The logo used from 2002 until the introduction of a new logo for the 2008 season.

The NHL on TSN is TSN's broadcast of National Hockey League games. The show's current incarnation debuted in 2002.

[edit] Coverage overview

They usually televise three or four games per week during the regular season, with their primary night being Wednesdays, when they enjoy exclusive coverage. This means that no other NHL game may be broadcast in Canada while TSN's Wednesday Night Hockey is on the air.

During the playoffs, TSN has third, fifth, seventh, and eighth choices of first-round series, second and fourth in the second round, and second in the conference finals. This means that there is the possibility of TSN covering a Canadian team during the playoffs.^[1] This happened during the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, as TSN televised the Calgary Flames' first-round series against the Chicago Blackhawks.

[edit] Maple Leaf Nation

TSN also airs 17 Toronto Maple Leafs games, presented by Molson. Ten of these games are ones that TSN acquired from the NHL to air nationally. The other seven TSN acquired from the Maple Leafs as regional games. However, TSN came to an agreement with the other five Canadian clubs to air these games nationally. Some regional Leafs games are hosted by Joe Bowen and Greg Millen. Others are covered by TSN's hockey crew.^[1]

[edit] Past history

Prior to 1998, when CTV Sportsnet purchased the national rights to NHL games, TSN owned the rights from 1987–88 through 1997–98. They usually showed games twice per week through the regular season and in the first round of the playoffs they provided extensive coverage of series not involving Canadian-based teams.

[edit] Personalities

James Duthie serves an in-studio host with analysts including Bob McKenzie, Darren Dreger and Dave Hodge. Keith Jones, Barry Melrose, Matthew Barnaby and Darren Pang also contribute periodically in the studio. If Pierre McGuire or Ray Ferraro are not doing colour commentary they may appear as well. Gord Miller, Chris Cuthbert, and Dave Randorf do play-by-play for the live games, while Pierre McGuire, Ray Ferraro, and Dave Reid serve as colour commentators. Darren Dutchyshen or Jennifer Hedger provide updates of other games in progress.^[2]

[edit] Past personalities

The studio hosts were Jim Van Horne and later John Wells, with Bob McKenzie providing studio analysis. Primary play-by-play broadcasters were Jim Hughson (1987–88 to 1993–94) and Paul Romanuk (1994–95 to 1997–98). Colour commentators were Roger Neilson (1987–88 to 1988–89), Gary Green (1989–90 to 1997–98) and Glenn Healy (2003–04 to 2007–08). Howie Meeker was also often part of the game-night crew, providing highlights and analysis with the telestrator.

[edit] Theme song

In June 2008, TSN's parent, CTV Inc., acquired the rights to "The Hockey Theme" after the CBC decided not to renew its rights to the theme song. A re-orchestrated version of the tune, which has been the theme song of Hockey Night in Canada for forty years, will be used for hockey broadcasts on TSN and RDS beginning in the fall of 2008.^[3]

TSN announced on the September 24, 2008 edition of SportsCentre the debut date for the song. It began on October 14, when the Colorado Avalanche visited the Calgary Flames.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• NHL on TSN