programming, Coplin served as the NFL’s senior director of broadcasting, where his responsibilities included the creation of the NFL’s playing schedule, administration of the NFL’s television contracts with the NFL’s broadcast partners, producer for NFL Films live event television shows that aired on CBS, ESPN and ABC Sports, and acted as a consultant for NFL clubs regarding broadcast matters ranging from programming and production to local rights acquisitions for television and radio.

A Long History In Programming In Sports And Multiple Platforms

Prior to joining the NFL in 2001, Coplin worked for one year in the digital technology sector for a technology company that specialized in building video into websites for purposes of exploiting content. Web sites served included the television show The Soprano’s and HBO’s Boxing.

From 1990 to 2000 Coplin worked at ABC Sports. He produced such shows and events as the Bowl Championship Series, Super Bowl Pre-Game Shows, ABC’s Wide World of Sports, Monday Night Football, ABC’s College Football, The World Cup, The Little League World Series, the Daytime Emmy Awards and ABC News Special Events. At the same time he was responsible for managing ABC Sports production personnel.

Prior to 1990 Coplin worked for MTV, ESPN and Martin Scorsese.

About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America.  Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and XM Canada).  Through the NHL Foundation, the League’s charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
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Filed Under: NHL

Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit Concludes in Toronto

August 26, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

MOLSON CANADIAN WORLD HOCKEY SUMMIT CONCLUDES IN TORONTO;
STEERING COMMITTEE AND SUMMIT PARTNERS TO REVIEW RESULTS OVER COMING MONTHS

TORONTO (August 26, 2010) — The Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit concluded on Thursday in Toronto, with over 400 delegates participating in the four-day event.  The summit was a global hockey symposium, attracting global leaders of the game and interested stakeholders to share and enhance global hockey knowledge. Full event details and coverage is available online at www.worldhockeysummit.com.

The steering committee, comprised of the seven summit partners (IIHF, NHL, NHLPA, Hockey Canada, USA Hockey, CHL and Molson Coors), will be reviewing all of the results from the work group discussions on player skill development, junior development in the hockey world, an evaluation of Vancouver 2010, a global hockey event agenda, women’s hockey after Vancouver 2010 and growing participation in the game.

Event proceedings, including formal presentations and the results from the discussion groups, will be provided to all IIHF member federations and summit partners, providing these organizations with the opportunity to develop their own action plans.

The summit partners will also collaborate on developing recommendations and collective action plans going forward, and expect to announce details over of the course of the 2010-11 season.

“Coming into the summit we really didn’t know what to expect, but I could sense that this would be a success after one day,” said IIHF President René Fasel. “We discussed the most pressing issues in our game and we had a very good and healthy exchange of views in front of more than 400 keen delegates. These were four very good days for hockey. The next step is to evaluate the proposals from the delegates and see if we can work out any recommendations.”

“The discussion and dialogue here over the last four days has clearly extended hockey knowledge and enriched hockey insight at all levels,” said Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner. “The National Hockey League was proud to play a meaningful part in that dialogue and I believe the game — both at the NHL level and all other levels — will be better for it.”

“The NHLPA was pleased that the major stakeholders in hockey were part of the Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit to discuss how the global game can prosper,” said Mike Ouellet, NHLPA Chief of Business Affairs. “NHL players bring forth a key perspective in growing the game worldwide and we hope to build off of this week’s momentum.  In particular, we look forward to expanding best on best tournaments, such as the World Cup of Hockey and the Olympics, where fans watch their favourite players participate.”

“It has been a very productive week here in Toronto,” said Hockey Canada president & CEO Bob Nicholson. “Hockey Canada and the representatives of our member branches throughout the country have been very excited about being part of this collaboration, discussing matters ranging from skill development to hockey at the Olympic Games with the major hockey stakeholders.  We look forward to working together and coming about with a plan to make our game even better.”

“This event has exceeded my expectations,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “With the relatively diversified audience, and designed by seven different entities, there was a pleasingly high level of interaction and engagement.”

“The Canadian Hockey League is extremely pleased with the success of the Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit in attracting global hockey leaders to one stage,” said CHL President David Branch.  “It was energizing to be around so many passionate hockey people that were all focused on the betterment of the game which will undoubtedly result in positive changes to hockey in the years to come.”

“Molson Canadian was there back in 1999 for the very first Open Ice Summit and continues to support the development and evolution of ‘our game’,” said Pat McEleney, director of sports and entertainment for Molson Coors Canada. “The dialogue, discussion and debate from this year’s Molson Canadian World Hockey Summit should unlock clues to help grow the game and improve the sport at all levels.”

For further information on the World Hockey Summit, go to www.WorldHockeySummit.com.

Filed Under: Hockey, NHL

NHL Network Canada Announces 2010-11 Live NHL Game Schedule

August 25, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

NHL NETWORK CANADA ANNOUNCES 2010-11 LIVE NHL GAME SCHEDULE
Network Schedule Includes 31 Live Games For Canadian Viewers In 2010-11

TORONTO (August 25, 2010) – NHL Network™ Canada drops the puck on the live 2010-11 NHL® regular-season schedule Oct. 10 when the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes go head-to-head in Prague, CZE as part of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere™ in a special 10 a.m. ET matinee.  The action continues the next day when captain Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins travel to New Jersey to face the Devils for a 1 p.m. ET matinee.  In all, NHL Network will again televise 31 live games this season for Canadian viewers.

