WHL and FSN reaches a deal

Press Release

Calgary, AB. - The Western Hockey League (WHL) and FSN Northwest today announced a new multi-year broadcast agreement that will see FSN Northwest serve as the WHL’s exclusive Pacific Northwest cable broadcast home starting with the current 2009-10 season through to the 2011-12 WHL season. FSN Northwest will broadcast a minimum of 10 WHL regular season games each year on their cable network.

The WHL on FSN Northwest broadcasts will bring LIVE WHL action into 3.4 million homes across five U.S. states including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and Alaska. The premier developmental League in Western Canada and the Northwest United States, the Western Hockey League will once again showcase the top rated NHL prospects throughout the season.

The 2009-10 WHL on FSN Broadcast schedule will feature all five WHL U.S. based Clubs: Everett Silvertips, Portland Winterhawks, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs and Tri-City Americans. The 2009-10 WHL on FSN television broadcast schedule begins Friday, January 8th as the Seattle Thunderbirds host WHL U.S. Division rivals the Everett Silvertips at the ShoWare Center in Kent, WA.

“Our new multi-year agreement with FSN Northwest is another indication of the tremendous growth the WHL is experiencing in the U.S. Pacific Northwest market,” comment WHL Commissioner Ron Robison, “We look forward to showcasing our five U.S. based Clubs and the world’s finest junior hockey talent to FSN audiences through the Western United States.”

“We are proud to be able to bring the excitement of the WHL to all of our viewers across FSN Northwest’s five-state region,” stated Mark Jorgensen, Vice President/Station Manager of FSN Northwest. “The feedback we received from fans last season was tremendous, and we look forward to our enhanced partnership with the WHL for years to come.”

2009-10 WHL on FSN Northwest Broadcast Schedule

Game

Date

Away



Home

Time
1

Friday, January 08, 2010

Everett

@

Seattle

9:30pm PT
*2

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Portland

@

Kamloops

7:00pm PT
*3

Friday, January 15, 2010

Everett

@

Chilliwack

7:00pm PT
4

Friday, January 22, 2010

Everett

@

Portland

7:30pm PT
5

Friday, January 29, 2010

Seattle

@

Spokane

7:00pm PT
6

Friday, February 05, 2010

Seattle

@

Portland

7:30pm PT
7

Friday, February 12, 2010

Spokane

@

Everett

7:30pm PT
8

Friday, February 19, 2010

Everett

@

Tri-City

7:00pm PT
*9

Friday, March 05, 2010

Seattle

@

Kelowna

7:00pm PT
10

Friday, March 12, 2010

Tri-City

@

Spokane

11:00pm PT

* To also be broadcast in Western Canada on SHAW Cable

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)