Sportsnet Takes Fans Rink Side with its 2011-2012 NHL Multiplatform Coverage

– Sportsnet’s NHL season features 258 regionally-televised games –

– Coverage begins with the HOCKEY CENTRAL Preview and Fantasy Shows, tomorrow –

– Premiere issue of Sportsnet magazine includes a 35-page NHL preview –

– sportsnet.ca and the HOCKEY CENTRAL iPad app gives fans access to scores, stats, and standings anytime, anywhere –

TORONTO (October 4, 2011) - As the National Hockey League launches its 2011-2012 season, Sportsnet brings fans closer to their home team with unparalleled coverage across multiple platforms.

Sportsnet offers fans the opportunity to connect with their teams on television through Sportsnet Connected, HOCKEY CENTRAL and NHL regional broadcasts; on the radio with Sportsnet 590 The FAN and Sportsnet 960 The FAN; online with sportsnet.ca, sportsnet mobile and the HOCKEY CENTRAL iPad app; and in print with Sportsnet magazine, which is also available on iPad.

Fuelled by Fans, Sportsnet opens its coverage of the new season on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. (ET)./3:30 p.m. (PT) with the HOCKEY CENTRAL Fantasy Draft, followed by the HOCKEY CENTRAL Preview Show at 7 p.m. (ET)/4 p.m. (PT) both on Sportsnet ONE.

HOCKEY CENTRAL Preview Show

The HOCKEY CENTRAL Preview Show premieres Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. (ET)/4 p.m. (PT) on Sportsnet ONE. Daren Millard and Jeff Marek host the two hour HOCKEY CENTRAL Preview Show, a must-see for hockey fans, with insiders Nick Kypreos, Doug MacLean, Brad May, Marty McSorley, Scott Morrison, Damien Cox, and John Shannon all weighing-in on what to expect in the 2011-2012 season.

Scott Morrison, Sportsnet’s Executive Producer of Hockey, discusses the deaths of three NHL players this summer in “Summer of Tragedy,” his first video essay.

“Sadly, this was a summer like no other in the hockey world, a summer that no one will forget,” said Morrison. “However, life goes on. In the essay, we reflect back on the dark summer and look ahead to another season; one that can’t help but be different.”

Sportsnet Connected reporters across the country will also provide an in-depth, firsthand look at all seven Canadian teams:

· RJ Broadhead reports from Winnipeg, where former Thrashers players have gone from relative obscurity to hometown rock stars. How are they handling the fame?

· Vancouver Canucks tell Dan Murphy why the summer to forget will be the winter to remember in Vancouver

· Louis Jean speaks to Montreal Canadiens’ Max Pacioretty about finding the strength to forgive Zdeno Chara after the hit that nearly ended his career

· In Edmonton, Gene Principe weaves a Tale of Two Ryan’s; explaining the pressure on Smyth and Nugent-Hopkins to lead the Edmonton Oilers back to glory

· Ian Mendes is in the Nation’s capital, examining if the Ottawa Senators’ struggles wil lead to Daniel Alfredsson asking to be traded for a shot at the cup

· Scott Morrison is in Toronto addressing the question to Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke: is the honeymoon over?

· In Calgary, Roger Millions explains that although this is a transition year, there is reason for Flames fans to be optimistic

In addition, feature reporter Christine Simpson investigates the curious departure of Captain Mike Richards and Jeff Carter from the Philadelphia Flyers. Simpson puts new Flyers Captain Chris Pronger, Head Coach Peter Laviolette and General Manager Paul Holmgren on the hot-seat.

HOCKEY CENTRAL Fantasy Draft

The HOCKEY CENTRAL Fantasy Draft returns this year on Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 6:30 p.m. (ET)/3:30 p.m. (PT) on Sportsnet ONE. Darren Millard, Nick Kypreos and Brad May give Fantasy fanatics insight on who to draft first, top sleeper picks, and which rookies to consider.

NHL Regional Hockey on Sportsnet

The NHL returns to Sportsnet for the 2011-2012 season, with a total of 258 regional broadcasts. All games are in high definition. Sportsnet Connected will have a pre and post-game show for every game across all regional channels.

· Ottawa Senators

The Ottawa Senators open their 2011-2012 season on the road against the Detroit Red Wings on Friday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. (ET) on Sportsnet East.

Sportsnet’s Scotiabank Senators Hockey broadcasts this season feature 52 games, more than any other Canadian broadcaster, with 45 on Sportsnet East and seven on Sportsnet ONE’s companion channel, Sportsnet Sens.

Dean Brown returns to the broadcast booth as play-by-play announcer, with NHL Hall of Famer Denis Potvin as analyst. Host Ian Mendes will be joined by former Senator forward Jason York for pre-game, intermission, and post-game reports on Sportsnet Connected.

As well, Sportsnet will present the weekly magazine show Molson Senators Overtime, featuring more in-depth profiles and exclusive interviews with Sens players.

· Toronto Maple Leafs

Sportsnet Ontario’s Molson Canadian Leafs Hockey coverage begins Monday, Oct. 17 at 7 p.m. (ET) when the Colorado Avalanche visit Toronto. Sportsnet Ontario will broadcast 29 Leafs games this season, more than any other Canadian broadcaster.

Joe Bowen has the play-by-play call while former NHL goaltender Greg Millen handles the analysis. Paul Hendrick rounds out the broadcast crew as the in-game reporter. Sportsnet Connected will feature Hockeycentral analysts Nick Kypreos, Doug MacLean, and Scott Morrison with host Daren Millard, who will preview each game and provide post-game analysis.