The live game schedule in the Canada focuses on Sunday games, with approximately half of the schedule on a Sunday. Four teams will each make a League-high five appearances on the Network, the defending Stanley Cup® champion Chicago Blackhawks, the Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks and the Anaheim Ducks.  The Detroit Red Wings, Philadelphia Flyers and New Jersey Devils each make four appearances.

Highlights of the NHL Network Canada schedule this season include:

· Sunday, Oct. 10 – The NHL Network Canada schedule begins with the Boston Bruins taking on the Phoenix Coyotes in Prague, CZE as part of the 2010 Compuware Premiere.

· Monday, Oct. 11 – Sidney Crosby and the Penguins head to “The Rock” to face Martin Brodeur and the Devils.

· Monday, Nov. 1 – The champion Blackhawks make their first appearance in an Original Six matchup at Madison Square Garden against the New York Rangers.

· Sunday, Nov. 28 – Washington Capitals superstar Alex Ovechkin makes the first of his two appearances as the Caps host Eric Staal and the Hurricanes,

· Wednesday, Jan. 5 – Steven Stamkos and Crosby, who shared the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy last season as the League’s top goal scorers, face off at the new CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh.

· Sunday, Jan. 9 – NHL Network presents a Sunday tripleheader: Atlanta at Carolina; Tampa Bay at New Jersey and San Jose at Anaheim.

· Sunday, Jan. 23 – The one and only game featuring a rematch of the 2010 Stanley Cup Final as the Flyers look for a small piece of revenge against the Blackhawks in Chicago.

NHL Network’s flagship show, “NHL On The Fly,” once again will be appearing nightly throughout the season.  The program features up-to-the minute hockey information, live look-ins, extended highlights, overtime shootouts, real-time scores, interviews, pre- and post-game reports and news conferences.  Information on the dates and times of the NHL Network U.S. 2010-11 live game schedule will be released in the near future.

NHL Network Canada 2010-11 Live Game Broadcast Schedule

October
Sunday, Oct. 10                Boston @ Phoenix                10 a.m. ET
Monday, Oct. 11                Pittsburgh @ New Jersey        1 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Oct. 12                Atlanta @ Los Angeles        10:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Oct. 27                New Jersey @ San Jose        10:30 p.m. ET

November
Monday, Nov. 1                Chicago @ NY Rangers        7 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Nov. 10                NY Islanders @ Anaheim        10 p.m. ET
Thursday, Nov. 11                Dallas @ Los Angeles        10:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 14                Anaheim @ Chicago                7 p.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 15                Los Angeles @ San Jose        10:30 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 26                Chicago @ Anaheim                4 p.m. ET
Sunday, Nov. 28                Carolina @ Washington        5 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Nov. 30                Detroit @ San Jose                10:30 p.m. ET

December
Thursday, Dec. 2                Florida @ Los Angeles        10:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Dec. 5                Philadelphia @ NY Islanders        1 p.m. ET

January
Sunday, Jan. 2                Philadelphia @ Detroit        5 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Jan. 5                Tampa Bay @ Pittsburgh        7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 9                Atlanta @ Carolina                1:30 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 9                Tampa Bay @ New Jersey        5 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 9                San Jose @ Anaheim                8 p.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 17                Carolina @ Boston                1 p.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 17                San Jose @ Phoenix                5 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 23                Philadelphia @ Chicago        TBD
Sunday, Jan. 23                Florida @ New Jersey        TBD

February
Sunday, Feb. 13                Boston @ Detroit                TBD
Monday, Feb. 21                Chicago @ St. Louis                2 p.m. ET
Sunday, Feb. 27                Tampa Bay @ NY Rangers        1 p.m. ET
Monday, Feb. 28                Detroit @ Los Angeles        10:30 p.m. ET

March
Sunday, March 6                Washington @ Florida        5 p.m. ET
Sunday, March 13                Phoenix @ Anaheim                5 p.m. ET

April
Sunday, April 3                NY Rangers @ Philadelphia        TBD
Sunday, April 10                Dallas @ Minnesota                TBD

*Schedule subject to change

About NHL Network
As the definitive hockey destination, NHL Network offers viewers a 24-hour all-access pass to complete hockey coverage both on and off the ice, including live NHL games. The network’s daily signature show – NHL On The Fly – offers fans exclusive live look-ins to NHL games, including goals, shootouts, features, interviews, pre- and post-game reports and expert analysis from a variety of hockey insiders and former players, plus special coverage from NHL events. Additional programming includes simulcast of Sirius XM Radio’s “NHL Live” which broadcasts Mon-Fri from NHL Powered By Reebok, international and amateur hockey, player profiles, interview shows and youth-oriented programs. NHL Network is available in the U.S. and Canada by contacting digital cable or satellite providers.
For more information log on to nhlnetwork.com.

NHL, the NHL Shield and Stanley Cup, are registered trademarks and NHL Network is a trademarks of the National Hockey League.

NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams.  All Rights Reserved.
Filed Under: NHL, NHL Network

2K Sports Presents the REAL Hockey Experience Exclusively on the Wii™ System with NHL® 2K11

August 25, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

2K Sports Presents the REAL Hockey Experience
Exclusively on the Wii™ System with NHL® 2K11

NHL 2K11 brings the hockey rink into your living room with precise one-to-one stick control, outstanding graphics, and Mii™ integration

New York, NY – August 25, 2010 – 2K Sports is pleased to announce NHL® 2K11, the latest installment in the popular ice hockey franchise, is available now exclusively on the Wii™ system. NHL 2K11 – which features Vancouver Canucks® assistant captain Ryan Kesler as the cover athlete – brings the most authentic hockey experience to Wii with improved visuals, more realistic gameplay, the most responsive controls found in a hockey video game and new pick-up-and-play modes.

