SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League and Rogers Sportsnet announced today a 12-game broadcast schedule for the 2005-06 season, which will showcase the AHL throughout Canada.
The package also includes live national coverage of the 2006 AHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. The AHL’s annual showcase event will take place this year at the beautiful new MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
Part of a multi-year agreement reached between the AHL and Sportsnet, the 2005-06 broadcast schedule will feature the league’s three Canadian franchises: the Hamilton Bulldogs (top development team of the Montreal Canadiens), the Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks) and the Toronto Marlies (Toronto Maple Leafs).
In addition to games among those North Division rivals, Sportsnet’s AHL coverage will include visits by the Binghamton Senators (Ottawa Senators), Rochester Americans (Buffalo Sabres), Cleveland Barons (San Jose Sharks), Syracuse Crunch (Columbus Blue Jackets) and San Antonio Rampage (Phoenix Coyotes).
“We are proud be continuing our relationship with Rogers Sportsnet and providing fans across Canada with the chance to follow the brightest young stars in professional hockey,” said David Andrews, AHL President and CEO. Sportsnet’s 2005-06 AHL coverage begins on Fri., Oct. 21, with the first regular-season meeting ever between the Hamilton Bulldogs and the Toronto Marlies from Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto.
Rogers Sportsnet provides sports fans across Canada with distinct and entertaining sports programming in four regions: Sportsnet East (Quebec and the Maritime provinces), Sportsnet Ontario, Sportsnet West (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories) and Sportsnet Pacific (British Columbia and Yukon).
In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 80 percent of NHL players in 2003-04 were AHL graduates, and in 2004-05, more than 7.1 million fans – an all-time league record – attended AHL games across North America. The American Hockey League’s historic 70th season begins on Oct. 5.
| 2005-06 AHL BROADCAST SCHEDULE – ROGERS SPORTSNET | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri.., Oct. 21 | Hamilton at Toronto | 7:30 ET | LIVE: Ontario |
| Fri., Oct. 28 | Rochester at Toronto | 7:30 ET | LIVE: East, Ontario |
| Thurs., Nov. 3 | Hamilton at Toronto | 7:30 ET | LIVE: Ontario |
| Wed., Nov. 9 | Binghamton at Hamilton | 7:30 ET | LIVE: East, Ontario |
| Fri., Nov. 25 | Manitoba at Toronto | 7:30 ET | LIVE: East, Ontario, Pacific Delay: West (11:00 MT) |
| Fri., Dec. 2 | Toronto at Hamilton | 7:30 ET | LIVE: Ontario |
| Fri., Dec. 9 | Cleveland at Toronto | 7:30 ET | LIVE: East, Ontario |
| Wed., Dec. 14 | Syracuse at Manitoba | 8:30 ET | LIVE: West, Pacific |
| Fri., Dec. 16 | San Antonio at Manitoba | 8:30 ET | LIVE: West, Pacific |
| Fri., Jan. 20 | Hamilton at Manitoba | 8:30 ET | LIVE: ALL REGIONS |
| Tue., Jan. 31 | All-Star Skills Competition at Winnipeg | 8:00 ET | LIVE: East, Ontario, West Delay: Pacific (9:00 PT) |
| Wed., Feb. 1 | All-Star Game at Winnipeg | 8:00 ET | LIVE: ALL REGIONS |
| Wed., Feb. 15 | Toronto at Hamilton | 7:30 ET | LIVE: East, Ontario |
| Tue., Mar. 28 | Toronto at Manitoba | 8:30 ET | LIVE: Ontario, Pacific Delay: West (11:00 MT) |
