HAWKS LAUNCH 82ND REGULAR SEASON ON OCT. 2

Chicago, Ill.-

In conjunction with the National Hockey League, the Chicago Blackhawks announced their 2009-10 regular season schedule on Wednesday. The organization’s 82nd regular season begins when the club faces off against the Florida Panthers in NHL Premiere 2009, a home-and-home set on Oct 2-3 at Hartwall Arena in Helsinki, Finland.

The Blackhawks skate in their first North American contest when they battle the Detroit Red Wings, the team that eliminated them from the 2009 Stanley Cup Playoffs, at Joe Louis Arena at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 8. Chicago launches its 40-game home slate at the United Center when they match up against the Colorado Avalanche two days later at 7:30 p.m. Twenty-one of the club’s 40 contests in Chicago take place on weekends, which includes 11 Sundays and six Fridays.

Seven of Chicago’s first nine North American games (Oct. 8 to 26) and 12 of their first 17 (Oct. 8 to Nov. 15) will be played on home ice. The Blackhawks’ two longest road trips of the season include a six-game swing from Nov. 19 to 28 and an eight-contest run from Jan. 16 to 30. Chicago skates in a season-high five-game home stand from Dec. 13 to 22. Ten of the club’s final 16 matchups of the 2009-10 regular season come away from the United Center.

The Blackhawks will match up against each of their four Central Division rivals six times (Columbus, Detroit, Nashville and St. Louis) and their remaining 10 Western Conference foes four times apiece. Chicago will play each team in the Eastern Conference at least one time in 2009-10.

For the second consecutive year, all 82 Chicago Blackhawks games will be televised in HD on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WGN-TV, the official television broadcasting partners of the Blackhawks, with Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk providing the call. Every game in 2009-10 can also be heard on News/Talk 720 WGN Radio, with John Wiedeman and Troy Murray calling the action. The complete television broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.

Information about full season packages and group tickets for regular-season games are available by calling (312) 455-7000. Tickets for single games will be available at a date to be determined.