HOCKEYCENTRAL COVERS 2011 NHL ALL-STAR GAME THIS WEEKEND AND REVIEWS NHL MID-SEASON

Kypreos, MacLean and Millard in Raleigh, North Carolina all weekend for all-star game

TORONTO (January 26, 2011) – With the league’s best assembling for the 2011 NHL All-Star Game, Rogers Sportsnet will ice their all-star lineup with Hockeycentral analysts Nick Kypreos, Doug MacLean and host Daren Millard providing wall-to-wall coverage starting on Friday, January 28 during the early and primetime editions of Sportsnet Connected.

The Hockeycentral panel will begin their coverage with a preview of the All-Star Player Fantasy Draft and provide analysis on the selections for Connected. Kypreos, MacLean and Millard will also appear on Hockeycentral Saturday on January 29 at 6 p.m. (ET)/3 p.m. (PT) with player interviews and any trade speculation. With the NHL Board of Governors meetings taking place this weekend, many of the league’s general managers will be attendance and Hockeycentral will offer up-to-the minute news on any trade rumours. The panel will continue coverage on Connected right up to the All-Star Game on Sunday, January 30 with post-game analysis. As well, reporter Tony Ambrogio will file reports for Connected.

Also in Raleigh, Carolina is sportsnet.ca columnist Mark Spector who will be filing features for the website about the All-Star Game weekend.

As the 2010-2011 campaign heads into the All-Star break, Hockeycentral Tonight will present a special mid-season review on Thursday, January 27 at 11p.m. (ET)/11p.m. (MT)/11 p.m. (PT) on the Sportsnet Ontario, West and Pacific channels.

Hockeycentral analysts Mike Brophy and John Shannon with host RJ Broadhead will discuss which players and teams have made the biggest impact, including the front runners for NHL awards.

Brophy and Shannon were unanimous with Sidney Crosby as MVP and Nicklas Lidstrom as the best defenceman at the mid-way point this season. In addition, they both agreed on the Vancouver Canucks as the best Canadian team.

“They have scoring, defence, depth and goaltending,” said Shannon. “They are relatively healthy, and just need some veteran playoff leadership to get over the top.”

However, they differed on who would meet in the Stanley Cup Finals based on the first half of the season.

“Detroit vs. Pittsburgh,” said Shannon. “Two teams who should have healthy superstars in April, May and June.”

“Philadelphia and Vancouver,” said Brophy. “It would be a great final and one thing is certain, it would be a long series.”

Once the league returns to game action on Monday, January 31, Broadhead, Shannon and Brad May will look at the push to the playoffs on Hockeycentral Tonight at 11p.m. (ET)/11p.m. (MT)/11 p.m. (PT) on the Sportsnet Ontario, West and Pacific channels.

The panel will debate which teams are likely to qualify for the post-season, with a look ahead to the NHL Trade Deadline on February 28 by identifying who will be on the move and which teams might be buyers or sellers.

For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories from the entire NHL tune in to Hockeycentral Tonight, Sportsnet Connected and log on to sportsnet.ca.

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