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NBC News, NBC Sports and National Science Foundation Launch “Science Of NHL Hockey”

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:24:56 +0000

THE 10-PART VIDEO SERIES STARRING CURRENT NHL STARS WILL BE FEATURED ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK DURING NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND, ON DIGITAL PLATFORMS AND IN VENUES ACROSS THE U.S.

Matt Moulson, Left Wing, New York Islanders (top) Pekka Rinne, Goaltender, Nashville Predators (bottom)

New York, NY—Jan 26, 2012—NBC News’ educational arm, NBC Learn, and the NBC Sports Group are teaming up with the National Hockey League (NHL) and National Science Foundation (NSF) to release “Science of NHL Hockey”— an informative 10-part video series exploring the science behind the fastest game on ice that will be distributed across several NBCU platforms. Made especially for students and teachers to use in the classroom, these videos will be aligned to lesson plans and national state education standards, and are available to the public cost-free on NBCLearn.com, NBCSports.com and Science360.gov. NBC News’ Lester Holt narrates the series.

The “Science of NHL Hockey” videos will debut during NBC Sports Network’s all-encompassing coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend from Ottawa January 26-29, including a select number of videos airing throughout the Honda SuperSkills Competition on Sat., January 28, from 7-9:30 p.m. ET. The NHL will feature the videos on NHL.com, NHL Network in the U.S. and Canada and in a number of arenas throughout the League. The series will also appear in retail venues across the country, including Wovenmedia outlets, and on American Airlines in-flight entertainment and NBC’s affiliate stations.

This collaboration between NBC Learn, NBC Sports and NSF uses the universal appeal of hockey to drive an understanding of complicated scientific concepts. Students and teachers see how the principles of science enable players to perform actions such as quickly stopping on ice, passing the puck to a teammate, shooting a slap shot and making a great save.

The science is broken down by capturing the athletes’ movements with a state-of-the-art, high-speed Phantom camera, which has the ability to capture movement at rates of up to 10,000 frames per second. These dynamic visuals allow for frame-by-frame illustrations of specific scientific principles such as Newton’s Three Laws of Motion, kinematics and velocity. Other video episodes analyze the hockey science behind reflexes and reaction time, statistics, vectors, linear motion, geometry and more.

NBC Sports Group oversaw the Phantom video shoot in September 2011 during the yearly media tour sponsored by the NHL and its players association. NBC Sports Group also provided research and technical support throughout the project.

Current NHL players who participated in the video series include:

Jaroslav Halak, Goaltender, St. Louis Blues

Erik Johnson, Defenseman, Colorado Avalanche

Brenden Morrow, Left Wing, Dallas Stars

Matt Moulson, Left Wing, New York Islanders

Pekka Rinne, Goaltender, Nashville Predators

In each video, an NSF-supported scientist explains a selected scientific principle, while NHL athletes describe how the principle applies to their respective positions. Series scientists supported by NSF are: Edward Burger, Williams College; Irene Fonseca, Carnegie Mellon; Jim Gates, University of Maryland; Robert Gehrz, University of Minnesota; and Patricia Shewokis, Drexel University. The videos also include actual game footage provided by the NHL, and the lesson plans that accompany the videos will be provided by the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA).

“Science of NHL Hockey” follows in the footsteps of the “Science of NFL Football” and “Science of the Olympic Winter Games” collections, which are part of an ongoing “Science of Sports” collaboration with the NSF that was awarded a 2010 Sports Emmy for “Outstanding New Approaches Sports Programming.”

“Wayne Gretzky once said, ‘The only way a kid is going to practice is if it’s total fun for him… and it was for me,’” said Morris Aizenman, Senior Scientist for NSF’s Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences. “‘Science of NHL Hockey’ is an NSF and NBC Learn project that continues our effort to make science total fun for students. We hope, after watching these videos that students will also want to learn and practice science.”

“Building on the innovative partnership that NBC Learn has with NSF and NBC Sports, we are thrilled to expand the ‘Science of Sports’ franchise to include hockey,” said Soraya Gage, Executive Producer of NBC Learn. “These one-of-a-kind videos have set a new precedent for teaching science in the classroom, by literally breaking down concepts and illustrating their real life application through sports.”

“The NHL is excited to partner with NBC and the National Science Foundation on this special project,” said Charles Coplin, Executive Vice President of Content for the NHL. “Students, teachers and NHL fans everywhere will experience hockey in a unique way through the spectacular footage captured during filming with the players.”

“It was exciting to be part of a unique project that utilizes hockey to help educate students on science and physics,” said Brenden Morrow of the Dallas Stars. “It was fun to participate in and was very interesting. I learned a lot myself.”