“This year NHL 2K11 delivers the most authentic hockey action on Wii,” said Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports. “Our full NHL development resources were devoted to Wii this year, which allowed us to take the game to the next level. Simply put, NHL 2K11 is THE hockey game to buy on Wii this season”

NHL 2K11 is the definitive NHL simulation experience that mixes accessibility with all the authenticity and exacting detail that hockey fans demand. The game provides players with the ability to execute real-time (one-to-one) dekes, puck juggling, shooting, passing and defensive maneuvers delivered by the accuracy of Wii MotionPlus™, and broken sticks to add another layer of depth to the authentic hockey action. To bring these incredibly accurate gameplay elements to life, 2K Sports improved player models and AI, added more responsive skating, and increased the level of detail in team jerseys, equipment, and arenas. Also included is the all-new Road to the Cup™ mode featuring Mii characters battling in mini-games, trivia challenges and skills competitions for up to four players on- or off-line.

Developed by Visual Concepts, a 2K Sports studio, NHL 2K11 is rated E 10+ by the ESRB and will be available exclusively for Wii on August 24, 2010.  For more information, please visit www.2ksports.com/games/nhl2k11/.

2K Sports is a division of 2K, a publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks and Road To The Cup is a trademark of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. NHL® 2K11 is an Officially Licensed Product of the NHL.

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Filed Under: NHL

NHL Unveils 2010-11 National Television Schedule

August 25, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE UNVEILS 2010-11 NATIONAL TELEVISION SCHEDULE
League Partners Building Upon Three Years Of Ratings And Viewership Growth

NEW YORK (August 25, 2010) – The National Hockey League (NHL) announced today the television schedules for national partners NBC Sports, VERSUS, CBC, TSN, TSN2, RDS, RIS and NHL Network Canada for the 2010-11 NHL regular-season.

In the U.S., NBC Sports and VERSUS return for a sixth consecutive season as national television partners.  In Canada, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada begins its 58th regular-season of NHL® broadcasts while TSN, whose relationship with the NHL dates back to 1987, continues as the national English-language cable partner.  RDS, the French-language telecast partner of the NHL, has been televising NHL games since its inception in 1989 and enters its eighth consecutive season presenting every Montreal Canadiens game.

For the 2009-10 NHL regular-season, television ratings and viewership continued a three-year upward trend for all partners.  Additionally, the 2010 Stanley Cup Playoffs reached milestones:

  • Most-watched NHL game in the U.S. in 36 years on NBC (Stanley Cup Final Game 6)
  • The highest audience for an all-U.S. Final in Canadian television history on CBC
  • The most-watched first two rounds on U.S. cable in history on VERSUS
  • The most-watched NHL game in TSN history
  • The largest audience in the history of RDS

The 2010-11 NHL regular-season opens on Oct. 7 – just 43 days from today – with a five game slate, including a national tripleheader in the U.S. on VERSUS and a national doubleheader on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada and a national game on TSN.  That day, the Minnesota Wild and Carolina Hurricanes will play the first of two regular-season games against each other at Hartwall Areena in Helsinki, Finland, as part of 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere™ and NHL Face-Off™.  That game will be seen nationally in the U.S. on VERSUS and on TSN in Canada at Noon ET.

Also on opening night, the Pittsburgh Penguins will debut their new home, the CONSOL Energy Center, against their intrastate rival and defending Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia Flyers at 7 p.m. ET as the middle game of VERSUS’ tripleheader.  In the nightcap, at 10 p.m. ET, the Chicago Blackhawks begin their defense of the Stanley Cup® by travelling to Colorado to face the Avalanche.

NHL Face-Off, a hockey and entertainment festival in Toronto providing fans the opportunity to salute the start of the season, precedes the first game of the Hockey Night in Canada doubleheader – the Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. ET.  This game also will be available on RDS.  The “Battle of Alberta” takes center stage for the second game on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, at 10 p.m. ET, with the Calgary Flames visiting the Edmonton Oilers.

This will be the fourth straight year the NHL will begin the regular-season with games contested overseas.  The Blue Jackets and Sharks will square off for two games at the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, on Friday, Oct. 8 and Saturday, Oct. 9.  Meanwhile, the Bruins and Coyotes will play each other at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10.  In total, TSN and VERSUS will each telecast four NHL games and NHL Network Canada will broadcast one NHL game from Europe to kick off the regular season.
The annual Hall of Fame Game will be played on Saturday, Nov. 6, when the Maple Leafs host the Buffalo Sabres.  CBC’s Hockey Night In Canada will once again provide full coverage of all of the festivities that evening.  The Hall of Fame inductions are Monday, Nov. 8.

On Jan. 1, NBC Sports in the U.S. and CBC and RDS in Canada again will televise the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® — the event Forbes magazine calls “the best new sporting event” of the last decade.  Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins will battle Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field, home of the Steelers, at 1 p.m. ET.  The NHL’s fiercest rivalry will be re-ignited in this special wintery setting.

The NHL’s mid-season spectacular returns when the Carolina Hurricanes and the city of Raleigh host the 2011 National Hockey League All-Star Celebration on Saturday, January 29 and Sunday, January 30.  The Honda NHL SuperSkills® and the 58th NHL All-Star Game will take place in North Carolina for the first time.  The action from both nights will be covered live by VERSUS, CBC and RDS.

