Hawks To Make At Least Nine National TV Appearances In 2009-10

In conjunction with National Hockey League broadcast rightsholders NBC and VERSUS, the league announced today that at least nine Chicago Blackhawks games will be broadcast on national television during the 2009-10 regular season. In addition, Chicago will have the chance to make up to four more appearances on NBC’s “Game of the Week” in the second half of the season, once the league and network announce those contests as part of their flex scheduling agreement.

The first nine scheduled appearances on National Television for the Blackhawks are on VERSUS, starting when the club opens the regular season against the Florida Panthers in Helsinki, Finland, as part of NHL Premiere 2009, on Friday, October 2 at 11:30 A.M. (CT). The complete list of games is below*:

Fri., October 2 vs. Florida in Helsinki (11:30 am)
Mon., October 12 vs. Calgary Flames (7 pm)
Mon., October 26 vs. Minnesota Wild (7 pm)
Mon., November 9 vs. Los Angeles Kings (7 pm)
Tue., December 1 vs. Columbus Blue Jackets (7 pm)
Tue., December 22 vs. San Jose Sharks (7 pm)
Tue., December 29 at Dallas Stars (7 pm)
Tue., January 5 vs. Minnesota Wild (7 pm)
Tue., March 30 at St. Louis Blues (7 pm)

*All times are Central.

From chicagoblackhawks.com: (link)

In conjunction with the announcement, start times for Blackhawks home games on Oct. 12, Oct. 26, Nov. 9, and Jan. 5 have been changed from 7:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Chicago’s road contest on Dec. 29 against the Dallas Stars has also been moved from 7:30 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. All times are subject to change.

During the 2008-09 regular season, the Blackhawks made five appearances on National Television, which includes two on NBC and three on VERSUS. Highlighting that slate was NHL Winter Classic 2009 at Wrigley Field on NBC on Jan. 1, 2009.

For the second consecutive season, the remaining Blackhawks games in 2009-10 – home and away – will be televised in HD on Comcast SportsNet Chicago and WGN-TV, the official television broadcasting partners of the Blackhawks. Pat Foley and Eddie Olczyk will provide the television coverage. In addition, every game in 2009-10 can be heard on the radio home of the Blackhawks, News/Talk 720 WGN Radio, with John Wiedeman and Troy Murray calling the action. The complete Blackhawks television broadcast schedule will be released at a later date.