Brenden Morrow, Left Wing, Dallas Stars

Jaroslav Halak, Goaltender, St. Louis Blues

Erik Johnson, Defenseman, Colorado Avalanche

NBC Sports Network Showcases Hockey’s Top Talent With 10 Hours Of NHL All-Star Weekend Coverage

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:58:19 +0000

NHL Viewership on NBC and NBC Sports Network up from Last Year

NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft on Jan. 26 (8 p.m. ET); 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Jan. 28 (7 p.m. ET); and 2012 NHL All-Star Game on Jan. 29 (4 p.m. ET)

Fantasy Draft Pre-Show on Jan. 26 at 7:30 p.m. ET and NHL Overtime from Ottawa on Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. ET

NEW YORK, N.Y. (January 24, 2012) – NBC Sports Network will air an all-encompassing 10 hours of coverage of the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend, beginning with the NHL Fantasy Draft Pre-Show on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. ET, followed by the NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft at 8 p.m. ET. The network will then air the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET, showcasing the league’s top stars as they demonstrate their skating, puck-handling and shooting skills. The weekend will culminate with coverage with the 59th NHL All-Star Game on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET, live from Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

The NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft will once again show the two captains, Daniel Alfredsson of the All-Star Weekend host Ottawa Senators and Zdeno Chara of the Stanley Cup Champion Boston Bruins, and their alternate captains (New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul, respectively) hand-pick their All-Star teams live on Thur., Jan. 26, on NBC Sports Network at 8 p.m. ET. Each All-Star team will be comprised of three goalies, six defensemen and 12 forwards.

Heading into the All-Star break, viewership for NHL games on both NBC and NBC Sports Network has grown compared to last season. NHL games on NBC (excluding the Winter Classic) are averaging 1.36 million viewers, up nine percent from the same number of games last year. On NBC Sports Network, NHL telecasts overall are averaging 330,000 viewers, up 13 percent from the same number of weeks last year, while exclusive time-period games (Wednesday and Sunday nights) are averaging 467,000 viewers, up 17 percent from last year’s exclusive coverage. NBC Sports Network recorded its most-watched regular-season game ever with this season’s opening night match-up between Philadelphia and Boston on Oct. 6 (874,000 viewers), and has already set records for highest local household ratings in several markets, such as Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. Louis and Tampa.

Dave Strader (play-by-play) and Eddie Olczyk (analyst) will serve as the in-booth announce team for the NHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sat., Jan. 28, at 7 p.m. ET. They will be joined by Pierre McGuire and Jeremy Roenick on the ice for player interviews after each competition, as well as Liam McHugh, Mike Milbury and Keith Jones from the studio at the Scotiabank Place in Ottawa.

Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play) and Olczyk (analyst) will anchor NBC Sports Network’s All-Star Game coverage, with McGuire stationed “inside-the-glass” and Roenick conducting player interviews. The studio show will feature host McHugh, with Milbury and Jones live from Ottawa.

Additional All-Star Weekend Programming – NBC Sports Network will offer viewers live reports from Ottawa during each of the network’s nightly shows, beginning with a special 90-minute NBC SportsTalk on Thur., Jan. 26, at 6 p.m. ET. Additionally, a special NHL Overtime will air from Ottawa on Fri., Jan. 27, at 10 p.m. ET. NHL Overtime will examine the biggest stories, surprises and disappointments of the NHL season thus far, as well as a look towards the second half of the season and playoffs.

Digital/Social Media – This week at Facebook.com/NHLonNBCSports, NHL fans will have the chance to flex their fantasy muscles in this year’s NHL on NBC Sports All-Star Fantasy Draft Master challenge. Beginning Wed., Jan. 25, through Facebook, fans will be challenged to choose the order that they think each starting position and player will be drafted in during the All-Star Fantasy Draft. This year’s Draft Master who most closely predicts the draft order will be announced during the NHL Skills Challenge on the NBC Sports Network on Jan. 28, and featured on the NHL on NBC Sports Facebook page.

–NHL All-Star Weekend–

NHL Network To Bring Fans Inside 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend

admin — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:55:02 +0000

NHL NETWORK TO BRING FANS INSIDE 2012 NHL ALL-STAR WEEKEND
Unprecedented On-Site Coverage from Ottawa Begins Thursday

Free Preview of NHL Network Available Across Canada Through Participating TV Service Providers

NEW YORK (January 24, 2012) — Live on-site coverage from NHL Network of all the festivities surrounding the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend in Ottawa begins on Thursday, Jan. 26, delivering 16.5 hours of live coverage.