The celebration of hockey continues when Whitehorse, Yukon, hosts Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada on Saturday, Feb. 12.  The network plans over 13 hours of coverage for the 11th edition of the event, including a NHL tripleheader featuring all six Canadian-based teams: Ottawa at Edmonton at 2 p.m. ET, Toronto at Montreal at 7 p.m. ET and Calgary at Vancouver at 10 p.m. ET.

Returning to the NHL calendar this season is the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic™, the regular-season outdoor game to be played Sunday, Feb. 20 by the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium. CBC and RDS will carry the game in Canada and VERSUS will telecast the outdoor match in the U.S.. The event marks the first regular-season NHL game contested outdoors in Canada since the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium on Nov. 22, 2003.

As part of Hockey Weekend Across America in 2011, NBC Sports and the NHL will salute the roots of the sport with Hockey Day in America on Sunday, Feb. 20. Launched by USA Hockey in 2008, Hockey Weekend Across America is a nationwide initiative to celebrate the game and those involved at all levels and to expose hockey to new audiences. NBC Sports will celebrate the day-long event with regional NHL coverage. More details about Hockey Day in America will be released at a later date.

After NBC Sports launches its NHL coverage Jan. 1 with the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, the NBC NHL “Game of the Week” drops the puck on Jan. 23 at 12:30 p.m. ET.  The NHL and NBC will again collaborate on flexible scheduling for NBC’s regular-season dates, providing fans the most exciting match-up available.  At least 13 days prior to the scheduled date, a game will be selected to broadcast on NBC.  All NBC “Game of the Week” games will be broadcast on Sundays and presented in High Definition.  NBC will again broadcast games in the postseason, including Games 1, 2 and 5 through 7 of the Stanley Cup Final in primetime.

VERSUS will televise 78 games during the 2010-11 regular season, 13 more than last season, including 53 exclusive regular season games and 25 bonus games.  In addition to live coverage of the All-Star weekend and the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic, VERSUS will cap off the final week of regular season action with a game each night (Monday-Friday) leading into the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.   VERSUS once again will air wall-to-wall action throughout each round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, culminating with Games 3 and 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada schedule includes a total of 29 all-Canadian match-ups and the game’s biggest stars, with a total of 87 games during the 2010-11 season, including preseason. Viewers will again be able to watch the CBC game of their choice with live and on-demand streaming of all games, special features and much more, available at CBCSports.ca.

This year’s combined 124-game NHL on TSN national broadcast package is part of TSN and TSN2’s multi-year broadcast and digital rights agreement with the NHL.  A total of 76 regular season games will air on TSN, with 70 games featuring at least one Canadian team.  TSN retains exclusivity of Wednesday Night Hockey, during which there are no other national or local NHL telecasts.   TSN2’s regular season schedule features 48 live NHL games.

Once again this season, RDS will telecast all 82 Montreal Canadiens games, including the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic.  The network also will televise a package of games featuring other NHL teams, including the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Day.  RDS will also be presenting full coverage of the NHL All-Star weekend. On RIS Info Sports, viewers will be offered an additional 42 regular-season NHL games.

NHL NetworkTM this season will televise up to 75 live games for its American audience and 31 live NHL games for its Canadian viewers.  In addition, NHL Network’s signature show, NHL On The Fly™, returns across North America nightly providing highlights and analysis of every NHL game.

For Canadian viewers, NHL Network drops the puck on the live 2010-11 NHL regular-season schedule Oct. 10 when the Boston Bruins and Phoenix Coyotes go head-to-head in Prague, CZE as part of the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere in a special 10 a.m. ET matinee.  The action continues the next day when captain the Penguins visit the New Jersey Devils at 1 p.m. ET.  The next night, the Atlanta Thrashers travel to the West Coast to face the Los Angeles Kings for a 10:30 p.m. ET start.

More information on the dates and times of the NHL Network U.S. 2010-11 schedule will be released in the near future.

About the NHL
The National Hockey League, founded in 1917, is the second-oldest of the four major professional team sports leagues in North America.  Today, the NHL consists of 30 Member Clubs, each reflecting the League’s international makeup, with players from more than 20 countries represented on team rosters. According to a Simmons Market Research study, NHL fans are younger, more educated, more affluent, and access content through digital means more than any other major professional sport. The NHL entertains more than 250 million fans each season in-arena and through its partners in national television (VERSUS, NBC, TSN, CBC, RDS, RIS, ESPN America, ASN and NHL Network™) and radio (NHL Radio™, Sirius XM Satellite Radio and XM Canada).  Through the NHL Foundation, the League’s charitable arm, the NHL raises money and awareness for Hockey Fights Cancer™ and NHL Youth Development, and supports the charitable efforts of NHL players. For more information on the NHL, log on to NHL.com.
#### (8/25/10)

Filed Under: NBC, NHL, VERSUS

Flames and Canadiens Take It Outside for 2011 NHL Heritage Classic

August 5, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

FLAMES AND CANADIENS TAKE IT OUTSIDE FOR 2011 NHL HERITAGE CLASSIC

McMahon Stadium To Host First Outdoor NHL Game In Canada Since 2003

Historic Uniforms Being Worn By The Teams Unveiled

Game Live On CBC/RDS/VERSUS/NHL Radio Feb. 20 At 6 p.m. ET

NEW YORK (August 4, 2010) – Representatives from the National Hockey League, the National Hockey League Players’ Association, the Calgary Flames and the Montreal Canadiens met today at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium in advance of the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic™, the regular-season outdoor game to be played Sunday, February 20, 2011.  The League, the Flames and the Canadiens today also unveiled the game-day jerseys specially designed for each team for the event.

