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==Regular season coverage==
 
==Regular season coverage==
For the {{nhly|1984}} and {{nhly|1985}} seasons, [[CTV Television Network|'''CTV''']] aired regular season games<ref>{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.hockey/browse_thread/thread/29c1336503212bcf#|title=Old NHL on CTV schedules}}</ref> on Friday<ref>{{cite news|title=Competitive NHL telecasting hasn't produced viewer bonanza|date=Mar 8, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C5}}</ref> nights (and some Sunday afternoons) as well as partial coverage of the playoffs and [[Stanley Cup Finals]].
 
   
  +
CTV's involvement with the NHL began in the {{NHL Year|1965}} season with a series of Wednesday-night regular season games. These were produced by the McLaren ad agency, which also produced the Saturday night ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' games for the [[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|CBC]]. As was the case with the Saturday games, they were contests (usually at home) of the [[Montreal Canadiens]], [[Toronto Maple Leafs]], and after 1970, the [[Vancouver Canucks]]. CTV decided to pull out of midweek NHL coverage in 1975, opening the way for local TV stations in the three Canadian cities which had NHL clubs to carry mid-week telecasts of their hometown NHL clubs (also usually on Wednesday nights).
CTV/Carling O'Keefe<ref name="NewYorkTimes">{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/25/sports/sports-people-hockey-tv-suit.html?&pagewanted=print|title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Hockey-TV Suit|date=July 25, 1984|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref> initially signed a contract well into the 1984-85 season. As a result, they wanted to cram as many games as possible (beginning in February) in the brief window they had. 1985-86's coverage didn't begin until November, so to avoid conflicts with CTV's coverage of the Major League Baseball postseason.
 
   
  +
On March 16, 1966, CTV's coverage of the game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs was frequently interrupted for news updates on the [[Gemini 8]] space mission, which had run into serious trouble after being successfully launched that morning; when the game ended, CTV joined a simulcast of [[CBS News]] coverage in time for the capsule's re-entry and splashdown.
While [[Molson]] continued to present ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' on Saturday nights on [[CBC Television|CBC]], rival brewery [[Carling O'Keefe]]<ref name=HockeyBeerWar>{{cite news|title=Great hockey/beer war takes to the ice in Chicago|date=September 25, 1984|first=Kelly|last=Warren|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=B1}}</ref> began airing ''Friday Night Hockey'' on CTV. This marked the first time in more than a decade that CBC was not the lone over-the-air network broadcaster of the National Hockey League in Canada.
 
   
 
In the {{NHL Year|1984}} and {{NHL Year|1985}} seasons, the NHL returned to [[CTV Television Network|CTV]], with regular season games<ref>{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.sport.hockey/browse_thread/thread/29c1336503212bcf#|title=Old NHL on CTV schedules}}</ref> on Friday<ref>{{cite news|title=Competitive NHL telecasting hasn't produced viewer bonanza|date=Mar 8, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C5}}</ref> nights (and some Sunday afternoons) as well as partial coverage of the playoffs and [[Stanley Cup Finals]].
The deal with CTV was arranged by [[Quebec Nordiques|'''Quebec Nordiques''']] (who were owned by Carling O'Keefe) and the 14 U.S.-based NHL clubs, who sought to break Molson's monopoly on NHL broadcasting in Canada. All of CTV's regular season telecasts originated from [[Quebec City]] or the [[United States]], as Molson shut them out of the other six Canadian buildings (as Carling did to them in Quebec City).
 
   
 
CTV/Carling O'Keefe<ref name="NewYorkTimes" /> initially signed a contract well into the 1984-85 season. As a result, they wanted to cram as many games as possible (beginning in February) in the brief window they had. 1985-86's coverage didn't begin until November, so to avoid conflicts with CTV's coverage of the [[Major League Baseball]] postseason and the [[CFL on CTV|Canadian Football League]].
Following the 1985-86 season, CTV decided to pull the plug on the venture. Their limited access to Canadian-based teams (other than Quebec, whose English-speaking fan base was quite small) translated into poor ratings. For the next 2 years, Carling O'Keefe retained their rights, and syndicated playoff telecasts on a chain of channels that would 1 day become the [[Global Television Network]] under the names ''Stanley Cup '87'' and ''Stanley Cup '88'', before a merger between the two breweries put an end to the competition.
 
  +
 
While [[Molson]] continued to present ''Hockey Night in Canada'' on Saturday nights on the CBC, rival brewery [[Carling O'Keefe]]<ref name="HockeyBeerWar">{{cite news|title=Great hockey/beer war takes to the ice in Chicago|date=September 25, 1984|first=Kelly|last=Warren|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=B1}}</ref> began airing ''Friday Night Hockey'' on CTV. This marked the first time in more than a decade that CBC was not the lone [[Terrestrial television|over-the-air]] network broadcaster of the National Hockey League in Canada.
  +
 
The deal with CTV was arranged by the [[Quebec Nordiques]] (who were owned by Carling O'Keefe<ref name="NewYorkTimes">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1984/07/25/sports/sports-people-hockey-tv-suit.html?&pagewanted=print|title=SPORTS PEOPLE; Hockey-TV Suit|date=July 25, 1984|newspaper=New York Times}}</ref>) and all 14 U.S.-based NHL clubs,<ref name="HockeyBeerWar" /> who sought to break Molson's monopoly<ref>{{cite news|title=Ziegler, Molson's meet over TV rights|date=Oct 2, 1985|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=F2}}</ref> on NHL broadcasting in Canada. All of CTV's regular season telecasts originated from [[Quebec City]] or the [[United States]], as Molson shut them out of the other six Canadian buildings (as Carling did to them in Quebec City).
  +
 