The NHL Network team in Ottawa includes NHL Tonight hosts Kathryn Tappen and Brian Duff, analysts Barry Melrose, Kevin Weekes, Mike Johnson and EJ Hradek and reporter Heidi Androl. Joining the NHL Network team as special guest is the online sensation Joey The Junior Reporter of Blackhawks TV. The 6-year old Illinois native will bring his sharp interviewing skills to Ottawa, where he will ask the “hard-hitting” questions of the NHL’s biggest stars. For a look at Joey in action interviewing members of the Chicago Blackhawks, click here.

NHL Network will broadcast live from the Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair™ at the Ottawa Convention Centre on Thursday, Jan. 26, and Friday, Jan. 27, with roving talent filing remote reports from the 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Player Fantasy Draft™and the NHL All-Star Media Day Presented By Allstate Insurance. The NHL Network set moves to Scotiabank Place arena on Saturday, Jan. 28, and Sunday, Jan. 29.

A free preview of NHL Network will be available on participating television services providers throughout Canada, including Bell TV, Rogers, Shaw and Shaw Direct, through Feb. 3. (Not available in all areas.)

NHL Network content also will be available to stream through NHL.com, keeping fans apprised of all the activity in Ottawa around 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend on the platform of their choice. For the latest NHL All-Star news, visit NHL.com and its dedicated microsite for the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL.com/allstar.

NHL Network broadcast coverage in Ottawa is as follows (all times Eastern):
Thursday, January 26
5-7 p.m. Cisco NHL Live at NHL All-Star Weekend featuring NHL Hour with Commissioner Gary Bettman during the second hour live from Scotiabank Fan Fair™
7-8 p.m. 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft Pre-Show
9:30-11 p.m. NHL Tonight (2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft Edition)
Midnight 2012 NHL Player All-Star Fantasy Draft (re-air)

Friday, January 27
3-6 p.m. NHL All-Star Media Day Presented By Allstate Insurance
6-7 p.m. NHL Tonight (NHL All-Star Media Day Recap)
7-8:30 p.m. 2012 NHL Player All-Star Fantasy Draft (re-air)
8:30-10 p.m. 2012 NHL Player All-Star Fantasy Draft (re-air)

Saturday, January 28
4-7 p.m. 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition Pre-Show
9-10 p.m. NHL Tonight (2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition Recap)
11p.m. – 1a.m. 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition (re-air in U.S. only)

Sunday, January 29
10a.m.-12p.m. 2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition (re-air in U.S. only)
1-4 p.m. 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game Pre-Game Show
7-8 p.m. NHL Tonight (2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game Edition)
11p.m.-1a.m. 2012 Tim Hortons NHL All-Star Game (re-air in U.S. only)

### (1/24/12)

NHL Suspends Bruins’ Marchand for Five Games

admin — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 21:10:00 +0000

BRUINS’ MARCHAND SUSPENDED FOR FIVE GAMES

NEW YORK (January 9, 2012) — Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand has been suspended for five games and will forfeit $152,439.02 for clipping Vancouver Canucks defenseman Sami Salo during NHL Game #598 in Boston on Saturday, Jan. 7, the National Hockey League’s Department of Player Safety announced today.

Marchand, who received a two-game suspension in March 2011, is classified as a repeat offender under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Accordingly, he forfeits his salary based on the number of games in the season (82), rather than the number of days (185). The money goes to the Players’ Emergency Assistance Fund.

The incident occurred at 18:47 of the second period. Marchand received a major penalty for clipping and a game misconduct.

Marchand will miss games Jan. 10 vs. Winnipeg, Jan. 12 vs. Montreal, Jan. 14 at Carolina, Jan. 16 at Florida and Jan. 17 at Tampa Bay. He will be eligible to return Jan. 19 at New Jersey.

For a full explanation of the decision, complete with video:

3.74 Million Viewers Watch 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 03:38:25 +0000

2012 Winter Classic up two percent vs. last afternoon Winter Classic

Five of six most-watched NHL regular-season games in past 37 years are Winter Classics

NEW YORK — January 3, 2012 – The NHL Winter Classic continues to demonstrate its success as it has now produced five of the six most-watched NHL regular-season games in the past 37 years. Yesterday’s 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers from Citizen’s Bank Park averaged 3.74 million viewers, according to fast national data provided by Nielsen Media Research, making it the fifth-most watched regular-season NHL game since 1975.

Viewership for the game was up two percent compared to the last NHL Winter Classic played in the afternoon, the 2010 contest played on New Year’s Day at Fenway Park between the Boston Bruins and Flyers, which was watched by 3.68 million.