The 2011 NHL Heritage Classic marks the first regular-season NHL game contested outdoors in Canada since the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium on November 22, 2003. CBC and RDS will carry the game in Canada and VERSUS will telecast the outdoor match in the United States.  NHL Radio™ will have the live action across North American radio.  NHL Network™ will provide pre- and post-game programming, and NHL.com will provide extensive digital coverage.

“The Flames and Canadiens, two teams with so much history, will resume a rivalry that is so much a part of the National Hockey League’s proud heritage. Our first regular-season outdoor game was played in Canada, and we’re excited to be coming back for the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium Feb. 20,” said Gary Bettman, Commissioner of the National Hockey League.

The Flames and Canadiens are the only clubs to have contested an all-Canadian Stanley Cup Final in the 40-plus years of the NHL’s expansion era (since 1968), doing so twice in a four-season span. The Canadiens captured their 23rd Stanley Cup by defeating the Flames in five games in 1985-86 and the Flames won their first and only Stanley Cup in a six-game triumph over the Canadiens in 1988-89. Professional hockey was firmly established in Calgary in 1921 when the Calgary Tigers helped form the Western Canada Hockey League becoming the first major professional team in Calgary.  The Tigers competed a total of eleven seasons in four leagues, winning four championships during their existence.

Both clubs boast a strong cross-country following and own long home sellout streaks. The Canadiens have drawn capacity crowds at Bell Centre for each of their past 248 regular-season and playoff games since January 2004, while the Flames have posted 230 consecutive sellouts at Pengrowth Saddledome since April 2004.  These two teams will have one match-up prior to the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic when the Canadiens host the Flames on January 17th.

“The Calgary Flames are honoured to be hosting the Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium. Calgary and Montreal have a storied past having faced each other in two Stanley Cup finals and we are pleased to be able to restore that rivalry on this grand stage with an outdoor game,” said Ken King, President and CEO Calgary Flames. “The Flames organization, the city of Calgary and Flames fans everywhere are very excited about this very special event highlighted by the opportunity to see NHL action in a classic winter setting.”

“The entire Montreal Canadiens organization is thrilled to be part of this exciting event. We look forward to this celebration of hockey on Canadian soil and welcome the opportunity to revive our longtime rivalry with the Calgary Flames,” said Pierre Boivin, President of the Montreal Canadiens. “We had the privilege of playing in the first Heritage Classic, back in 2003, and we are pleased and honoured to have been invited for this outdoor showdown at McMahon Stadium.”

“An NHL game between two Canadian teams on an outdoor rink in Calgary is a unique way to celebrate the special place that hockey holds in Canadian culture,” said Mike Ouellet, NHLPA Chief of Business Affairs. “Taking the ice for the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic is something that players on the Calgary Flames and Montreal Canadiens will undoubtedly cherish as a career highlight.”

“CBC is extremely proud to broadcast the NHL Heritage Classic,” said Scott Moore, Executive Director, CBC Sports and General Manager of Media Sales and Marketing. “CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada was there when Edmonton hosted the first Heritage Classic in 2003, and we’re excited to be headed to Calgary this time around.  It promises to be a memorable evening for fans of the Flames, the Canadiens and Canadian hockey fans across the country.”

“The Winter Classic has become a highly anticipated annual event and we’re excited to be able to televise the NHL’s first outdoor game on cable with the Heritage Classic,” said Jamie Davis, President of VERSUS.  “Each season we try to find different ways to deepen our NHL coverage.  Last year we added several games following the Olympic break and extended coverage throughout the playoffs, leading to record postseason viewership.  Broadcasting the Heritage Classic is another example of how we work very closely with the NHL to further super-serve hockey fans.”

“RDS was proud to provide thousands of hockey fans with the opportunity to witness this historic event back in 2003, broadcasting the first NHL regular season outdoor game, as the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Montreal Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium,” said Domenic Vanelli, Vice President of Production at RDS. “The entire RDS broadcast team has fond memories of this outstanding event and we look forward to, once again, bring all the excitement of the Heritage Classic featuring the Flames and Canadiens from McMahon Stadium to our viewers.”

The Flames will wear a fusion design jersey honoring the history of professional hockey in Calgary for the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic at McMahon Stadium on February 20, 2011 versus the Montreal Canadiens.

The Flames worked with the design team at Reebok to create the vintage look. The jersey features the same jersey striping pattern with a beige Flames C logo in a vintage felt application. The uniform is a deeper red color with gold stripes and will include the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic logo patch on the front.

Montreal will wear their current away (white) jersey which will also contain the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic patch on the front, right chest.  Modifications to the player numbers on the jersey will reflect the numbering color combinations worn on their white jerseys throughout their history, specifically how the numbers appeared during both the 1986 and 1989 Stanley Cup Final series against the Calgary Flames.

2011 NHL Heritage Classic jerseys for both Calgary and Montreal will be available for pre-orders now through Shop.NHL.com, calgaryflames.com and montrealcanadiens.com.

The NHL Heritage Classic jerseys were designed by Reebok, the Official Outfitter of the NHL®, who collaborated with both teams to create two jerseys that are unique and true to the histories and traditions of the clubs.