Following the 1985-86 season, CTV decided to pull the plug<ref>{{cite news|title=Marketing mystery: Argos off TV 38 days|date=September 12, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=F8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=CTV won't renew NHL contract|date=April 19, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=D8}}</ref> on the venture. Their limited access to Canadian-based teams<ref>{{cite news|title=CTV's hockey games on thin ice Network reportedly unhappy with NHL's Friday night schedule|date=April 16, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=E5}}</ref> (other than Quebec, whose English-speaking fan base was quite small) translated into poor [[BBM Canada|ratings]]. For the next two years, Carling O'Keefe retained their rights, and syndicated playoff telecasts on a chain of local stations that would one day become the [[Global Television Network]] under the names ''Stanley Cup '87'' and ''Stanley Cup '88'', before a merger between the two breweries put an end to the competition.
  +
 
===Schedules===
  +
 
====1984-85====
   
====Schedules====
 
=====1984-85=====
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Date
 
! Date
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|-
 
|-
 
|March 8
 
|March 8
|[[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-[[1984–85 Washington Capitals season|Washington]]
+
|[[Capitals–Flyers rivalry|Philadelphia-Washington]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|March 15
 
|March 15
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|}
 
|}
   
=====1985-86=====
+
====1985-86====
  +
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
! Date
 
! Date
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|-
 
|-
 
|December 20
 
|December 20
|New York Islanders-[[1985–86 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]]
+
|[[Islanders–Rangers rivalry|New York Islanders-New York Rangers]]
 
|-
 
|-
 
|December 27
 
|December 27
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===All-Star Game coverage===
 
===All-Star Game coverage===
The {{nhly|1985}} Canadian coverage of the [[38th National Hockey League All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] was to be provided by [[CTV Television Network|'''CTV''']]. However, CTV had a prior commitment to carry a U.S. mini-series. As a result, [[NHL on TSN|'''TSN''']] took over coverage of the game in [[Hartford Civic Center|Hartford]].
+
The {{NHL Year|1985}} Canadian coverage of the [[38th National Hockey League All-Star Game|All-Star Game]] was to be provided by [[CTV Television Network|CTV]]. However, CTV had a prior commitment to carry the third and final episode of ''[[Sins (miniseries)|Sins]]'',<ref>{{cite news|title=NHL ALL-STARS SKATE AROUND JOAN - BARELY PRO HOCKEY|date=February 2, 1986|first=Don|last=Bostrom|newspaper=Allentown Morning Call|page=C8}}</ref> a U.S. [[miniseries]]. As a result, [[NHL on TSN|TSN]] took over coverage of the game in [[Hartford Civic Center|Hartford]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bid to televise all-star game in Canada fails|date=January 21, 1986|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C4}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=All-star game an American production|date=February 1, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C7}}</ref>
   
 
===Playoff coverage===
 
===Playoff coverage===
In {{nhly|1984}}, '''[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]''' and [[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']] called the [[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-[[1984–85 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec]] Wales Conference Final series. They also televised Games 3, 4, and 6 of the Montreal-Quebec Adams Division Final and games 2 and 5 of the Philadelphia-New York Islanders Patrick Division Final.
+
In {{NHL Year|1984}}, '''[[Dan Kelly]]''' and '''[[Ron Reusch]]''' called the [[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-[[1984–85 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec]] Wales Conference Final series. They also televised Games 3, 4 and 6 of the [[1984–85 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]]-Quebec Adams Division Final and Games 2 and 5 of the Philadelphia-[[1984–85 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]] Patrick Division Final.
   
In {{nhly|1985}}, [[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]''' '''and Reusch called the [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary]]-[[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St.Louis]] Campbell Conference Final series. CTV's coverage was blacked out in Calgary, where CBC provided coverage.
+
In {{NHL Year|1985}}, '''[[Dan Kelly]]''', '''[[Ron Reusch]]''', and '''[[Bobby Taylor]]''' called the [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary]]-[[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]] Campbell Conference Final series. CTV's coverage was blacked out<ref>{{cite news|title=All-U.S. match CTV's challenge to Leaf broadcast|date=November 7, 1985|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C3}}</ref> in Calgary, where CBC provided coverage. For the [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]]-[[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg Jets]] first-round series in {{NHL Year|1985}}, CBC, who initially had the rights to the series, ultimately passed as they were already maxed out with three other series ([[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]]-[[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston]], [[1985–86 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago]]-[[1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto]], and [[1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-[[1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]). The rights to the Calgary-Winnipeg series were eventually sold to the CTV affiliates in Calgary ([[CFCN-TV|CFCN]]) and Winnipeg ([[CKY-TV|CKY]]) as well as Carling O'Keefe.
   
 
CBC and Molson Brewery used a loophole in that games involving Canadian based teams, except the [[Quebec Nordiques]] in the playoffs could be televised [[List of CBC television stations|locally by CBC]].
For the [[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary Flames]]-[[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg Jets]] first-round series in {{nhly|1985}}, CBC, who initially had the rights to the series, ultimately passed as they were already maxed out with 3 other series ([[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]]-[[1985–86 Boston Bruins season|Boston]], [[1985–86 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago]]-[[1985–86 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto]], and [[1985–86 Edmonton Oilers season|Edmonton]]-[[1985–86 Vancouver Canucks season|Vancouver]]). The rights to the Calgary-Winnipeg series were eventually sold to the CTV affiliates in Calgary ([[CFCN-TV|CFCN]]) and Winnipeg ([[CKY-TV|CKY]]) as well as Carling O'Keefe. On the call were [[Ed Whalen|'''Ed Whalen''']] of the Flames and [[Curt Keilback|'''Curt Keilback''']] of the Jets.
 