This year’s game was played on Monday, Jan. 2 due to New Year’s Day falling on a Sunday. The previous four Winter Classics were all played on Jan. 1. Yesterday’s game also had a delayed start time of 3 p.m. ET, which was announced the day before the game, due to weather conditions related to player safety. The start time had originally been scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.

Last year’s Winter Classic, broadcast on New Year’s Day in primetime from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and featuring two of the NHL’s most popular players in Sidney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals), was the most-watched NHL regular-season game in 36 years with 4.5 million viewers.

MOST-WATCHED NHL REGULAR-SEASON GAMES SINCE 1975

4.5 million Jan. 1, 2011 NBC Capitals-Penguins

4.4 million Jan. 1, 2009 NBC Red Wings-Blackhawks

3.8 million Jan. 27, 1996 FOX Six-game regional coverage

3.8 million Jan. 1, 2008 NBC Penguins-Sabres

3.74 million Jan. 2, 2012 NBC Rangers-Flyers

3.68 million Jan. 1, 2010 NBC Flyers-Bruins

Yesterday’s game produced a 2.1 rating and 4 share equaling the last Winter Classic played during the afternoon (2010 – 2.1/4). Last year’s primetime game generated a 2.3 rating and 4 share. The rating for this year’s contest built every half hour from 5 pm ET until the conclusion of the game, peaking at a 2.7 for the final segment (6-6:08 p.m. ET).

Philadelphia led all markets with an 11.9/21 rating, almost doubling the 6.0/11 rating the market produced for the 2010 game when the Flyers were the visitors against the Bruins at Fenway Park.

New York posted a 4.3/9 rating, up 65 percent versus the 2.6/6 average for the market for the four previous Winter Classics, none of which involved a New York team.

TOP LOCAL MARKETS FOR 2012 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC

1. Philadelphia, 11.9/21

2. Buffalo, 7.8/13

3. Boston, 5.1/9

4. Pittsburgh, 4.4/8

T5. New York, 4.3/9

T5. Washington D.C., 4.3/8

7. Providence, 3.8/7

8. Richmond, 3.1/5

9. Baltimore, 2.9/5

10. Minneapolis, 2.7/6

–NBC Sports Group–

24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic – Series finale this Thursday

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:41:24 +0000

24/7 FLYERS/RANGERS: ROAD TO THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC

JAN. 5 EPISODE

Episode #4 (series finale)

Debut: THURSDAY, JAN. 5 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: Jan. 5 (11:00 p.m.), 6 (9:30 a.m., 6:30 p.m., 11:45 p.m.), 7 (10:00 a.m., 12:10 a.m.), 8 (10:00 a.m.) and 9 (7:00 p.m., 3:00 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Jan. 8 (midnight) and 10 (10:00 p.m.)

HBO On Demand availability begins: Jan. 9

Preparations go into high gear as workers apply the finishing touches needed to turn a baseball stadium into an outdoor hockey rink. The Rangers take on the Flyers in a compelling contest that goes down to the final tick of the clock. Rating: (TV-MA) [AL]

The first three episodes of the series are currently available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.

The executive producer of 24/7 FLYERS/RANGERS: ROAD TO THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC is Rick Bernstein; senior producer, Dave Harmon; coordinating producers, Scott Boggins and Bentley Weiner; co-producer, Abtin Motia; writer, Aaron Cohen; narrator, Liev Schreiber.

2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic Post-Game Notes

admin — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 21:13:12 +0000

2012 BRIDGESTONE NHL WINTER CLASSIC POST-GAME NOTES NEW YORK RANGERS 3 AT PHILADELPHIA FLYERS 2
CITIZENS BANK PARK, PHILADELPHIA JANUARY 2, 2012

ANOTHER GAME-WINNER FOR RANGERS’ RICHARDS

Brad Richards tallied the game-winning goal in the Rangers win, breaking a 2-2 tie at 5:21 of the third period. Richards scored his sixth game-winner of the season, tops on the Rangers and second in the NHL behind Detroit’s Johan Franzen (seven).

RANGERS’ RUPP SAVES BEST FOR BIG STAGE

Rangers forward Mike Rupp scored a pair of goals, his first multi-goal game since Nov. 30, 2009, a span of 166 regular- season and playoff games. He tallied his fifth career multi-goal game in 555 career NHL appearances (regular-season and playoffs). Rupp has a knack for starring on the League’s biggest stages: as a rookie he tallied the Stanley Cup-winning goal and added a pair of assists for the New Jersey Devils in a 3-0 win over Anaheim in Game 7 of the 2003 Stanley Cup Final.

