Rogers Sportsnet announced today a five-year agreement with the American Hockey League for the multiplatform Canadian media rights to the AHL All-Star Classic, beginning with this year’s AHL All-Star Skills Competition and the AHL All-Star Game in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
The multiplatform agreement includes rights on Sportsnet television, mobile and online for the AHL All-Star Classic.
“The American Hockey League has a deep and storied history of producing great NHL talent,” said Navaid Mansuri, Vice-President of Finance & Sports Programming, Rogers Media. “Our audience is heavily invested in their hometown NHL teams and will now get a chance to see their team’s top prospects during the AHL’s biggest events.”
In addition, Sportsnet will also produce and broadcast the first AHL outdoor game ever held in Canada as the Hamilton Bulldogs host the Toronto Marlies at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton on January 21.
“We are very excited to be partnering with Rogers Sportsnet to bring AHL action into fans’ homes across Canada,” said David Andrews, President and CEO of the American Hockey League. “Our All-Star Classic annually showcases the best young talent in our sport, and this year’s outdoor game in Hamilton is sure to be a historic event.”
The 2012 AHL All-Star Classic festivities begin with the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday, Jan. 29, at 3 p.m. (ET)/12 p.m. (PT), and conclude with the AHL All-Star Game on Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. (ET)/4 p.m. (PT). Both days’ events, featuring the top young players in hockey and coming from Atlantic City’s historic Boardwalk Hall, will be seen live on the Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels.
Sportsnet’s coverage of the AHL outdoor game between the Bulldogs and Marlies begins on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 1:00 p.m. (ET)/10 a.m. (PT) on the Sportsnet East, Ontario, West and Pacific channels. The Bulldogs are the top development team for the Montreal Canadiens, while the Marlies are the primary affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Entering its 76th season of play in 2011-12, the American Hockey League 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 87 per cent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates. Through the years, the AHL has been home to more than 100 future members of the Hockey Hall of Fame.
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