   
CBC and Molson Brewery used a loophole in that games involving Canadian based teams (excluding the [[Quebec Nordiques]]) in the playoffs could be televised locally by CBC.
 
 
===Stanley Cup Finals coverage===
 
In {{scfy|1972}}, ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' moved all [[1971–72 NHL season|playoff]] coverage from [[CBC Television|'''CBC''']] to [[CTV Television Network|'''CTV''']] to avoid conflict with the lengthy National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians strike against the CBC. Eventually, MacLaren Advertising, in conjunction with [[Molson Breweries]] and [[Imperial Oil]]/[[Esso]]), who actually owned the rights to ''Hockey Night in Canada'' (not CBC) decided to give the playoff telecast rights to CTV. Initially, it was on a game by game basis in the quarterfinals, and then the full semifinals and Stanley Cup Finals. Because CTV did not have 100% penetration in Canada at this time, they asked CBC (who ultimately refused) to allow whatever one of their affiliates were the sole network in that market to show the playoffs. As a result, the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs were not seen in some of the smaller Canadian markets unless said markets were close enough to the United States border to pick up the signal of a [[NHL on CBS|CBS]] affiliate.
 
 
In {{scfy|1985}}, [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]] televised Games 1 and 2 nationally while Games 3-5 were televised in [[Edmonton]] only. [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] televised Games 3, 4, and 5 nationally while games were blacked out in [[Edmonton]].
 
 
In {{scfy|1986}}, CBC only televised Games 1 and 2 in [[Montreal]] and [[Calgary]]. CBC would go on to televise Games 3-5 nationally. When CTV televised Games 1 and 2, both games were blacked out in Montreal and Calgary.
 
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
{| class="wikitable"
 
|'''Year'''
 
|'''Year'''
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|'''Series'''
 
|'''Series'''
 
|'''Games covered'''
 
|'''Games covered'''
|'''Play-by-play'''
+
|'''[[Play-by-play]]'''
|'''Color commentators'''
+
|'''[[Color commentator]](s)'''
 
|-
 
|-
| rowspan="3" |1985
+
| rowspan="3" |[[1985 Stanley Cup playoffs|1985]]
 
| rowspan="2" |Divisional finals
 
| rowspan="2" |Divisional finals
|Philadelphia-New York Islanders
+
|[[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]-[[1984–85 New York Islanders season|New York Islanders]]
 
|Games 2, 5
 
|Games 2, 5
|'''[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]'''
+
|'''[[Dan Kelly]]'''
|[[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']]
+
|'''[[Ron Reusch]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
|Montreal-Quebec
+
|[[Battle of Quebec|Montreal-Quebec]]
 
|Games 3, 4, 6
 
|Games 3, 4, 6
|'''[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]'''
+
|'''[[Dan Kelly]]'''
|[[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']]
+
|'''[[Ron Reusch]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Conference finals
 
|Conference finals
  +
|[[1984–85 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec]]-[[1984–85 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia]]
|Quebec-Philadelphia
 
 
|Games 1–6
 
|Games 1–6
|'''[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]'''
+
|'''[[Dan Kelly]]'''
|[[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']]
+
|'''[[Ron Reusch]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
| rowspan="4" |1986
+
| rowspan="4" |[[1986 Stanley Cup playoffs|1986]]
 
| rowspan="2" |Divisional semifinals
 
| rowspan="2" |Divisional semifinals
  +
|[[1985–86 Quebec Nordiques season|Quebec]]-[[1985–86 Hartford Whalers season|Hartford]]
|Quebec-Hartford
 
 
|Game 3
 
|Game 3
|'''[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|Dan Kelly]]'''
+
|'''[[Dan Kelly]]'''
|[[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']]
+
|'''[[Ron Reusch]]''' and '''[[Brad Park]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
  +
|[[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary]]-[[1985–86 Winnipeg Jets season|Winnipeg]]
|Calgary-Winnipeg
 
 
|Games 1–3
 
|Games 1–3
  +
|[[Ed Whalen (broadcaster)|Ed Whalen]] (in Calgary)<br>Curt Keilback (in Winnipeg)
|'''[[Ed Whalen]]'''
 
  +
|Curt Keilback (in Calgary)<br>[[Ed Whalen (broadcaster)|Ed Whalen]] (in Winnipeg)
|'''[[Curt Keilback]]'''
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Divisional finals
 
|Divisional finals
|Washington-New York Rangers
+
|[[Capitals–Rangers rivalry|Washington-New York Rangers]]
|Games 4–6
+
|Games 1–6
|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
+
|'''[[Dan Kelly]]'''
|[[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']]
+
|'''[[Ron Reusch]]'''
 
|-
 
|-
 
|Conference finals
 
|Conference finals
  +
|[[1985–86 Calgary Flames season|Calgary]]-[[1985–86 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]]
|Calgary-St. Louis
 
|Games 1–7
+
|Games 1, 4–7
|[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']]
+
|'''[[Dan Kelly]]'''
|[[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']]
+
|'''[[Ron Reusch]]''' and '''[[Bobby Taylor]]'''
 