Rupp, Brandon Prust (two assists) and John Mitchell (two assists) combined for six points (2-4–6) and a +6 rating in today’s game.

LUNDQVIST PRESERVES VICTORY WITH LAST-MINUTE PENALTY-SHOT SAVE

Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist faced his 10th career regular-season penalty shot in stopping Philadelphia’s Daniel Briere with 20 seconds remaining in the third period to preserve the victory. It marked the first penalty shot in a Winter Classic game.

Lundqvist improved his career penalty-shot save percentage to .700 (seven stops on 10 attempts). Briere now is one-for-three on regular-season penalty shots.

ANOTHER MILESTONE FLYER GOAL IN WINTER CLASSIC

Flyers rookie forward Brayden Schenn opened the scoring at 12:26 of the second period with his first career NHL goal. The Flyers’ goal in their previous Winter Classic appearance, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins at Fenway Park on Jan. 1, 2010, also came from a player scoring his first NHL tally — defenseman Danny Syvret.

One year ago today, on January 2, 2011, Schenn tallied a pair of assists for Team Canada in a 4-1 win over Switzerland in the quarter-finals of the 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships in Buffalo.

RANGERS MATCH BIGGEST WINTER CLASSIC COMEBACK

The Rangers became the second team to overcome a two-goal deficit to win a Winter Classic game. The Detroit Red Wings came back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-4 in the 2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago.

SCORING FIRST NOT AN ADVANTAGE IN WINTER CLASSIC

The team scoring first lost the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic for the fourth consecutive year.

Year Venue Scoring First Winter Classic Winner Score

2009 Wrigley Field, Chicago Chicago Detroit 6-4
2010 Fenway Park, Boston Philadelphia Boston 2-1 (OT)
2011 Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Washington 3-1
2012 Citizens Bank Park, Phil. Philadelphia NY Rangers 3-2

HOME ICE NOT AN ADVANTAGE IN WINTER CLASSIC

The team hosting the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic has won just once in five games:

Year Venue Winter Classic Winner Score

2008 Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo Pittsburgh 2-1 (SO)
2009 Wrigley Field, Chicago Detroit 6-4
2010 Fenway Park, Boston Boston 2-1 (OT)
2011 Heinz Field, Pittsburgh Washington 3-1
2012 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia NY Rangers 3-2

RANGERS’ STAAL MAKES SEASON DEBUT

Rangers defenseman Marc Staal made his 2011-12 season debut today, recording one hit and a +1 rating in 12:41 of ice time. Staal missed the first 36 games of the season with a concussion. One of Marc’s younger brothers, Pittsburgh Penguins center Jordan Staal, made his 2010-11 season debut in last year’s Winter Classic against the Washington Capitals at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh after missing the first 39 Penguins’ games with foot and hand injuries.

RANGERS TAKE FIRST PLACE IN NHL OVERALL STANDINGS

With their victory in the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, the Rangers (24-9-4, 52 points) moved into first place in the NHL’s overall standings. The Chicago Blackhawks, also with 52 points, host the Edmonton Oilers tonight. This is the latest the Rangers have been in first place of the Eastern Conference standings since the 1995-96 season, when New York held the top position through games played on Mar. 15, 1996 (Elias Sports Bureau).

WINTER CLASSIC ATTENDANCE SURPASSES QUARTER-MILLION

The crowd of 46,967 that packed Citizens Bank Park today pushed total attendance at the five NHL Winter Classics past the quarter-million mark.

Year Venue Attendance

2008 Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo (vs. Pit) 71,217
2009 Wrigley Field, Chicago (vs. Det) 40,818
2010 Fenway Park, Boston (vs. Phi) 38,112
2011 Heinz Field, Pittsburgh (vs. Wsh) 68,111
2012 Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia (vs. NYR) 46,967
TOTAL: 265,225

WINTER CLASSIC HIT PARADE

The Rangers and Flyers combined to post 91 hits in today’s game (Rangers 50, Flyers 41), the most in a Winter Classic game. Philadelphia’s Scott Hartnell led all players with 13 to set an individual Winter Classic mark.

TODAY’S WINTER CLASSIC WEATHER: SEASONAL

The temperature at Citizens Bank Park at puck drop — 41 degrees Fahrenheit / 5 degrees Celsius — matches the average high temperature for January 2 in Philadelphia, according to multiple online weather services. A recap of weather at the start of each NHL Winter Classic:

2008 NHL Winter Classic
33°F /1°C, flurries – Jan. 1, 2008 at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo.
Pittsburgh Penguins 2, Buffalo Sabres 1 (SO).

