Press Releases

– Three-year agreement includes a minimum of six Cree-language NHL broadcasts per season –
– First Cree-language broadcast of the 2019-20 NHL season features the Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks, Sunday, Jan. 19 at 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT on APTN –

TORONTO – Following the historic first NHL broadcast in Plains Cree last season in conjunction with Rogers Hometown Hockey’s visit to Enoch Cree Nation, Sportsnet and APTN are expanding their partnership to deliver more games over the next three seasons. In total, a minimum of six games per year will be broadcast on APTN in Plains Cree – full 2019-20 broadcast schedule below.

Sportsnet will continue to deliver the broadcast production, which will feature exclusive Cree-language commentary and analysis from APTN broadcasters for fans across the country. Broadcaster Clarence Iron will have the play-by-play call for APTN, while Juno Award-winning musician Earl Wood will host the studio show alongside influential Cree-language promoter Jason Chamakese, with game analysis from NHL alum John Chabot.

“Last year we partnered with APTN to deliver the first ever NHL game in Plains Cree and saw first-hand the positive impact it had uniting hockey fans across the country,” said Rob Corte, Vice President, Sportsnet & NHL Productions. “We know that Canada’s Indigenous communities have a great passion for hockey and we are excited to grow our partnership with APTN to deliver more games over the next three years.”

This season’s Cree-language broadcast schedule also features a special Rogers Hometown Hockey stop as the tour visits Peguis First Nation, Manitoba on Sunday, March 1 where Ron MacLean and Tara Slone will host a live broadcast of the same game on Sportsnet.

“By teaming up with Sportsnet and broadcasting more games in Plains Cree, we can connect with Canadian hockey fans and share the beauty of Indigenous languages and cultures,” says Jean La Rose, outgoing CEO of APTN. “We are very excited to know we will soon hear more cries of kociw osihew, pihtokwahew! – he shoots, he scores! – across the country.”

In addition to an expanded commitment to delivering Cree-language NHL broadcasts to Canadians, Sportsnet also contributes to the national production of Hockey Night in Canada: Punjabi Edition on OMNI Television.
2019-20 Cree-Language NHL Broadcast Schedule from Sportsnet on APTN:

• Sunday, January 19 – Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks
(7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, February 9 – Winnipeg Jets vs. Chicago Blackhawks
(7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, February 23 – Calgary Flames vs. Detroit Red Wings
(7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, March 1 – Vancouver Canucks vs. Columbus Blue Jackets
(7:00 p.m. ET / 4:00 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, March 15 – Winnipeg Jets vs. Vancouver Canucks
(8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT)
• Sunday, March 29 – Anaheim Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers
(8:00 p.m. ET / 5:00 p.m. PT)

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About Sportsnet
Sportsnet is Canada’s #1 sports media brand. Uniting Canadians through sport, Sportsnet’s multimedia offerings include Sportsnet (consisting of four regional channels: East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, the Sportsnet Radio Network, Sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet NOW, the Sportsnet app and podcasts. Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national multiplatform rights holder, and is the regional broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers and Toronto Maple Leafs. Sportsnet also has extensive coverage of the Blue Jays, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, Rogers Cup, CHL, IndyCar, WWE, Premier League and FA Cup. Sportsnet is part of Rogers Media, which is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI).

About APTN
APTN launched in 1999 as the first national Indigenous broadcaster in the world, creating a window into the remarkably diverse mosaic of Indigenous Peoples. A respected non-profit and charitable broadcaster, it’s the only one of its kind in North America. The network is Sharing Our Stories of authenticity in English, French and a variety of Indigenous languages to approximately 11 million Canadian subscribers. With over 80% Canadian content, APTN connects with its audiences through genuine, inspiring and engaging entertainment on multiple platforms.

For Sportsnet:
Andrew Garas, [email protected], 647.242.7924

For APTN:
Emili Bellefleur, [email protected], 514.544.6124 ext.227