Additional information surrounding the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic, including ticketing information, will be announced in the coming months.  Fans can register online at www.nhl.com to receive alerts and ticket information on the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic, as well as other NHL news, events and offers. The NHL will again work with the host team, the Flames, to set aside tickets specifically for use by local youth hockey organizations.

Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins will battle Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on New Year’s Day in a regular-season game at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, at 1 p.m. ET.  The 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® will mark the fourth consecutive season the NHL has played a regular-season outdoor game on New Year’s Day.  The Buffalo Sabres hosted the Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium on New Year’s Day 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on New Year’s Day 2009 and the Boston Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day 2010.

Filed Under: NHL, VERSUS

The NHL’s Hottest Rivalry Ready For Cool Outdoor Stage At Heinz Field On New Year’s Day In The 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic

July 28, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

THE NHL’S HOTTEST RIVALRY READY FOR COOL OUTDOOR STAGE AT HEINZ FIELD
ON NEW YEAR’S DAY IN THE 2011 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC

Game Live On NBC/CBC/RDS/NHL Radio Jan. 1 At 1 p.m. ET

Bridgestone Returns As Title Sponsor For Third Consecutive Year

NEW YORK (July 27, 2010) – Representatives from the National Hockey League, the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Steelers, the National Hockey League Players’ Association, the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County gathered today at Heinz Field to discuss plans for the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®.  The League today also unveiled the official logo for the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic and the special team logos for the Penguins and Capitals.

In May, the NHL announced that Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins will battle Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on New Year’s Day in a regular-season game at Heinz Field, home of the Steelers, at 1 p.m. ET.  The NHL’s fiercest rivalry will be re-ignited in the event Forbes magazine calls “the best new sporting event” of the last decade.

The 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will mark the fourth consecutive season the NHL has played a regular-season outdoor game on New Year’s Day.  The Buffalo Sabres hosted the Penguins at Ralph Wilson Stadium on New Year’s Day 2008, the Chicago Blackhawks hosted the Detroit Red Wings at Wrigley Field on New Year’s Day 2009 and the Boston Bruins hosted the Philadelphia Flyers at Fenway Park on New Year’s Day 2010.

“Our players love to participate in this grand celebration of our sport, our fans love to watch it, our broadcasters love to show it and our sponsors are pleased to support it,” said Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner.  “The Capitals and Penguins will write a new chapter in Pittsburgh sports history when the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic comes to Heinz Field on New Year’s Day.”

The Bridgestone brand, the Official Tire of the NHL® and the NHLPA, returns for the third consecutive year as title sponsor.  The 2010 event was a magical day at Fenway Park and firmly established the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic as a major national sports property. More than 5.5 million viewers watched the game on North American television, and NHL.com attracted nearly 1 million unique visitors on January 1. Demand for tickets exceeded 307,000 requests, and investment in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic by NHL corporate marketing partners increased 66% from 2009 with 16 partners spending more than $10 million.

“The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic has become a tradition of excellence, passion and excitement in the sports world — it’s the same tradition that the Bridgestone brand instills in its products every day,” said Phil Pacsi, Vice President, Consumer Marketing, U.S. & Canada Consumer Tire Sales Sales, Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations, (BATO). “Watching one of the NHL’s fiercest rivalries come head-to-head at the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field is an event not to be missed, and will be talked about for years to come. We are excited and proud to be part of this new tradition.”

The NHL’s two biggest stars, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, bring their rivalry to the big stage of the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.  Their rivalry has blossomed into one of the most intriguing individual matchups in all of sports.  Both No. 1 overall draft choices (Ovechkin 2004 and Crosby 2005), the superstars have been linked since they entered the League at the same time at the beginning of the 2005-06 NHL season.  At the end of that season, Ovechkin won the Calder Trophy as top rookie, with Crosby finishing second.

In 2007, Crosby won the Hart Trophy as League MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s top scorer.  Ovechkin won each of those prestigious awards in 2008 and added a second Hart Trophy, among other accolades, in 2009.  The pair has combined to win the last four Ted Lindsay Awards, given to the most outstanding player as voted by the NHL players.

The rivalry reached heightened levels during the 2009 Stanley Cup® Playoffs when the Capitals and Penguins squared off in an epic, seven-game series.  Ovechkin and Crosby dominated the series, each displaying a level of skill and leadership that propelled his club. Game 2 in Washington was particularly memorable, as each player netted a hat trick in a scintillating, 4-3 Capitals victory.  In the end, the Penguins prevailed in the series and went on to win the Stanley Cup.

The Penguins, the 2009 Stanley Cup champions, boast other top talents in center Evgeni Malkin (2009 Conn Smythe Trophy and 2009 Art Ross Trophy winner) goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury and center Jordan Staal.  The Capitals, the 2010 Presidents’ Trophy winners, counter with young stars Nicklas Backstrom, Mike Green and Alex Semin.

“On behalf of Mario Lemieux, Ron Burkle and the entire Pittsburgh Penguins organization, I want to tell you how excited we are to host the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Heinz Field. It is a unique opportunity to showcase our city and our region – and our passionate fans — to a national and international audience,” said David Morehouse, Penguins president. “We are honored that the Pittsburgh Steelers have made their great, iconic stadium available to us, so that, on one very special day in January, the home of the six-time Super Bowl champions will be home to some of the greatest hockey players in the world. We also want to thank the NHL and Commissioner Bettman for believing in us, and for their unwavering support of hockey in Pittsburgh. We look forward to seeing you all right here on New Year’s Day.”