2009 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
32°F /0°C, overcast, swirling wind – Jan. 1, 2009 at Wrigley Field, Chicago.
Detroit Red Wings 6, Chicago Blackhawks 4.

2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
39°F/4°C, overcast – Jan. 1, 2010 at Fenway Park, Boston.
Boston Bruins 2, Philadelphia Flyers 1 (OT).

2011 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
51°F/10°C, overcast, light rain – Jan. 1, 2011 at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh.
Washington Capitals 3, Pittsburgh Penguins 1.

2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic
41°F/5°C, partly cloudy – Jan. 2, 2012 at Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia.
New York Rangers 3, Philadelphia Flyers 2.

NBC Sports Group Broadcasts 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® & Launches NBC Sports Network On Jan. 2

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 20:10:49 +0000

Fifth NHL Winter Classic Presented Live on NBC at 1 p.m. ET

“A holiday tradition.” — Newsday

NBC Sports Group to Air 26 Hours of Hockey Programming Surrounding the Winter Classic Beginning with NHL Alumni Game on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. ET on VERSUS

VERSUS Becomes NBC Sports Network at 4 p.m. ET on Jan. 2 with Special NHL Live Winter Classic Post-Game Show Hosted by Bob Costas from Philadelphia

NEW YORK – December 27, 2011 – January 2 is an important day for the NBC Sports Group as it broadcasts the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and launches the NBC Sports Network, currently VERSUS, immediately following the game at 4 p.m. ET with a special NHL Live post-game show hosted by Bob Costas from Philadelphia.

NHL WINTER CLASSIC: This year’s game features an intense rivalry between the top two teams in the Atlantic Division as the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers battle outdoors at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia, home of the Phillies. This is the fifth iteration of the NHL Winter Classic, an event created by both NBC Sports and the NHL, and that has already been described as “a holiday tradition” by Newsday.

NBC’s coverage of the Winter Classic will be hosted by Costas, a 22-time Emmy Award-winner. He will be joined by NBC Sports Group studio analysts Mike Milbury and Jeremy Roenick for coverage on NBC and post-game coverage on NBC Sports Network. NBC’s game coverage will be led by Emmy Award-winner Mike “Doc” Emrick (play-by-play) Eddie Olczyk (analyst), and Pierre McGuire (inside-the-glass reporter).

Last year’s Winter Classic was the most-watched NHL regular-season game in 36 years. Played between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins from Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and broadcast on New Year’s Day in primetime due to a weather delay, the game was watched by 4.5 million viewers.

Click here for a time-lapse video of the rink being built at Citizen’s Bank Park in Philadelphia: http://video.nhl.com/videocenter/console?catid=14&id=137090

FROM VERSUS TO NBC SPORTS NETWORK: As part of a new strategy to bring all four tiers of NBC Sports Group’s assets (broadcast network, two national cable networks, 11 regional sports networks and digital) into a consistent framework of branding, VERSUS will be re-named the NBC Sports Network on Jan. 2 at 4 p.m. ET. The NBC Sports Network will serve as a 24/7 cable platform for NBC Sports’ rich heritage of unmatched storytelling, best-in-class production and broad promotional power. Following are highlights of Dec. 31-Jan. 2 programming:

Prior to being re-branded, VERSUS will kick-off the weekend with the 2012 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game featuring former Philadelphia Flyers against former New York Rangers in a New Year’s Eve showdown on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. ET. The Alumni Game will showcase six members of the Hockey Hall of Fame, recent retirees and Stanley Cup winners, including Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Eric Lindros and NBC Sports’ Jeremy Roenick. NBC Sports Network guest analyst and former Rangers coach Mike Keenan, who won the Stanley Cup in 1994 while coaching the team, will lead the Rangers alumni team.

Continuing the transition to the NBC Sports Network, VERSUS will premiere the hour-long special, NBC Sports: A Storied History, on Dec. 31 at 6 p.m. ET following the NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game, chronicling the last seven decades of Emmy Award-winning event coverage on NBC Sports.

On Jan. 1, VERSUS will air the 2008 and 2009 NHL Winter Classics at 7 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET, respectively.

Jan. 2 will begin on VERSUS and end on the NBC Sports Network. VERSUS will air the 2010 and 2011 Winter Classic games back-to-back at 7:30 a.m. ET and 10 a.m. ET, respectively. At 3 p.m. ET, it will air an encore presentation of NBC Sports: A Storied History. At 4 p.m. ET, the switch will be flipped and the NBC Sports Network officially launches with a special NHL Live Winter Classic Post-Game show hosted by Costas and featuring all the highlights from the outdoor game.

