CANUCKS BEGIN EXHIBITION SEASON AGAINST FLAMES ON SPORTSNET PACIFIC

Canucks play a total of five pre-season games on Sportsnet with two broadcasts featuring Alex Burrrows performing analyst duties

VANCOUVER (September 20, 2010) – The Vancouver Canucks start their pre-season schedule on Rogers Sportsnet with an all-Canadian affair against the Calgary Flames on Tuesday, September 21 at 6 p.m. (PT) on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific and Rogers Sportsnet Pacific HD.

John Shorthouse calls the action, while former Canucks goalie John Garrett provides the analysis. Dan Murphy rounds out the broadcast team as host.

Also, the Canucks will play another Alberta foe when they host the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday, September 22 at 7 p.m. (PT) on Rogers Sportsnet Vancouver Hockey, the companion channel to Rogers Sportsnet ONE. The game will also feature Canucks forward Alex Burrows joining Shorthouse in the broadcast booth as the analyst. Burrows, currently out of the line-up with a shoulder injury, will also appear as the broadcast analyst for the return match between the Canucks and Oilers at Rexall Place on Sunday, September 26 at 6 p.m. (PT) on Sportsnet Pacific and Sportsnet Pacific HD.

The complete Canucks pre-season schedule on Sportsnet Pacific and Sportsnet Vancouver Hockey are as follows:

· @ Calgary Tuesday, September 21 @ 6 p.m. (PT) (Sportsnet Pacific)

· vs. Edmonton Wednesday, September 22 @ 7 p.m. (PT) (Sportsnet Vancouver Hockey)

· @ Edmonton Sunday, September 26 @ 5 p.m. (PT) (Sportsnet Pacific)

· vs. San Jose Tuesday, September 28 @ 7 p.m. (PT) (Sportsnet Vancouver Hockey)

· @ Anaheim Friday, October 1 @ 7 p.m. (PT) (Sportsnet Pacific)

Canucks pre-season games on Sportsnet Vancouver Hockey for Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct subscribers can be found on the following channels:

· Shaw Cable – Standard Definition channel 320

· Shaw Cable – High Definition channel 301

· Shaw Direct – Standard Definition “Classic” channel 411

· Shaw Direct – Standard Definition “Advanced” channel 106

· Shaw Direct – High Definition “Classic” channel 450

· Shaw Direct – High Definition “Advanced” channel 394

Canucks are looking to build on their lethal attack led by Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner Henrik Sedin with his brother Daniel riding shotgun. Burrows and winger Mikael Samuelsson supplied 35 and 30-goal campaigns, respectively, last season. Last week, netminder Roberto Luongo relinquished his captaincy in attempt to focus solely on his goaltending duties. The Canucks trade for Keith Ballard and free agent signing of Dan Hamhuis should bolster a blueline that has already loss Sami Salo indefinitely to an Achilles tendon tear.

Flames spent the summer re-acquiring former Flames forwards Olli Jokinen and Alex Tanguay as free agents to supply more offence. Calgary is hoping 2007 first-rounder Mikael Backlund can make a permanent jump to the big club. Backlund had 10 points in 23 games with the Flames last season. Calgary captain Jarome Iginla surpassed 30 goals for the ninth consecutive season in 2009-2010 while defenceman Mark Giordano supplied a career-high 30 last season to a blueline that already boasts Jay Bouwmeester. Flames also re-signed defenceman Ian White and forward Craig Conroy to one-year deals during the off-season.

Vancouver opens their regular-season schedule on Sportsnet when they host the Florida Panthers on Monday, October 11 at 6:30 p.m (PT) on Sportsnet Pacific.

For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories from the Vancouver Canucks and the entire NHL tune in to Hockeycentral Tonight, Sportsnet Connected and log on to sportsnet.ca. “Your home team. First.”

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