OILERS GET THE PRE-SEASON GOING AGAINST THE CANUCKS ON SPORTSNET OILERS

Edmonton plays four pre-season games on Sportsnet Oilers

EDMONTON (September 21, 2010) – The Edmonton Oilers begin their pre-season on Rogers Sportsnet when they visit the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday, September 22 at 8 p.m. (MT) on Rogers Sportsnet Oilers and Rogers Sportsnet Oilers HD.

Subscribers to Roger Sportsnet ONE will watch Oilers games scheduled on its companion channel, Rogers Sportsnet Oilers. Sportsnet ONE, a new 24-hour national sports channel that launched on August 14th, will broadcast four pre-season games and 16 regular-season games on Sportsnet Oilers while Rogers Sportsnet West carries 40 regular-season games. All games will be in high definition.

Kevin Quinn calls the play-by-play while former National Hockey Leaguer Louie DeBrusk handles the analysis. Gene Principe is the host of Telus Oilers Hockey on Sportsnet West.

Edmonton opens their regular-season schedule on Sportsnet when they host the Florida Panthers on Sunday, October 10 at 5:30 p.m (MT) on Sportsnet Oilers.

The complete Oilers pre-season schedule on Sportsnet Oilers is below:

· @ Vancouver Wednesday, September 22 @ 8 p.m. (MT)

· vs. Vancouver Sunday, September 26 @ 6 p.m. (MT)

· vs. Phoenix Wednesday, September 29 @ 7 p.m. (MT)

· vs. Calgary Friday, October 1 @ 7 p.m. (MT)

Oilers pre-season games on Sportsnet Oilers 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 412

· Shaw Direct – Standard Definition “Advanced” channel 107

· Shaw Direct – High Definition “Classic” channel 451

· Shaw Direct – High Definition “Advanced” channel 395

** Please note, Shaw Cable and Shaw Direct channel numbers listed for September 29th game vs. Phoenix Coyotes and October 1st game vs. Calgary Flames will change. Please check local listings for updated channel numbers.

Oilers are hoping to ice a young and exciting roster in 2010-2011 led by Taylor Hall, the No.1 pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Hall could possibly be flanked by a number of top Oilers prospects, including Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi or Linus Omark. On the back-end, Edmonton added free-agent blueliner Kurtis Foster and acquired defenceman Jim Vandermeer. In addition, the Oilers signed Martin Gerber to add more depth to their goaltending. Winger Dustin Penner looks to build on his career-best numbers of 32 goals and 63 points from last season.

Canucks are looking for a repeat performance this season from 2009-2010 Hart and Art Ross Trophy winner Henrik Sedin. Last week, netminder Roberto Luongo relinquished his captaincy in attempt to focus solely on his goaltending duties. Rookie goaltender Cory Schneider is the leading contender in camp to back-up Luongo. 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.

For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories from the Edmonton Oilers 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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