The new NBC Sports Network will continue with hockey-themed programming at 4:30 p.m. ET with the premiere of Cold War on Ice: Summit Series ’72 produced by Ross Greenburg. The documentary focuses on the hockey series played in 1972 between a team of Canadian NHL all-stars and the Soviet Union national team during the height of the Cold War.

Cold War on Ice will be followed by a special 90-minute edition of NBC SportsTalk at 6 p.m. ET, NHL Live at 7:30 p.m. ET and the Vancouver Canucks hosting the San Jose Sharks at 8 p.m. ET. NHL Live post-game and NHL Overtime will end the NBC Sports Network’s first day.

Highlights of the NBC Sports Group’s Jan. 2 Schedule (all times ET, subject to change):

TIME NETWORK PROGRAM

7:30 a.m. VERSUS Replay of 2010 NHL Winter Classic

10 a.m. VERSUS Replay of 2011 NHL Winter Classic

1 p.m. NBC 2012 NHL Winter Classic

3 p.m. VERSUS NBC Sports: A Storied History

4 p.m. NBC Sports Network NHL Live Post-Game (from Philadelphia)

4:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network Cold War on Ice: 1972 Summit Series

6 p.m. NBC Sports Network NBC SportsTalk

7:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network NHL Live Pre-Game

8 p.m. NBC Sports Network NHL: San Jose at Vancouver

10:30 p.m. NBC Sports Network NHL Live Post-Game

11 p.m. NBC Sports Network Replay of NBC SportsTalk

12:30 a.m. NBC Sports Network NHL Overtime

***

PRESS EVENT: Below are highlights of a NBC Sports Group and NHL press event held on Dec. 21 in 30 Rock’s famed Studio 8H with the following participants:

Bob Costas – NBC Sports Winter Classic host
Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick – NBC Sports NHL lead play-by-play commentator
Sam Flood – Executive Producer, NBC Sports & NBC Sports Network
Jon Miller – President, Programming, NBC Sports & NBC Sports Network
John Collins – NHL Chief Operating Officer
Peter Luukko – Comcast-Spectacor, President & COO
Adam Graves – Former New York Ranger and the team’s current Special Assistant for Prospect Development and Community Relations

Click here for an NBCU Direct video of Emrick, Flood and Miller speaking at the event: http://www.nbcudirect.com/nhlwinterclassic122711/

COSTAS ON THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WINTER CLASSIC: “All of us at NBC, everybody in the stands and most importantly all the players understood, even as it began, that this was something not just out of the ordinary. This was something that was going to be tremendously successful.”

EMRICK ON THE CHALLENGES THAT COME WITH CALLING AN OUTDOOR GAME: “I try to look at it as a player, and how they play regardless what happens. I also take the wisdom of our producer before we start. Sam always says, remember, a lot of people that don’t normally watch hockey are going to watch this. I think those two things together are the thing that I focus on, and you try to not get in the way and just let the celebration begin with the opening face-off and go from there.”

FLOOD ON PRODUCTION: “We treat it as an event. This is not a hockey game, it’s an event. We want to make it bigger because of the field it’s being played on. It’s not in a confined building; it’s outdoors. So we have an airplane. I was so proud in Buffalo when we played the first replay of a goal from an airplane. We knew we were the first people ever do that because no one had ever covered a game with an airplane before, so we thought that was a neat trick. We’re also using a CableCam for the second time. We’ve figured out cool ways to use that CableCam that we see in every NFL game, but you can’t do it in a hockey game, but it works here. We’ve figured out how to make it special and unique.”

“We have all the bells and whistles, 30 cameras for a hockey game we have more cameras than players on each team which is a nice treat to have for a production team to go have some fun with it. The goal is to make people fall in love with a hockey game the way it first began, which is outdoors, under the open sky, which is how I played as a kid in the Boston area.”

LUUKKO ON WHAT HOSTING THE EVENT MEANTS TO PHILADELPHIA: “When you can be showcased in an event like this. I think a lot of the reason that people look at us as an original six type team is we’ve only had one face. We’ve been consistent in our play.”

“This game propels your organization. In our case, selling out the Alumni Game, selling out, obviously, the Winter Classic.”

GRAVES ON RANGERS-FLYERS MATCH-UP: “The best part for me with this year’s game is that both teams are firing on all cylinders and they’re both at the top of the conference. Whenever you get these teams together, they’re both fast teams, they’re good on specialty teams, and they’re both very, very intense.”

