SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League and CBC today announced a one-year broadcast agreement that will see the Canadian network produce and broadcast 10 AHL games throughout the upcoming 2010-11 season.
“We’re tremendously excited that CBC, with its distinguished excellence in hockey broadcasting, will be helping us celebrate our historic 75th anniversary this season,” said David Andrews, President and CEO of the American Hockey League. “Viewers across Canada will be treated to the skill and excitement of the best young professionals in our sport.”
“We’re looking forward to featuring the stars of hockey’s future with the AHL on CBC,” said Scott Moore, executive director, CBC Sports and general manager, CBC Media Sales & Marketing.
The AHL, this year marking its 75th anniversary, has been the home to future stars and legendary figures throughout its illustrious history including the likes of Don Cherry, Johnny Bower, Andy Bathgate, Gerry Cheevers, Larry Robinson, Patrick Roy, Brett Hull, Martin St. Louis, Ryan Miller, Michael Cammalleri, Eric Staal, Martin Brodeur and Duncan Keith, among countless others.
CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada Saturday broadcasts will be followed by an AHL on CBC game on 10 Sunday afternoons, giving fans across Canada a chance to cheer on the NHL stars of tomorrow. All games will also be available live and on-demand on CBCSports.ca.
All 10 games will feature AHL teams affiliated with one of the six Canadian NHL teams. The puck drops on Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010, with a 1 p.m. ET matchup between the Toronto Marlies and the visiting Binghamton Senators, the top affiliates of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators. Other matchups this season will also include the Hamilton Bulldogs (Montreal Canadiens), Abbotsford Heat (Calgary Flames), Manitoba Moose (Vancouver Canucks) and Oklahoma City Barons (Edmonton Oilers).
In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for the players, coaches, managers, executives and broadcasters of all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 85 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the ninth year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2009-10.
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages.
AHL on CBC 2010-11 Broadcast Schedule
Schedule subject to change…
All games also available live and on-demand on CBCSports.ca
Sunday, Oct. 17 – Binghamton at Toronto, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Oct. 24 – Oklahoma City at Hamilton, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Nov. 21 – Hamilton at Toronto, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Dec. 12 – Toronto at Hamilton, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Jan. 16 – Toronto at Abbotsford, 2:00 ET
Sunday, Jan. 23 – Abbotsford at Manitoba, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Feb. 27 – Manitoba at Toronto, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Mar. 6 – Hamilton at Toronto, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Mar. 27 – Abbotsford at Manitoba, 1:00 ET
Sunday, Apr. 3 – Manitoba at Toronto, 1:00 ET