|}
 
|}
   
===New Year's Eve broadcast===
+
===Stanley Cup Finals coverage===
 
In {{scfy|1972}}, ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' moved all [[1971–72 NHL season|playoff]] coverage from [[CBC Television|CBC]] to [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] to avoid conflict with the lengthy [[National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians|NABET]] [[Strike action|strike]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Strike Forces CBS to Change Hockey Feature|date=February 21, 1972|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=F12}}</ref> against the CBC. Eventually, MacLaren Advertising, in conjunction with [[Molson Breweries]] and [[Imperial Oil]]/[[Esso]], who actually owned the rights to ''Hockey Night in Canada'' (not CBC) decided to give the playoff telecast rights to CTV. Initially, it was on a game by game basis in the quarterfinals (Game 1 of the [[1971-72 Boston Bruins season|Boston]]-[[1971-72 Toronto Maple Leafs season|Toronto]] series was seen on [[CFTO-TV|CFTO]] Toronto in full while other [[:Category:CTV Television Network stations|CTV affiliates]], but not all joined the game in progress. Game 1 of the [[1971-72 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]]-[[1971-72 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]] series was seen only on [[CFCF-TV|CFCF]] Montreal while Game 4 not televised due to a [[Lockout (industry)|lockout]] of technicians at the [[Montreal Forum]]), and then the full semifinals and Stanley Cup Finals. Because CTV did not have 100% penetration in Canada at this time, they asked CBC (who ultimately refused) to allow whatever one of their [[List of CBC television stations|affiliates]] were the sole network in that market to show the playoffs. As a result, the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs were not seen in some of the smaller Canadian markets unless said markets were close enough to the [[Canada–United States border|United States border]] to pick up the signal of a [[NHL on CBS|CBS]] [[List of CBS television affiliates (by U.S. state)|affiliate]] that carried Games, 1, 4, or 6 (Games 2, 3 and 5 were not nationally broadcast in the United States).
On New Year's Eve 1985, CTV broadcast an exhibition game between [[1985-86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] and [[HC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] in [[Montreal Forum|Montreal]]. Although CTV aired the game (as a "Special Presentation of CTV Sports"), it was not considered an official part of ''NHL on CTV'' package. That was because the broadcast was presented by Molson instead of Carling O'Keeke. However, the regular ''NHL on CTV'' on-air talent were still utilized.
 
   
  +
{| class="wikitable"
==''Hockey Night in Canada'' rumours==
 
  +
|'''Round'''
The possible movement of ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' to another broadcaster caused some controversy and discussion during the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–2007 hockey season]]. CTV had outbid the [[CBC Television|CBC]] for Canadian television rights to the [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010]] and 2012 Summer Olympics as well as the major television package for curling. The broadcast requirements would have focused on CTV-owned TSN ([[The Sports Network]]), a cable channel which already carries [[NHL on TSN|Canadian NHL hockey]] during the week as well as other NHL games throughout the season. '''CTV''' did, however, buy out the previous theme to CBC's ''Hockey Night in Canada'' for use in TSN's broadcasts immediately after the [[2007–08 NHL season]].
 
  +
|'''Series'''
  +
|'''Games covered'''
 
|'''[[Play-by-play]]'''
  +
|'''[[Color commentator|Colour commentator]](s)'''
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="3" |Quarterfinals
  +
|[[Bruins–Maple Leafs rivalry|Boston-Toronto]]
  +
|Games 1–5
  +
|[[Bill Hewitt]]
  +
|[[Bob Goldham]] (in Boston)<br>[[Brian McFarlane]] (in Toronto)
  +
|-
  +
|[[1971–72 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]]-[[1971–72 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]]
  +
|Games 1–6
  +
|[[Danny Gallivan]]
  +
|[[Dick Irvin, Jr.]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[1971–72 Minnesota North Stars season|Minnesota]]-[[1971–72 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]]
  +
|Game 7
  +
|[[Danny Gallivan]]
  +
|[[Dick Irvin, Jr.]]
  +
|-
  +
| rowspan="2" |Semifinals
  +
|[[1971–72 Boston Bruins season|Boston]]-[[1971–72 St. Louis Blues season|St. Louis]]
  +
|Games 3–4
  +
|[[Danny Gallivan]]
  +
|[[Dick Irvin, Jr.]]
  +
|-
  +
|[[1971–72 Chicago Black Hawks season|Chicago]]-[[1971–72 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]]
  +
|Games 2–4
  +
|[[Bill Hewitt]]
  +
|[[Bob Goldham]]
  +
|}
  +
  +
In [[1974 Stanley Cup playoffs|1974]], some CTV affiliates (like [[CFTO-TV|CFTO]] in Toronto and [[CFCF-TV|CFCF]] in Montreal) picked up the American feed from [[NHL on NBC|NBC]] (with [[Tim Ryan (sportscaster)|Tim Ryan]] and [[Ted Lindsay]] on the call) of Game 4 of the [[1973–74 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal]]-[[1973–74 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]] playoff series.
  +
 
In {{scfy|1985}}, [[Hockey Night in Canada|CBC]] televised Games 1 and 2 nationally while Games 3, 4 and 5 were televised in [[Edmonton]] only. [[CTV Television Network|CTV]] televised Games 3, 4 and 5 nationally while games were [[blackout (broadcasting)|blacked out]] in [[Edmonton]]. Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and [[Brad Park]] called the games on CTV.
  +
 
