NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game To Be Aired on Four Networks With One Announcing Team

On New Year’s Eve, one of the fun features of the NHL Winter Classic is the alumni game featuring former players from the teams participating in the annual outdoor game. This year, with the New York Rangers taking on the Philadelphia Flyers, former players from both sides in this fierce rivalry will be back on the ice to faceoff against each other one more time.

CBC will have the game in Canada. Versus will air the game live across the US except in Philadelphia where Comcast SportsNet will have the honors. MSG Network in New York will carry the game on tape after it has aired live on Versus. The game will be aired live at 1 p.m. ET on CBC, Versus and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia. MSG Network takes it at 4 p.m. ET.

Jim Jackson of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will handle the play-by-play. Kevin Weekes of CBC and NHL Network will do the analysis. MSG’s Al Trautwig will be on the Rangers bench while Comcast SportsNet’s Steve Coates will report from the Flyers bench. That team will be seen on all four networks.

We have the press release.

2012 NHL WINTER CLASSIC ALUMNI GAME WILL BE TELEVISED ACROSS U.S. AND CANADA

VERSUS, CSN Philadelphia and MSG Will Broadcast the Game in the U.S., CBC Will Broadcast Across Canada

NEW YORK, NY (December 23, 2011) – For the first time, fans throughout North America will be able to enjoy live broadcast coverage of the 2012 NHL Winter Classic® Alumni Game when Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers legends meet outdoors at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Saturday, Dec. 31 at 1 p.m., ET. A reunion of celebrated names in the proud histories of both franchises, the game will be broadcast live on VERSUS in the United States; CBC in Canada and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia in the Philadelphia area. MSG Network will show the game on a tape delay in the New York area at 4 p.m. ET p.m.

In partnership between the NHL® and its broadcast partners, there will be one broadcast, using talent across all networks. CSN Philadelphia’s Jim Jackson will handle the play-by-play, CBC contributor and NHL Network’s Kevin Weekes will serve as analyst and MSG’s Al Trautwig will report on the Rangers’ bench while CSN Philadelphia’s Steve Coates will handle the Flyers’.

NHL Network will provide a comprehensive look of the event post-game across the U.S. and Canada with its 2012 NHL Winter Classic® Alumni Game Recap show from 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m. ET.

In the lead-up to the 2012 NHL Winter Classic, former New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers greats will take to the ice at Citizens Bank Park™. Currently, 59 former players and coaches are scheduled to participate in the celebration of this legendary rivalry in this unique outdoor setting. Those set to return for the Flyers include Bob Clarke, Eric Lindros, John LeClair, Mark Howe, Jeremy Roenick, and Reggie Leach. Pat Quinn, whose tenure as Flyers head coach included an NHL-record, 35-game unbeaten streak in 1979-80, will direct the Philadelphia bench. Mike Keenan, who coached both teams and guided the Rangers to their first Stanley Cup® in 54 years in 1993-94, will coach a Rangers alumni roster that is expected to include Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, Adam Graves, Ron Duguay, Dave Maloney and Mike Gartner.

That does it.

About Ken Fang

Ken has been covering the sports media in earnest at his own site, Fang's Bites since May 2007 and at Awful Announcing since March 2013. He provides a unique perspective having been an award-winning radio news reporter in Providence and having worked in local television. Fang celebrates the three Boston Red Sox World Championships in the 21st Century, but continues to be a long-suffering Cleveland Browns fan.

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