“I couldn’t think of a much better way to bring in the New Year than participating in the Winter Classic. Commissioner Bettman and the NHL have created a world-class event to showcase our sport and its players,” said Ted Leonsis, Washington Capitals majority owner. “Since before the drop of the puck at the 2008 Winter Classic, we have wanted to participate in this game, and we are extremely appreciative of the Commissioner’s efforts to make this a reality for our organization and our great fans. This indeed will be a thrill cherished by our players and our fans for a lifetime.”

“NHL players know the thrill of growing up playing hockey outside in the cold, so to have the opportunity to play in the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in front of thousands of fans in attendance, and millions on TV, will be a really special moment in their careers that they’ll never forget,” said Matt Nussbaum, NHLPA Associate Counsel.  ”The NHLPA is pleased to support this great annual initiative that promotes our game to new fans and brings the game back to its roots.”

NBC Sports returns as the U.S. broadcaster and provides live HD coverage of the event.  In Canada, CBC and RDS will televise the event live.  NHL Radio™ and Sirius XM Satellite Radio will provide radio coverage and NHL.com will have extensive digital coverage.

“NBC Sports is proud to have partnered with the NHL on growing this event from an idea to New Year’s Day appointment viewing,” said NBC Sports President Ken Schanzer. “I can’t think of a better way to start the new year than with the NHL’s preeminent rivalry featuring the two best players in the world from the outdoor stadium of one of pro football’s most venerated teams.”

“CBC is thrilled to broadcast the fourth Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic from beautiful Heinz Field,” said Scott Moore, Executive Director, CBC Sports and General Manager of Media Sales and Marketing. “This year’s game will add yet another chapter to Pittsburgh’s rich sports history and reaffirm CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada’s mandate to provide Canadians with the very best in major sports event television.“

Additional information surrounding the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, including ticketing information, will be announced in the coming months.  Fans can register online at NHL.com/WinterClassic to receive alerts and ticket information on the 2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, as well as other NHL news, events and offers. The NHL this year will again work with the host team, the Penguins, to set aside tickets specifically for use by local youth hockey organizations.

“We are happy to partner with the National Hockey League and the Penguins to bring this exciting game to Pittsburgh,” said Steelers President Art Rooney II.  “We are looking forward to the energy that outdoor hockey will bring to Heinz Field.”

“We are honored to welcome the National Hockey League’s 2011 Winter Classic and excited for yet another opportunity to showcase our City, thanks to the success of our great sports teams and one-of-a-kind fan base,” Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said. “There’s no better way to ring in a New Year than to host this pre-eminent winter festivity, which symbolizes the resurgence of hockey in this great city. From the Penguins’ 2008-09 Stanley Cup championship season, to the opening of the CONSOL Energy Center next season, the Classic will be another historic highlight to continue the legacy of the current Pittsburgh Penguins team.”

“We are excited that the NHL has chosen Heinz Field to host the 2011 Winter Classic between the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals,” said Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. “We will have another opportunity to showcase our great region, our passionate fans and our outstanding team. Our young talent has brought international attention to our region, as well as a third Stanley Cup. We are thrilled to once again be a part of this New Year’s Day tradition.”

The NHL this season will play an outdoor regular-season game in Canada.  The NHL Heritage Classic™ will be played at McMahon Stadium in Calgary on Sunday, February 20 and feature the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames.  It will be the first regular-season NHL game contested outdoors in Canada since the Edmonton Oilers hosted the Canadiens at Commonwealth Stadium on November 22, 2003.

Filed Under: NBC, NHL

NHL Network U.S. Plays Host To The Frenzy Of Free Agency

June 29, 2010 By admin

NHL NETWORK U.S. PLAYS HOST TO THE FRENZY OF FREE AGENCY
Four Hours of TSN Coverage to Follow NHL Live! on July 1

NEW YORK, NY (June 29, 2010) – When the National Hockey League’s annual race to sign veteran talent commences on July 1, fans in the United States will be able to keep up with all the moves of free agency on NHL Network™ and NHL.com.

American hockey fans can watch TSN’s Free Agent Frenzy show on NHL Network and streamed live on NHL.com to follow all the signings and rumors during one of the most exciting days on the League’s calendar. The NHL on
TSN: Free Agent Frenzy will be broadcast on NHL Network and streamed on NHL.com from 2-6 p.m. ET on Thursday, July 1.

Before throwing it to TSN in Toronto, NHL Network and NHL.com will carry NHL Live! The League’s daily satellite radio call-in show on Sirius XM, that is simulcast on NHL Network and streamed live on NHL.com each weekday from noon-2 p.m. ET, will be hosted by Don La Greca and E.J. Hradek live from the NHL Powered by Reebok store in Manhattan. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will join Don and E.J. in studio as a special guest as the free-agency signing period officially begins at noon ET.

Filed Under: NHL, NHL Network

NHL Network U.S. Presents Premiere Broadcast of Raising the Cup: 35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers (1975-2010); Games Shown in Entirety Including Post-Game Celebrations Beginning July 5

June 29, 2010 By admin

NHL NETWORK U.S. PRESENTS PREMIERE BROADCAST OF RAISING THE CUP: 35 YEARS OF STANLEY CUP CLINCHERS (1975-2010)
Games Shown in Entirety Including Post-Game Celebrations Beginning July 5

NEW YORK (June 29, 2010) – One of the sporting world’s oldest and most distinguished trophies — The Stanley Cup — will be presented each weeknight beginning on Monday, July 5, on NHL Network™ U.S., the National Hockey League announced today.  As a part of its summer programming line-up, the NHL Network will present 35 years of Stanley Cup Clinchers so fans can relive all the heroics, heartbreaking moments and magical memories.

