CBC Revenue Group

CBC's Hockey Night in Canada launches its 59th season

Oct 3, 2011

CBC's Hockey Night in Canada laucnhes its 59th season with the Molson Canadian NHL Face-off live from Winnipeg followed by big double header.

The Maple Leafs take on the Canadiens followed by the Canucks versus the Penguins;new weekly feature show "HNIC Game Day" premieres Saturday, Oct. 8

October 3, 2011 - The wait is finally over as CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA (@hockeynight) drops the puck on its 59th season with a dynamic, action-packed opening weekend featuring the best matchups, special events, features and broadcast talent in the industry. Plus, the Winnipeg Jets are back!

"The return of NHL action on CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is always cause for celebration, but it's especially sweet this year as we say 'welcome back' to the great hockey city of Winnipeg and celebrate the return of the Winnipeg Jets," said Julie Bristow, executive director of studio and unscripted programming for CBC Television.

It all gets underway on CBC Television, Thursday, Oct. 6, at 6:30 p.m. ET, with Molson Canadian NHL Face-Off , live from The Forks in Winnipeg, including live musical performances from Three Days Grace and hometown legends Bachman and Turner. Ron MacLean hosts the broadcast from the AirCanada Centre in Toronto, while CBC's George Stroumboulopoulos (@strombo) emcees the festivities from The Forks alongside new Hockey Night teammember Andi Petrillo.

Following the celebration pre-game show, the game takes centre stage as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens, at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Vancouver Canucks versus the Pittsburgh Penguins, at 10 p.m. ET. DonCherry makes his much-anticipated return with Coach's Corner inthe first intermission of Leafs-Habs. Fans will also be treated to coverage of the Stanley Cup banner raising in Boston.

New to the CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA lineup is the weekly show HNIC Game Day , a full hour of hockey coverage every Saturday, debuting Oct. 8, at 5 p.m. ET. Hosted by the team's newest member, Andi Petrillo, and veteran P.J. Stock, this one-hour show will set the table for the evening's games, and also feature stories and interviews about the culture of hockey with the players, personalities and famous Canadians that love the game.

Hockey Night favourite Stock begins his fifth season with the broadcast, while fan favourite Petrillo joins from Leafs TV , where she hosted and reported.

Saturday night then sees Scotiabank Hockey Tonight , at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by Ottawa at Toronto, at 7 p.m. ET, and Pittsburgh at Calgary, at 10 p.m. ET. Rounding out the weekend, one of the most anticipated hockey games in recent memory, as the Winnipeg Jets return to the NHL against the Montreal Canadiens, Sunday, Oct. 9, live from Winnipeg.

Scotiabank Hockey Tonight sets it all up, at 4 p.m. ET, then the puck drops at 5 p.m. ET. Prior to the game, glimpse the passion this city feels for their team with the documentary Fuelled by Passion - The Return of the Jets , an in-depth look at the re-birth of the NHL in Winnipeg and what it means to fans, players, teams and the league. It airs both Friday, Oct. 7, at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT), and Sunday, Oct. 9, at 3 p.m. ET.

CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA's schedule this season includes special events such as the 2012 NHL Winter Classic featuring an outdoor game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers; the 2012 NHL All-Star SuperSkills and 59th NHL All-Star Game from Ottawa; and the much-anticipated Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada, the 12th annual day-long celebration of the game featuring four Canadian matchups and coverage from Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I., on Feb. 11.

Coach's Corner will be back every Saturday, with the legendary Don Cherry in his 32nd season with CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA.

The Hotstove also returns with MacLean, Mike Milbury, Kelly Hrudey (@KellyHrudey), Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC), Eric Francis (@EricFrancis) and P.J Stock as regular contributors, providing commentary on the latest issues and rumours around the NHL.

After Hours with hosts Scott Oake (@ScottOake) and Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) rounds out the full night of hockey with live post-game interviews featuring NHL players and personalities.

New this year is Elliotte Friedman's role. He'll be manning the Chevy iDesk, taking viewers behind the headlines with his insider reporting on the game's biggest stories. Jim Hughson, Bob Cole, Mark Lee and Dean Brown will provide hockey fans from across the country with the very best in play-by-play. Expert analysts Craig Simpson, Glenn Healy, Greg Millen (@GregMillen), Garry Galley, Weekes, Hrudey and Milbury all return this season, and rink-side reporting duties and expert analysis will be provided by Elliotte Friedman,Cassie Campbell-Pascal (@CassieCampbell) and Oake.

Joining the all-star cast this season is David Amber (@DavidAmber), CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA's newest Eastern Conference rink-side reporter, while newcomers Rick Ball and Daryl Reaugh will join the West Coast broadcast team covering the Jets, Flames and Oilers.

Former NHL front office executive, author and veteran radio personality Gord Stellick (@GordStellick) also joins the Hockey Night family as host on HNIC Radio on SIRIUS Satellite Radio beginning Oct. 3 on Channel 97 and Chanel 127, airing Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m.E.T. Stellick will be joined by co-hosts Hrudey, Simpson and Campbell throughout the season to provide insight and analysis on all matters in theworld of hockey.

The complete broadcast schedule of the 2011-12 season is available on the newly re-designed CBCSports.ca, the fan's online home for hockey. Along with its new look providing enhanced navigation for fans, the site will continue to include up-to-the-minute hockey news, live and on-demand video streaming of every game and expert blogs, including Friedman's 30 Thoughts column, and regular insights from Tim Wharnsby (@WharnsCBCSports). Also new this year, are re-designs for Hockey Night's popular iPhone and iPad applications, keeping fans up to date with instant access to stats and results from all NHL games, along with live streaming.

CBC'S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA
Oct. 6 - 9, 2011

Thursday, Oct. 6:
6:30 p.m. ET -
Molson Canadian NHL Face-Off
7 p.m. ET - Montreal at Toronto
10 p.m. ET - Pittsburgh at Vancouver

Friday, Oct. 7:
8 p.m. (8:30 NT) - Fuelled by Passion - The Return of the Jets

Saturday, Oct. 8:
5 p.m. ET - HNIC Game Day
6:30 p.m. ET - Scotiabank Hockey Tonight
7 p.m. ET - Ottawa at Toronto
10 p.m. ET - Pittsburgh at Calgary

Sunday, Oct. 9:
3 p.m. ET - Fuelled by Passion - The Return of the Jets
4 p.m. ET - Scotiabank Hockey Tonight
5 p.m. ET - Montreal at Winnipeg

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada is celebrating 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada.

For further information, contact:
James Lamont
Lamont@veritascanada.com
Veritas Communications, Toronto 416-482-2617 (Mobile) 416-859-5870