FRIDAY NIGHT HOCKEY LIVE ON SPORTSNET

TORONTO, ON – Building on the network’s leading cross-platform efforts and fan engagement, Sportsnet today announced the creation of Friday Night Hockey, a regular weeknight destination for Canadian Hockey League games, plus integration across the multiple Sportsnet platforms – television, radio, digital and print. 

Sportsnet will televise a CHL game in high definition every Friday night during the 2011-2012 regular season, plus the CHL’s Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game and the MasterCard Memorial Cup.  The season begins on Friday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. (ET)/4 p.m. (PT) when the Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors host the Barrie Colts on Sportsnet ONE and the Sportsnet Ontario and Pacific channels.  Sportsnet has been the exclusive media partner of the CHL since 1998.

“We wanted a home position for CHL hockey on Sportsnet and created destination viewing with Friday Night Hockey,” said Scott Moore, President, Broadcasting, Rogers Media.  “We recognize the hunger and passion for junior hockey across the country and now fans will have a consistent night each week to catch all the action.”

“The Canadian Hockey League is extremely excited to bring weekly Friday night CHL games to fans across the country,” said David Branch, President, CHL.  “Through our expanded partnership with Sportsnet, we look forward to Friday Night Hockey showcasing the CHL’s next wave of talent to the NHL.”

On television, the Friday Night Hockey broadcasts will be handled by play-by-play announcer RJ Broadhead, analyst Sam Cosentino, and host Rob Faulds.  Each broadcast will feature a pre-game studio show with analysis, scores, interviews and features.  Additionally, CHL coverage will extend to Sportsnet Connected and HOCKEY CENTRAL with all the latest news and highlights. 

On sportsnet.ca, columnist Patrick King will take a deeper look each week at the Ontario Hockey League, Western Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.  Cosentino will also appear on the website with a weekly blog and discuss CHL news on Skype chats with fans.

In Sportsnet magazine, there will be regular coverage of key CHL issues, topics and players.  This week’s upcoming issue takes a fascinating look at 25-year-old rookie GM Kyle Dubas of the OHL’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds – the youngest GM in the league.

On Radio, Sportsnet 590 The FAN and Sportsnet 960 The FAN will provide regular updates on game results and stats.

Below is the Friday Night Hockey broadcast schedule on Sportsnet for the first half of the 2011-2012 season.  The schedule for the remainder of the season will be announced in the coming months.

About Sportsnet
Sportsnet connects Canadian sports fans to their favourite teams and athletes, using five platforms: TV, Radio, Print, Online and Mobile. Sportsnet is Fuelled By Fans, and delivers 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 the Sportsnet iPad app.  Sportsnet is the Canadian leader in NHL and MLB television broadcasts and is home to 162 Toronto Blue Jays games, plus MLB Playoffs and the World Series.  Sportsnet is an official broadcaster of the London 2012 Olympic Games, and also offers an exciting sports lineup including the NFL, the Rogers Cup tennis tournament, the Memorial Cup, and soccer programming with UEFA Champions League, Barclays Premier League, MLS Vancouver Whitecaps FC, and Canadian national team matches for men and women.  Sportsnet Connected is the network’s nightly news program, providing regional and national coverage of the day’s events in the world of sports.

About the Canadian Hockey League
The Canadian Hockey League is the world’s largest development hockey league with 51 Canadian and eight American teams participating in the Ontario Hockey League, Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and Western Hockey League. CHL players graduate from high school at a rate higher than the Canadian national average. Last season, more than nine million fans attended CHL games in the regular season, playoffs and at the MasterCard Memorial Cup. The CHL supplies more players to the National Hockey League than any other league.  Last season 636 graduates attended North American post-secondary institutions on scholarships from CHL teams.