Raising the Cup: 35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers 1975-2010, will air at 8:00 p.m. ET each weeknight through August 27.  Stanley Cup Final clinching games will be shown in their entirety, including the full Stanley Cup presentations and post-game celebrations.

The Philadelphia Flyers have secured both first and last acts – one of exhilaration and one of disappointment — in this series that chronicles the pursuit of hockey’s holy grail.  The Raising the Cup: 35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers series begins in 1975 as two modern-era expansion teams, the Flyers and Buffalo Sabres, meet for the first time in the Stanley Cup Final.  The Flyers win the series in six games.  Flash ahead 35-years to 2010 when the newly crowned Stanley Cup Champion Chicago Blackhawks beat the Flyers in six games to capture their first Cup in nearly 50 years.

Throughout 35 years of clinchers, fans will have the opportunity to experience again the dynasties of the 1970s (Montreal Canadiens), 1980s (New York Islanders and Edmonton Oilers) and 1990s (Pittsburgh Penguins and Detroit Red Wings).  The Raising the Cup series will take viewers on an emotional roller coaster ride of Game 7 overtimes, surprising contenders and historic ends to franchise droughts.  From the tears of veteran players winning their first Stanley Cup in their last season to stellar rookie performances to the drive to defend the hardest trophy to win, this collection of Stanley Cup clinching games has something for everyone.

Fans also will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite game from each decade by logging onto www.nhl.com throughout the month.  Top vote-getting games will receive encore presentations from August 23-27.

Raising the Cup: 35 Years of Stanley Cup Clinchers 1975-2010 Schedule

Day        Year        Visitor        Home        Game #
Monday, July 5         1975        Philadelphia        Buffalo        6
Tuesday, July 6        1976        Montreal        Philadelphia        4
Wednesday, July 7        1977        Montreal        Boston        4
Thursday, July 8        1978        Montreal        Boston        6
Friday, July 9        1979        NY Rangers        Montreal        5

Monday, July 12        1980        Philadelphia        NY Islanders        6
Tuesday, July 13        1981        Minnesota        NY Islanders        5
Wednesday, July 14        1982        NY Islanders        Vancouver        4
Thursday, July 15        1983        Edmonton        NY Islanders        4
Friday, July 16        1984        NY Islanders        Edmonton        5

Monday, July 19        1985        Philadelphia        Edmonton        5
Tuesday, July 20        1986        Montreal        Calgary        5
Wednesday, July 21        1987        Philadelphia        Edmonton        7
Thursday, July 22        1988        Boston        Edmonton        4
Friday, July 23        1989        Calgary        Montreal        6

Monday, July 26        1990        Edmonton        Boston        5
Tuesday, July 27        1991        Pittsburgh        Minnesota        6
Wednesday, July 28        1992        Pittsburgh        Chicago        4
Thursday, July 29        1993        Los Angeles        Montreal        5
Friday, July 30        1994        Vancouver        NY Rangers        7

Monday, Aug. 2        1995        Detroit        New Jersey        4
Tuesday, Aug. 3        1996        Colorado        Florida        4
Wednesday, Aug. 4        1997        Philadelphia        Detroit        4
Thursday, Aug. 5        1998        Detroit        Washington        4
Friday, Aug. 6        1999        Dallas        Buffalo        6

Monday, Aug. 9        2000        New Jersey        Dallas        6
Tuesday, Aug. 10        2001        New Jersey        Colorado        7
Wednesday, Aug. 11        2002        Carolina        Detroit        5
Thursday, Aug. 12        2003        Anaheim        New Jersey        7
Friday, Aug. 13        2004        Calgary        Tampa Bay        7

Monday, Aug. 16        2006        Edmonton        Carolina        7
Tuesday, Aug. 17        2007        Ottawa        Anaheim        5
Wednesday, Aug. 18        2008        Detroit        Pittsburgh        6
Thursday, Aug. 19        2009        Pittsburgh        Detroit        7
Friday, Aug. 20        2010        Chicago        Philadelphia        6

Monday, Aug. 23        Fans’ Choice Encore #1
Tuesday, Aug. 24        Fans’ Choice Encore #2
Wednesday, Aug. 25        Fans’ Choice Encore #3
Thursday, Aug. 26        Fans’ Choice Encore #4
Friday, Aug. 27        Fans’ Choice Encore #5

About NHL NETWORK
As the definitive hockey destination, NHL Network offers viewers a 24-hour all-access pass to complete hockey coverage both on and off the ice, including live NHL games.  The network’s daily signature show – NHL On The Fly – offers fans exclusive live look-ins to NHL games, including goals, shootouts, features, interviews, pre- and post-game reports and expert analysis from a variety of hockey insiders and former players, plus special coverage from NHL events.  Additional programming includes simulcast of Sirius XM Radio’s “NHL Live” which broadcasts Mon-Fri from NHL Powered By Reebok, international and amateur hockey, player profiles, interview shows and youth-oriented programs.  NHL Network is available in the U.S. and Canada by contacting digital cable or satellite providers.  For more information on NHL Network, log on to nhlnetwork.com.

NHL is a registered trademark and the NHL Shield, NHL Network name and logo are trademarks of the National Hockey League.  All Rights Reserved.

Filed Under: NHL, NHL Network
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