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Sportsnet Rings in the New Year with Can’t-Miss NHL Outdoor Classics in Toronto and St. Louis, Dec. 31 to Jan. 2

Dec 22, 2016

– Leafs vs. Red Wings in NHL Centennial Classic™ on New Year’s Day; Blues vs. Blackhawks in NHL Winter Classic® on Jan. 2 –

– Maple Leafs Winter Week in partnership with Rogers celebrates 100 years of hockey at community rinks across Toronto, beginning Jan. 3 –

 TORONTO (December 22, 2016)  With the new year and NHL’s 100th anniversary season right around the corner, Sportsnet is game-ready to deliver wall-to-wall coverage of three highly anticipated outdoor showdowns: 2017 Rogers NHL Centennial Classic™ Alumni Game on December 31, 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic™ on January 1, and 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® on January 2. All games will also be available for live streaming on Sportsnet NOW, with the NHL Centennial Classic available on Sportsnet 590 The FAN.

Fans heading to both NHL Centennial Classic outdoor games in Toronto on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 can get closer to the action with innovative and augmented reality experiences in the Rogers Fan Hub and Sportsnet activation at the tailgate party. Rogers customers can enjoy exclusive access to free VIP experiences with GamePlus, including free game tickets, autographed merchandise, behind-the-scenes tours, and the opportunity to skate at Exhibition Stadium.

In addition, Rogers has partnered with the Maple Leafs to celebrate 100 years of hockey at six rinks across the city of Toronto. Maple Leafs Winter Week in partnership with Rogers will be hosted in a different community rink each day from January 3 to 8. Families can enjoy free festivities, including open outdoor skating and appearances by Leafs alumni and mascots, the Blue Crew, and other Leafs personalities.  Each festival will also include games, free hot chocolate, BBQs, giveaways, as well as Sportsnet and Rogers activations featuring mobile and augmented reality experiences.

Below is the full lineup of Sportsnet NHL coverage from December 31 to January 2:

Saturday, Dec. 31

Sportsnet’s outdoor classic coverage begins on New Year’s Eve with the 2017 Rogers NHL Centennial Classic™ Alumni Game – a showdown between legendary alumni of the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Detroit Red Wings – followed by the final Hockey Night in Canada broadcast of 2016.

11:30 a.m. ET / 8:30 a.m. PT – 2017 Rogers NHL Centennial Classic™ Alumni Game (Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW)

  • On-site Host: Ron MacLean; Analysts: Elliotte Friedman, Kelly Hrudey and Nick Kypreos; Special Appearance: Don Cherry
  • Play-by-play: Jim Hughson; Game Analyst: Craig Simpson; Reporter: Scott Oake
  • Special Feature: During the first intermission, the NHL honours the 1967 Toronto Maple Leafs, the last team in franchise history to capture the Stanley Cup

2:30 p.m. ET / 11:30 a.m. PT – 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® Alumni Game (Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW)

  • Host Daren Millard brings fans closer to the action live from Busch Stadium

6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT – Hockey Central Saturday (CBC, Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW)

  • Host: MacLean; Analysts: Friedman, Hrudey and Kypreos

7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – Hockey Night in Canada

  • Host: MacLean; Analysts: Friedman, Hrudey and Kypreos
  • Coach’s Corner: Cherry and MacLean
  • Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins (CBC and Sportsnet NOW) (OMNI Television – Punjabi)
    Play-by-play: Bob Cole; Game Analyst: Garry Galley; Reporter: Christine Simpson
  • New York Islanders @ Winnipeg Jets (Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW)
    Play-by-play: R.J. Broadhead; Game Analyst: Jason York; Reporter: Sean Reynolds
  • 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT – Hockey Night in Canada
    Host: David Amber; Analysts: Friedman, Hrudey and Kypreos
  • Vancouver @ Edmonton (CBC, Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW) (OMNI Television – Punjabi)
    Play-by-play: Dave Randorf; Game Analyst: Louie DeBrusk; Reporter: Gene Principe
  • Arizona @ Calgary (Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360 and Sportsnet NOW)
    Play-by-play: Rick Ball; Game Analyst: John Garrett; Reporter: Cassie Campbell-Pascall

Sunday, Jan. 1

The festivities continue on New Year’s Day as Original Six rivals Maple Leafs and Red Wings kick off the NHL’s 100th anniversary season in the first-ever 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic™ in Toronto. Following the outdoor showdown, hockey fans can tune in to Rogers Hometown Hockey as the ultimate hockey celebration travels to Petawawa, ON, and features a match-up between the Ottawa Senators and the Washington Capitals.

2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT – 2017 Scotiabank NHL Centennial Classic™ – Detroit Red Wings @ Toronto Maple Leafs (Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW) (Sportsnet 590 The FAN)

  • On-site Hosts: Amber and MacLean; Analysts: Friedman, Hrudey and Kypreos; Special Appearance: Don Cherry
  • TV – Play-by-play: Jim Hughson; Game Analyst: Craig Simpson; Reporter: Scott Oake
  • Radio – Play-by-play: Joe Bowen; Game Analyst: Jim Ralph
  • Special Features:

o   Prior to puck drop, MacLean will host the NHL’s Top 100 ceremony, celebrating 34 hockey legends who played during the league’s first 50 years

o   Sportsnet takes a look at the life and career of Brendan Shanahan, whose Hall of Fame Hockey career path led him back to Toronto and his hometown of Mimico, ON

  • Live Musical Performances:

o   JUNO Award-winning band Arkells perform their new hit song “My Heart’s Always Yours” before puck drop

o   Celebrated Canadian icon Bryan Adams gives a live performance at ice level during the first intermission


7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT – Rogers Hometown Hockey Pre-Game Show – live from Petawawa, ON (Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW)

  • Hosts: Ron MacLean and Tara Slone
  • Special Guests: Coach’s Corner host Don Cherry and NHL alumni Chris Phillips and Ray Sheppard

7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT – Ottawa Senators @ Washington Capitals (Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW)

Play-by-play: Paul Romanuk; Game Analyst: Greg Millen; Reporter: Arash Madani

 Monday, Jan. 2

The NHL’s outdoor classic weekend wraps up in St. Louis on Monday afternoon with the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic®, featuring the Blues’ showdown against division rival Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium.

1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT – 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® – Chicago Blackhawks @ St. Louis Blues (Sportsnet and Sportsnet NOW)

 *NOTE: Commentator schedule is subject to change

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Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Delivering storytelling on a local, regional, national and global level, the multiplatform brand consists of Sportsnet, sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet 590 The FAN, Sportsnet 960 The FAN, Sportsnet magazine, Sportsnet Mobile and Sportsnet NOW. Sportsnet consists of four regional channels (Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific), and the nationally-distributed Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet World, and Sportsnet 360. Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national broadcast rights holder, and is also the official regional television broadcast rights holder for the Calgary Flames (including radio rights on Sportsnet 960 The FAN), Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs (including radio rights on Sportsnet 590 The FAN), Vancouver Canucks and Montreal Canadiens. In addition, Sportsnet is also the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights holder of the CHL, including the Memorial Cup. Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in MLB television broadcasts and is home to all 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series. Sportsnet also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, Toronto Raptors, NBA, CIS Vanier Cup, Grand Slam of Curling, IndyCar, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, and extensive soccer programming including Premier League, Bundesliga, CONCACAF and Canadian national team matches for men and women. Sportsnet Central is the network’s news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.

Media Contacts:

Meghann Cox, meghann.cox@rci.rogers.com, 416.258.3296

Sónia Brum, Rogers, sonia.brum@rci.rogers.com, 647.338.7381