· Edmonton Oilers

The Edmonton Oilers open their season on Sportsnet West when they face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m (MT).

Sportsnet will broadcast 60 Oilers games, more than any other Canadian broadcaster, with 43 broadcasts on Sportsnet West and 17 on Sportsnet ONE’s companion channel, Sportsnet Oilers.

TELUS Oilers Hockey broadcasts will feature play-by-play announcer Kevin Quinn alongside former NHLer Louie DeBrusk as analyst and Gene Principe as host. Sportsnet Connected will preview each game and provide post-game analysis. In addition, Sportsnet features the second season of the critically-acclaimed documentary Oil Change: Overdrive. The six-part series takes an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the Edmonton Oilers heading into the 2011-2012 NHL season.

· Calgary Flames

Sportsnet’s Calgary Flames coverage begins on Monday, Oct. 10 at 12 p.m. (MT) on Sportsnet West when the Flames visit the St. Louis Blues.

TELUS Flames Hockey will include 45 Flames games on Sportsnet West and 15 games on Sportsnet ONE’s companion channel, Sportsnet Flames.

Flames broadcasts will be handled by play-by-play announcer Rob Kerr alongside former NHLer Charlie Simmer as analyst and Roger Millions as host. Sportsnet Connected will preview each game and provide post-game analysis with Millions and former Flames defenceman Rhett Warrener. Sportsnet also broadcasts the weekly magazine show Flames This Week featuring the latest news and transactions on the club.

· Vancouver Canucks

The Vancouver Canucks begin their coverage on Sportsnet when they visit the Columbus Blue Jackets on Monday, Oct. 10 at 4 p.m. (PT) on Sportsnet Pacific.

Sportsnet is broadcasting 57 Canucks games this season, featuring 49 on Sportsnet Pacific and eight games on Sportsnet ONE’s companion channel, Sportsnet Vancouver Hockey.

Returning to the Canucks broadcasts are play-by-play announcer John Shorthouse alongside former Canucks goalie John Garrett as analyst. Dan Murphy is the host. Sportsnet Connected will preview every game and provide post-game analysis following each game, with host Don Taylor and studio analyst Gary Valk. Fans hungry for more Canucks content can tune in to Canucks TV on Sportsnet. Canucks TV offers game highlights, features and plays of the week.

Sportsnet magazine

The inaugural issue of Sportsnet magazine includes a 35-page NHL section previewing the 2011-12 season; a cover story by Gare Joyce focusing on the future of Sidney Crosby; and an investigative piece on the sudden and tragic death of NHL enforcer Derek Boogaard. As well, sportsnet.ca senior columnist Mark Spector taking readers inside the Canucks’ dressing room after the crushing Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins last spring. Sportsnet magazine is currently on newsstands across the country.

Sportsnet 590 The FAN and Sportsnet 960 The FAN

Leafs fans can stay up-to-date with their team with Sportsnet 590 The FAN, by tuning into HOCKEY CENTRAL @ Noon or watching Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet East, Sportsnet West and Sportsnet Pacific channels and East channels, featuring Millard, Kypreos, MacLean, and Morrison. The Greg Brady and Jim Lang morning show will also have the industry’s best hockey insiders appearing every week to discuss the latest in Leafs and NHL news. Leafs reporter David Alter will cover all home games and select away games this season. Alter will also have a weekly Leafs blog on fan590.com.

In the West, Sportsnet 960 The FAN is the ultimate destination for all things Flames with Peter Maher and Mike Rogers calling all 82 games this season.  Bryn Griffiths hosts each game-night, including the one-hour pre-and-post-game shows. The Overtime Call-in Show, hosted by Patrick Steinberg, presents the post-game coverage. Sportsnet 960 The FAN keeps Flames fans tuned into their team online with fan960.com’s Flames Zone, live blogging during every home game and analysis from the station’s talented on-air roster.

Digital

sportsnet.ca brings you closer to the action on all Canadian team game days with the most in-depth coverage available in Canada; starting with previews of all Canadian team games, reports from the morning skate, line-up and personnel updates before the game, game recaps, video highlights and post-game analysis.

Jeff Marek takes centre stage for sportsnet.ca's daily coverage through his popular blog, The Sheet, getting you ready for the night's action through a live, daily digital-only audio show from 4 p.m. -5 p.m (ET). Available live on sportsnet.ca, the show is also available as a podcast.

sportsnet.ca also brings you closer to the action with a rich game companion experience. With live data feeds and live chats for all seven Canadian NHL team games, you gain access to a deeper level of insight on the game while interacting with a community of fellow hockey fans.

For fantasy buffs, sportsnet.ca has all angles covered. Draft your team and manage your roster all season long with the fantasy hockey pick'em pool; or become the coach, pick your game line-up and make changes between periods with our InGamer fantasy hockey game, available for all Canadian team NHL games. To help you with your picks, sportsnet.ca's Fantasy Insider Chris Nichols breaks down a player to watch for each game.

For hockey fans on the go, sportsnet.ca's HOCKEY CENTRAL iPad app is the best option for serious fans in Canada looking for in-depth hockey information and analysis.

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. For all the scores, highlights, breaking news and inside stories, tune in to Sportsnet Connected and visit www.sportsnet.ca.

Social Media Links:

Twitter: @RogersSportsnet

Facebook:  www.Facebook.com/RogersSportsnetfor in-depth hockey information and analysis.

- END -