In {{scfy|1986}}, CBC only televised Games 1 and 2 in [[Montreal]] and [[Calgary]]. CBC would go on to televise Games 3, 4 and 5 nationally. When CTV televised Games 1 and 2,<ref>{{cite news|title=Networks split TV coverage of Stanley Cup|date=May 16, 1986|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=D4}}</ref> both games were [[blackout (broadcasting)|blacked out]] in Montreal and Calgary. Unlike the year prior, Brad Park was not replaced; only Dan Kelly and Ron Reusch called the games for CTV.
  +
  +
===NHL-Soviet Super Series===
  +
In [[1979-80 NHL season|1979-80]], [[1982-83 NHL season|1982-83]], [[1985-86 NHL season|1985-86]], [[1988-89 NHL season|1988-89]] and [[1989-90 NHL season|1989-90]], CTV televised a handful of games of the [[Super Series|NHL-Soviet Super Series]], where touring Soviet clubs visited NHL teams in a series of exhibition games.
  +
 
On [[New Year's Eve]] 1985, CTV broadcast one such game between the [[1985–86 Montreal Canadiens season|Montreal Canadiens]] and [[HC CSKA Moscow|CSKA Moscow]] in [[Montreal Forum|Montreal]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Networks won't air games between NHL, Soviet teams|date=December 7, 1985|first=Ken|last=McKee|newspaper=Toronto Star|page=C4}}</ref> Although CTV aired the game (as a "Special Presentation of CTV Sports"), it was not considered an official part of ''NHL on CTV'' package. That was because the broadcast was presented by Molson instead of Carling O'Keefe. However, the regular ''NHL on CTV'' on-air talent were still utilized.
  +
  +
==CTV's later involvement with the NHL==
  +
 
===CTV Sportsnet's coverage===
  +
{{Main article|NHL on CTV Sportsnet}}
  +
[[Rogers Sportsnet|Sportsnet]] was launched on October 9, 1998 as '''CTV Sportsnet'''. The name was chosen to match the regional "[[Fox Sports Net]]" operations across the [[United States]]. [[CTVglobemedia|CTV]] owned 40% and was the managing partner of the new network; Rogers, [[Molson]] and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] owned 20% each.
  +
  +
The new network gained credibility before it went on the air, wrestling the NHL Canadian cable package away from long-time holder [[NHL on TSN|TSN]]. From [[1998–99 NHL season|1998–99]] until [[2001–02 NHL season|2001–02]], Sportsnet aired ''Labatt Blue Tuesday Night Hockey'' to a national audience throughout the regular season, and covered first-round playoff series not involving Canadian teams. On the day CTV Sportsnet went on the air, its first live sports event was an NHL opening-night telecast between the [[1998–99 Philadelphia Flyers season|Philadelphia Flyers]] and [[1998–99 New York Rangers season|New York Rangers]]. The national cable rights have since returned to TSN, though Sportsnet retains English regional rights to five of the seven Canadian-based clubs (TSN, through regional feeds, holds regional rights to the remaining two.)
  +
 
===''Hockey Night in Canada'' rumours===
 
The possible movement of ''[[Hockey Night in Canada]]'' to another broadcaster caused some controversy and discussion during the [[2006–07 NHL season|2006–2007 hockey season]]. CTV had outbid the [[CBC Television|CBC]] for Canadian television rights to the [[2010 Winter Olympics|2010]] and [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 Olympics]] as well as the major television package for curling. The broadcast requirements would have focused on CTV-owned TSN ([[The Sports Network]]), a cable channel which already carries [[NHL on TSN|Canadian NHL hockey]] during the week as well as other NHL games throughout the season. CTV did, however, buy out the [[The Hockey Theme|previous theme]] to CBC's ''Hockey Night in Canada'' for use in TSN's broadcasts immediately after the [[2007–08 NHL season]].
  +
  +
The CBC's deal with the NHL was set to expire after the 2013-2014 season. CTV parent Bell had been expected to make a joint bid for CTV and sister network TSN for all national English-language television rights to the NHL in Canada. Under such a deal, CTV would likely have carried the Saturday-night games during the regular-season, weekend playoff games in the first three rounds, and the Stanley Cup Finals. TSN would likely have kept midweek national cable coverage of the league and gained midweek early round playoff games of Canadian-based teams now seen on CBC. Some midweek regular-season games could have been sub-leased to the various [[Rogers Sportsnet]] regional networks. Such a deal could also have put a few local midweek telecasts on [[CTV Two]] stations in Barrie (Toronto), Vancouver Island (Vancouver), Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton; along with [[CKY-TV]] Winnipeg and [[CFCF-TV]] Montreal.
  +
  +
But on November 26, 2013, the league announced that [[Rogers Communications]] had won all Canadian television rights to the league beginning with the 2014-2015 season and extending through the 2025-2026 season. While Rogers will sublease Saturday night and playoff games (including the Finals) to [[CBC Television|CBC]], thereby keeping that network's iconic ''[[Hockey Night In Canada]]'' in place until at least the 2017-2018 season. However, Rogers will take over production of games.
  +
  +
Thus, CTV, TSN, and their parent company will be out of NHL coverage until at least 2026 once some TSN regional agreements with some Canadian-based teams expire.
   