MILLER ON THE LAUNCH OF NBC SPORTS NETWORK: “Clearly there’s been a lot of work going on with the rebranding and the re-launch. The idea to flip it on Jan. 2 gave us the window of using a high-profile event that is big to NBC and to the NHL. What better place to re-launch and tell the world about what your new brand is going to be than around this event.”

MILLER ON WHAT FANS CAN EXPECT ON NBC SPORTS NETWORK: “We have three tranches of programming that we’re looking to put on NBC Sports Network starting with live events, live games, and big-league relationships. The second tranche is original news, talk and conversation. The third tranche is the original programming we’ve developed with the NHL around shows like NHL 36 with the NFL, with NFL Turning Point, the Bob Costas Show that will be breaking this year, Costas Tonight, as well as the Costas Town Halls. We’ll embrace the brands that are already associated with NBC Sports like the Triple Crown. We’ve added the MLS to our portfolio. We have a strong, robust relationship with the Tour de France, and then we will obviously have an extensive Olympic presence come June, July and August with the Olympic trials, then actually live Olympic programming throughout the game.”

–NBC Sports Group–

Boston Bruins Patrice Bergeron Gets All-Access Treatment on Next “NHL 36″

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:23:55 +0000

“NHL36: Patrice Bergeron” Will Air on NBC Sports Network on January 4 at 6:30 p.m., ET

NEW YORK (Dec. 27, 2011) – The National Hockey League (NHL®) and NHL Original Productions today announced Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron as the next NHL player to be profiled in the all-access series NHL 36.

“Patrice has won a Stanley Cup, plus a gold medal at the Olympics, at the World Championship and at the World Junior Championship,” said Ross Greenburg, executive producer, NHL 36. “He is one of the League’s most under-rated superstars.”

NHL Original Productions cameras joined the Bruins’ alternate captain at 7:30 a.m., ET, today and will follow him for 36 hours as Bergeron participates in team practices, flies with teammates to Arizona and prepares for Boston’s game against the Phoenix Coyotes.

NHL 36: Patrice Bergeron will air Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 6:30 p.m. on NBC Sports Network (formerly VERSUS). Narration is provided by actor and Emmy Award winner Peter Coyote. The original score is the creation of accomplished composer Ferdinand J. Smith. The show will be followed on NBC Sports Network by NHL LIVE at 7:00 p.m. ET, and the Bruins’ game in New Jersey against the Devils at 7:30.

NHL 36: Patrice Bergeron will re-air on the NBC Sports Network on Friday, Jan. 6 at 9 a.m. and Sunday, Jan. 8 at 1 a.m. It also will air in the United States and Canada on NHL Network™ on Saturday, Jan. 7 at 12:30 p.m. ET and Sunday, Jan. 8 at 6:30 p.m. ET.

NHL Original Productions is the latest collaboration between the NHL and renowned executive producer Ross Greenburg – an alliance that produced two critically-acclaimed programs on HBO: Broad Street Bullies and the Emmy
Award-winning 24/7 Penguins/Capitals: Road to the NHL Winter Classic®. Throughout the year, NHL Original Productions will develop long- and short-form hockey programming for use by the League’s media platforms (NHL
Network and NHL.com) as well as national and regional rights-holders.

### (12/27/11)

24/7 Flyers/Rangers: Road to the NHL Winter Classic – Episode 3 debuts Dec. 28

admin — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 17:34:31 +0000

24/7 FLYERS/RANGERS: ROAD TO THE NHL WINTER CLASSIC

DEC. 28 EPISODE

Episode #3

Debut: WEDNESDAY, DEC. 28 (10:00-11:00 p.m. ET/PT)

Other HBO playdates: Dec. 28 (11:00 p.m.), 29 (5:00 p.m., 11:50 p.m.), 30 (11:00 a.m., 8:00 p.m.) and 31 (noon), and Jan. 1 (9:00 a.m.), 2 (7:00 p.m., 1:55 a.m.)

HBO2 playdates: Dec. 30 (midnight) and Jan. 1 (11:45 p.m.), 2 (9:00 a.m.) and 3 (10:00 p.m.)

HBO On Demand availability begins: Jan. 2

The Flyers and Rangers square off at Madison Square Garden in a highly anticipated contest as their showdown in the Winter Classic looms. Preparations to transform Citizens Bank Park are under way. Rating: (TV-MA) [AL]

The series finale debuts Thursday, Jan. 5 at 10:00 p.m. (followed by an encore at 11:00 p.m.) three days after the Classic, with cameras tracking all the drama and excitement surrounding the Flyers and Rangers on game day. The series is also available on HBO On Demand® and HBO GO®.