Now This is How You Promote a Hockey Game, Kids

Thanks to the always helpful Katie Bradshaw at VERSUS.  Gosh this is good.  Hopefully VERSUS uses these throughout the year.

What are your thoughts, readers?

Morning Music Breakdown

MSG Plus With Big Plans to Annoy Devils Fans with Islander Telecast

Hey, it’s been a while since we had something from Neil Best.  Here’s his inside info on MSG Plus’ Devils-Islanders telecast:

MSG Plus was not originally scheduled to televise Wednesday night’s Devils at Islanders practice game, but the channel – which, like Newsday, is owned by Cablevision – has added it to show the home debut of John Tavares.

The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with a season preview show that includes an interview of Tavares conducted in Saskatoon by Billy Jaffe.

During the game itself, MSG Plus will have a camera on Tavares and will offer on-screen graphics that alert viewers to his presence on the ice.

As a Devil fan, I can’t imagine having less fun.

VERSUS Makes It’s Point Via Hockey

From Adrian Dater’s Twitter Feed:

More Info on NHL Live! Return: Milbury to Join Insiders

Our good buddy Ken Schott has the info on NHL Live! and it’s Sept. 28 return:

“NHL Live,” the midday talkshow about the NHL, returns to Sirius XM radio and the NHL Network Sept. 28 at noon.

Show producer Gregg Baldinger told me that there would be a rotation of show hosts (Rob Simpson, Deb Placey, Sam Rosen and Don La Greca) and analysts (EJ Hradek, Billy Jaffe, Joe Micheletti, Dave Maloney and former Albany River Rat Jim Dowd.

NBC NHL analyst Mike Milbury will join the show this year as a weekly spot on Thursdays. Milbury joins an insider linup with TSN hockey analyst Bob MckNezie, NBC abd Versus analyst Eddie Olczyk, USA Today hockey writer Kevin Allen and former Tampa Bay Lightning general manager Jay Feaster.

While it’s a shame they haven’t come up with more regular hosts, these various names are all well and good (though would it kill them to add Chico Resch once in awhile if they’re going to use Jaffe, Micheletti and Maloney?) and adding Milbury as a weekly guest is a great get for the show.  We’ll be tuning in when we can.

Morning Music Breakdown

NHL Network Book-keeping

According to NHL Net (Canada’s) Twitter feed, the network (in both countries) will be airing Dany Heatley’s San Jose welcome press conference today at 3:30 PM ET.

The feed also announces that NHL Live! will return September 28th, a week from Monday.  All very good news.

Your Morning Music Breakdown

Hello, Thursday.

We’re really tired of writing these daily intros, so from now on we’re just posting videos.

And so it goes like this…

More Info on CBC’s Battle of the Blades

The battle lines have been drawn and pairs teams formed for CBC Television’sBATTLE OF THE BLADES, a fierce competition of grace and drama.  The 14-part live performance competition series is a test of tremendous skill and showmanship and the pairs have been specifically chosen to enhance the very best in athletic and on-ice entertainment. They are:

CBC’s Press Release on New Analysts

For now, here are the Hockey Night in Canada broadcast teams

-#1: Jim Hughson/Craig Simpson/Glenn Healy/Elliotte Friedman
-West Coast Game: Mark Lee/Kevin Weekes/Scott Oake
-Alternate 7PM Game/MTL Games: Bob Cole/Greg Millen/Guy Carbonneau
-Alternate 7PM Game: Dean Brown/Gary Galley

Get ready hockey fans!  CBC’s unprecedented 57th regular season returns on Saturday, Sept. 26^th, with a special pre-season matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET with Scotiabank Hockey Tonight hosted by Ron MacLean. Then, the regular season gets in full swing on Thursday, Oct. 1 with a special all-Canadian doubleheader starting with a special edition of Scotiabank Hockey Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Leafs and Canadiens as well as the Canucks and Flames at 10 p.m. ET.  Saturday, Oct. 3 features another game addition—a live broadcast from Stockholm, Sweden featuring the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. ET, followed by a full slate of evening games. CBC’s season is highlighted by the biggest games all year long, including 25 all-Canadian tilts, the 2010 NHL Winter Classic, theCanadiens 100^th Anniversary Game on Friday, Dec. 4, four appearances from the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, and the much-anticipated 10^thannual TIM HORTONS HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA broadcasting from Stratford, Ontario on Saturday, Jan. 30. Additional games have also been added throughout the season featuring the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames (please see updated broadcast schedule attached).

The program will celebrate an important milestone later this season, as the popular and impeccably dressed Don Cherry, host of Coach’s Corner on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA, marks his 30^th season with CBC. The Kingston, Ont. native debuted in April, 1980, and has since become a national icon with his intimate knowledge of the game; entertaining and enthralling Canadians with his commentary every Saturday night.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA today also announced the addition of Guy Carbonneau, Kevin Weekes and Glenn Healey to the all-star lineup of commentators and play-by-play talent for the 2009-10 season.

Three-time Stanley Cup winner and Frank J. Selke Trophy recipient, Guy Carbonneau, joins the lineup as an analyst during Montreal Canadiens broadcasts throughout the year. The former captain (1989-94) and head coach (2006-09) of the Habs will provide viewers with an in-depth knowledge of the historic franchise and its players.

Netminder Kevin Weekes will serve as a Western Conference analyst alongside play-by-play man Mark Lee. The Scarborough native has always been known as an astute observer of the game and adds a veteran player’s perspective to the booth. Weekes’ career spanned 348 regular season games, manning the nets for Vancouver, Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers in addition to the New Jersey Devils—reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 as a member of the Hurricanes.

A former NHL player, hockey broadcaster and NHLPA Executive, Glenn Healy will appear between-the-benches as an analyst on broadcasts featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs, as well a pre-game and Hot Stove commentator.  His extensive contacts and experience on multiple levels of professional hockey will add another valuable layer of insight to the already reputable cast.

Plus—this season, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is bringing home a classic with a twist. Peter Puck animated cartoons will be produced and aired in HD beginning Saturday, Oct. 3 as part of Scotiabank Hockey Tonight. This all-new 26-part series will focus on interesting and unique stories of players and remarkable moments in hockey.