 
==Announcers==
 
==Announcers==
  +
 
===Play-by-play===
 
===Play-by-play===
*[[Dan Kelly (sportscaster)|'''Dan Kelly''']] - 1984–86
+
*[[Bill Hewitt (sportscaster)|Bill Hewitt]]: [[1972 Stanley Cup Finals]]
  +
*[[Dan Kelly]]: [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]]<nowiki/>–[[1985–86 NHL season|1986]]
   
 
===Color commentators===
 
===Color commentators===
  +
*[[Brian McFarlane]]: [[1972 Stanley Cup Finals]]
*[[Ron Reusch|'''Ron Reusch''']] - 1984–86
 
  +
*[[Ron Reusch]]: [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]]<nowiki/>–[[1985–86 NHL season|1986]]
   
 
===Studio hosts===
 
===Studio hosts===
*[[Dave Hodge]] - [[1972 Stanley Cup Finals]]
+
*[[Dave Hodge]]: [[1972 Stanley Cup Finals]]
*[[Dan Matheson]] - [[1984–85 NHL season|1984]]-[[1985–86 NHL season|1986]]
+
*[[Dan Matheson]]: [[1984-85 NHL season|1984]]<nowiki/>–[[1985-86 NHL season|1986]]
   
 
===Studio analysts===
 
===Studio analysts===
*[[Brad Park]] - [[1984–85 NHL season|1985 playoffs]] (after [[1984–85 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit]] was eliminated). Park retired from playing in the summer of 1985 and joined the CTV crew as a studio analyst for the [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86 season]]. However, he was hired in 1985, forcing him to leave CTV. He once again re-joined the crew for the [[1985–86 NHL season|playoffs]], which [[1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit]] did not qualify for.
+
*[[Brad Park]]: [[1984–85 NHL season|1985 playoffs]] (after [[1984–85 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit]] was eliminated). Park retired from playing in the summer of 1985 and joined the CTV crew as a studio analyst for the [[1985–86 NHL season|1985–86 season]]. However, he was hired mid-season to replace [[Harry Neale]] as head coach of the Red Wings, forcing him to leave CTV. He once again re-joined the crew for the [[1985–86 NHL season|playoffs]], which [[1985–86 Detroit Red Wings season|Detroit]] did not qualify for.
 
*[[Bobby Taylor (ice hockey)|Bobby Taylor]]
 
*[[Bobby Taylor (ice hockey)|Bobby Taylor]]
   
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**[http://www.google.com/search?q=NHL+on+CTV&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KSEXTM3uJsPinAee1rChCg&ved=0COQBEKUC&tbs=tl:1,tl_num:100,tlul:1986,tluh:1987 1986-87]
 
**[http://www.google.com/search?q=NHL+on+CTV&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KSEXTM3uJsPinAee1rChCg&ved=0COQBEKUC&tbs=tl:1,tl_num:100,tlul:1986,tluh:1987 1986-87]
   
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{{Navboxes|list1=
 
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{{National Hockey League on national television}}
{{Wikipedia}}
 
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{{NHL on CTV}}
[[Category:Broadcasters]]
 
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{{NHL on TSN}}
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{{NHL on RDS}}
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}}[[Category:National Hockey League on television|CTV]]
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[[Category:CTV Television Network shows]]
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[[Category:Canadian sports television series]]
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[[Category:1984 Canadian television series debuts]]
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[[Category:1986 Canadian television series endings]]
 
[[Category:CTV Sports]]
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[[Category:Quebec Nordiques broadcasters|CTV]]
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[[Category:1980s Canadian television series]]

Revision as of 17:35, 4 January 2020

NHL on CTV is the name of a former television program that broadcast National Hockey League games on the CTV Television Network.

Regular season coverage

CTV's involvement with the NHL began in the 1965–66 season with a series of Wednesday-night regular season games. These were produced by the McLaren ad agency, which also produced the Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada games for the CBC. As was the case with the Saturday games, they were contests (usually at home) of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and after 1970, the Vancouver Canucks. CTV decided to pull out of midweek NHL coverage in 1975, opening the way for local TV stations in the three Canadian cities which had NHL clubs to carry mid-week telecasts of their hometown NHL clubs (also usually on Wednesday nights).

On March 16, 1966, CTV's coverage of the game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs was frequently interrupted for news updates on the Gemini 8 space mission, which had run into serious trouble after being successfully launched that morning; when the game ended, CTV joined a simulcast of CBS News coverage in time for the capsule's re-entry and splashdown.

In the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, the NHL returned to CTV, with regular season games[1] on Friday[2] nights (and some Sunday afternoons) as well as partial coverage of the playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals.

CTV/Carling O'Keefe[3] initially signed a contract well into the 1984-85 season. As a result, they wanted to cram as many games as possible (beginning in February) in the brief window they had. 1985-86's coverage didn't begin until November, so to avoid conflicts with CTV's coverage of the Major League Baseball postseason and the Canadian Football League.

While Molson continued to present Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights on the CBC, rival brewery Carling O'Keefe[4] began airing Friday Night Hockey on CTV. This marked the first time in more than a decade that CBC was not the lone over-the-air network broadcaster of the National Hockey League in Canada.

The deal with CTV was arranged by the Quebec Nordiques (who were owned by Carling O'Keefe[3]) and all 14 U.S.-based NHL clubs,[4] who sought to break Molson's monopoly[5] on NHL broadcasting in Canada. All of CTV's regular season telecasts originated from Quebec City or the United States, as Molson shut them out of the other six Canadian buildings (as Carling did to them in Quebec City).

Following the 1985-86 season, CTV decided to pull the plug[6][7] on the venture. Their limited access to Canadian-based teams[8] (other than Quebec, whose English-speaking fan base was quite small) translated into poor ratings. For the next two years, Carling O'Keefe retained their rights, and syndicated playoff telecasts on a chain of local stations that would one day become the Global Television Network under the names Stanley Cup '87 and Stanley Cup '88, before a merger between the two breweries put an end to the competition.

Schedules

1984-85

Date Teams
February 15 Edmonton-New York Rangers
February 22 St. Louis-Buffalo
March 1 Minnesota-Detroit
March 8 Philadelphia-Washington
March 15 Winnipeg-Quebec
March 22 Montreal-Washington
March 24 Quebec-Hartford
March 29 Edmonton-Hartford

1985-86

Date Teams
November 8 St. Louis-Buffalo
November 15 Vancouver-Washington
November 22 Winnipeg-Pittsburgh
November 29 Montreal-Buffalo
December 6 New York Islanders-Quebec
December 13 Hartford-Buffalo
December 20 New York Islanders-New York Rangers
December 27 Montreal-New Jersey
January 3 Washington-New Jersey
January 10 Edmonton-Quebec[9]
January 17 Quebec-Hartford
January 24 New York Islanders-Washington
January 31 St. Louis-Detroit
February 2 Toronto-Chicago
February 7 Montreal-Washington
February 14 New York Rangers-Detroit
February 21 Quebec-Minnesota
February 23 Toronto-Minnesota
February 28 Quebec-Buffalo
March 7 Hartford-Buffalo
March 9 Calgary-Detroit
March 14 Calgary-Quebec
March 21 Winnipeg-Washington
March 28 New York Islanders-Washington
April 4 Montreal-Buffalo

All-Star Game coverage

The 1985–86 Canadian coverage of the All-Star Game was to be provided by CTV. However, CTV had a prior commitment to carry the third and final episode of Sins,[10] a U.S. miniseries. As a result, TSN took over coverage of the game in Hartford.[11][12]

Playoff coverage

In 1984–85, Dan Kelly and Ron Reusch called the Philadelphia-Quebec Wales Conference Final series. They also televised Games 3, 4 and 6 of the Montreal-Quebec Adams Division Final and Games 2 and 5 of the Philadelphia-New York Islanders Patrick Division Final.

In 1985–86, Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Bobby Taylor called the Calgary-St. Louis Campbell Conference Final series. CTV's coverage was blacked out[13] in Calgary, where CBC provided coverage. For the Calgary Flames-Winnipeg Jets first-round series in 1985–86, CBC, who initially had the rights to the series, ultimately passed as they were already maxed out with three other series (Montreal-Boston, Chicago-Toronto, and Edmonton-Vancouver). The rights to the Calgary-Winnipeg series were eventually sold to the CTV affiliates in Calgary (CFCN) and Winnipeg (CKY) as well as Carling O'Keefe.

CBC and Molson Brewery used a loophole in that games involving Canadian based teams, except the Quebec Nordiques in the playoffs could be televised locally by CBC.

Year Round Series Games covered Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
1985 Divisional finals Philadelphia-New York Islanders Games 2, 5 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
Montreal-Quebec Games 3, 4, 6 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
Conference finals Quebec-Philadelphia Games 1–6 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
1986 Divisional semifinals Quebec-Hartford Game 3 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch and Brad Park
Calgary-Winnipeg Games 1–3 Ed Whalen (in Calgary)
Curt Keilback (in Winnipeg)
Curt Keilback (in Calgary)
Ed Whalen (in Winnipeg)
Divisional finals Washington-New York Rangers Games 1–6 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch
Conference finals Calgary-St. Louis Games 1, 4–7 Dan Kelly Ron Reusch and Bobby Taylor

Stanley Cup Finals coverage

In 1972, Hockey Night in Canada moved all playoff coverage from CBC to CTV to avoid conflict with the lengthy NABET strike[14] against the CBC. Eventually, MacLaren Advertising, in conjunction with Molson Breweries and Imperial Oil/Esso, who actually owned the rights to Hockey Night in Canada (not CBC) decided to give the playoff telecast rights to CTV. Initially, it was on a game by game basis in the quarterfinals (Game 1 of the Boston-Toronto series was seen on CFTO Toronto in full while other CTV affiliates, but not all joined the game in progress. Game 1 of the New York Rangers-Montreal series was seen only on CFCF Montreal while Game 4 not televised due to a lockout of technicians at the Montreal Forum), and then the full semifinals and Stanley Cup Finals. Because CTV did not have 100% penetration in Canada at this time, they asked CBC (who ultimately refused) to allow whatever one of their affiliates were the sole network in that market to show the playoffs. As a result, the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs were not seen in some of the smaller Canadian markets unless said markets were close enough to the United States border to pick up the signal of a CBS affiliate that carried Games, 1, 4, or 6 (Games 2, 3 and 5 were not nationally broadcast in the United States).

Round Series Games covered Play-by-play Colour commentator(s)
Quarterfinals Boston-Toronto Games 1–5 Bill Hewitt Bob Goldham (in Boston)
Brian McFarlane (in Toronto)
New York Rangers-Montreal Games 1–6 Danny Gallivan Dick Irvin, Jr.
Minnesota-St. Louis Game 7 Danny Gallivan Dick Irvin, Jr.
Semifinals Boston-St. Louis Games 3–4 Danny Gallivan Dick Irvin, Jr.
Chicago-New York Rangers Games 2–4 Bill Hewitt Bob Goldham

In 1974, some CTV affiliates (like CFTO in Toronto and CFCF in Montreal) picked up the American feed from NBC (with Tim Ryan and Ted Lindsay on the call) of Game 4 of the Montreal-New York Rangers playoff series.

In 1985, CBC televised Games 1 and 2 nationally while Games 3, 4 and 5 were televised in Edmonton only. CTV televised Games 3, 4 and 5 nationally while games were blacked out in Edmonton. Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games on CTV.

In 1986, CBC only televised Games 1 and 2 in Montreal and Calgary. CBC would go on to televise Games 3, 4 and 5 nationally. When CTV televised Games 1 and 2,[15] both games were blacked out in Montreal and Calgary. Unlike the year prior, Brad Park was not replaced; only Dan Kelly and Ron Reusch called the games for CTV.

NHL-Soviet Super Series

In 1979-80, 1982-83, 1985-86, 1988-89 and 1989-90, CTV televised a handful of games of the NHL-Soviet Super Series, where touring Soviet clubs visited NHL teams in a series of exhibition games.

On New Year's Eve 1985, CTV broadcast one such game between the Montreal Canadiens and CSKA Moscow in Montreal.[16] Although CTV aired the game (as a "Special Presentation of CTV Sports"), it was not considered an official part of NHL on CTV package. That was because the broadcast was presented by Molson instead of Carling O'Keefe. However, the regular NHL on CTV on-air talent were still utilized.

CTV's later involvement with the NHL

CTV Sportsnet's coverage

Main article: NHL on CTV Sportsnet

Sportsnet was launched on October 9, 1998 as CTV Sportsnet. The name was chosen to match the regional "Fox Sports Net" operations across the United States. CTV owned 40% and was the managing partner of the new network; Rogers, Molson and Fox owned 20% each.

The new network gained credibility before it went on the air, wrestling the NHL Canadian cable package away from long-time holder TSN. From 1998–99 until 2001–02, Sportsnet aired Labatt Blue Tuesday Night Hockey to a national audience throughout the regular season, and covered first-round playoff series not involving Canadian teams. On the day CTV Sportsnet went on the air, its first live sports event was an NHL opening-night telecast between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers. The national cable rights have since returned to TSN, though Sportsnet retains English regional rights to five of the seven Canadian-based clubs (TSN, through regional feeds, holds regional rights to the remaining two.)

Hockey Night in Canada rumours

The possible movement of Hockey Night in Canada to another broadcaster caused some controversy and discussion during the 2006–2007 hockey season. CTV had outbid the CBC for Canadian television rights to the 2010 and 2012 Olympics as well as the major television package for curling. The broadcast requirements would have focused on CTV-owned TSN (The Sports Network), a cable channel which already carries Canadian NHL hockey during the week as well as other NHL games throughout the season. CTV did, however, buy out the previous theme to CBC's Hockey Night in Canada for use in TSN's broadcasts immediately after the 2007–08 NHL season.

The CBC's deal with the NHL was set to expire after the 2013-2014 season. CTV parent Bell had been expected to make a joint bid for CTV and sister network TSN for all national English-language television rights to the NHL in Canada. Under such a deal, CTV would likely have carried the Saturday-night games during the regular-season, weekend playoff games in the first three rounds, and the Stanley Cup Finals. TSN would likely have kept midweek national cable coverage of the league and gained midweek early round playoff games of Canadian-based teams now seen on CBC. Some midweek regular-season games could have been sub-leased to the various Rogers Sportsnet regional networks. Such a deal could also have put a few local midweek telecasts on CTV Two stations in Barrie (Toronto), Vancouver Island (Vancouver), Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton; along with CKY-TV Winnipeg and CFCF-TV Montreal.

But on November 26, 2013, the league announced that Rogers Communications had won all Canadian television rights to the league beginning with the 2014-2015 season and extending through the 2025-2026 season. While Rogers will sublease Saturday night and playoff games (including the Finals) to CBC, thereby keeping that network's iconic Hockey Night In Canada in place until at least the 2017-2018 season. However, Rogers will take over production of games.

Thus, CTV, TSN, and their parent company will be out of NHL coverage until at least 2026 once some TSN regional agreements with some Canadian-based teams expire.

Announcers

Play-by-play

Color commentators

Studio hosts

Studio analysts

References

  1. Old NHL on CTV schedules.
  2. McKee, Ken. "Competitive NHL telecasting hasn't produced viewer bonanza", Mar 8, 1986, p. C5. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "SPORTS PEOPLE; Hockey-TV Suit", July 25, 1984. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 Warren, Kelly. "Great hockey/beer war takes to the ice in Chicago", September 25, 1984, p. B1. 
  5. McKee, Ken. "Ziegler, Molson's meet over TV rights", Oct 2, 1985, p. F2. 
  6. McKee, Ken. "Marketing mystery: Argos off TV 38 days", September 12, 1986, p. F8. 
  7. McKee, Ken. "CTV won't renew NHL contract", April 19, 1986, p. D8. 
  8. McKee, Ken. "CTV's hockey games on thin ice Network reportedly unhappy with NHL's Friday night schedule", April 16, 1986, p. E5. 
  9. Bawden, Jim. "Linden plays wizard in Blacke's Magic", January 5, 1986, p. E8. 
  10. Bostrom, Don. "NHL ALL-STARS SKATE AROUND JOAN - BARELY PRO HOCKEY", February 2, 1986, p. C8. 
  11. "Bid to televise all-star game in Canada fails", January 21, 1986, p. C4. 
  12. McKee, Ken. "All-star game an American production", February 1, 1986, p. C7. 
  13. McKee, Ken. "All-U.S. match CTV's challenge to Leaf broadcast", November 7, 1985, p. C3. 
  14. "Strike Forces CBS to Change Hockey Feature", February 21, 1972, p. F12. 
  15. McKee, Ken. "Networks split TV coverage of Stanley Cup", May 16, 1986, p. D4. 
  16. McKee, Ken. "Networks won't air games between NHL, Soviet teams", December 7, 1985, p. C4. 

External links