CHL games officially coming to TSN, CBC

It's official: the Canadian Hockey League will have a new television home this fall.

As has been rumoured/reported for some time now, the CHL has signed "multi-year broadcast partnerships" with TSN, RDS and CBC.

From the CHL:

Beginning with the 2021-22 season, the new partnerships include approximately 30 regular-season games each year delivered by TSN, in addition to select playoff coverage and the comprehensive suite of CHL national events. Additionally, the agreement includes approximately 20 French-language broadcasted games on RDS, early-season weekend games broadcasted by CBC Sports, as well as digital streaming rights featuring a CHL TV broadcast each week during the regular season on TSN, RDS, and the free CBC Gem streaming service.

The thought of TSN's world junior-like coverage coming to CHL events is certainly an exciting thought. It'll be interesting to see what the broadcast plan looks like - and also how CBC fits into all of this. CBC getting in on the rights deal had not come up in previous rumblings.

The CHL & TSN have announced a new multi-year broadcast partnership, so who better to join the show than one of the OHL’s biggest stars, projected 2022 1st overall pick Shane Wright. pic.twitter.com/RY9l6HX1P2

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) July 21, 2021

The streaming rights situation is also interesting. How does this all impact CHL TV - and in particular will the QMJHL finally be moving away from Neulion?

CHL hames have been airing on Sportsnet since 1998. Sportsnet signed a 12-year deal with the CHL in 2014 which has, obviously, come to an end early.

Sportsnet/Rogers wanting to get out of its CHL contract is not a huge surprise given the amount of financial cuts the network has made in recent years. Its $5.2 billion NHL rights deal has yet to deliver the expected return.

Sportsnet's national rights deal with the NHL comes to an end in 2025-26 - and that will likely have some sort of impact on the future of the CHL's TV rights as well. First though, we'll see how the next few seasons go.

Report: CHL games moving to TSN

Are Canadian Hockey League games making their way to TSN?

According to the well connected and often accurate Toronto Sports Media website, the CHL will soon announce its leaving the Rogers-owned Sportsnet for the Bell-owned TSN.

Sources tell me today that in the days ahead the Canadian Hockey League will announce a new TV deal with @TSN_Sports ..leaving Rogers

— jonah (@yyzsportsmedia) April 14, 2021

So by all accounts Rogers divested out of the CHL tv deal. Had term left but bought out the term. More details to come as I learn more .. told @TSN_Sports will announce a three year pact with the CHL but not sure for what exactly ...

— jonah (@yyzsportsmedia) April 14, 2021

Junior hockey fans have debated for decades that a move to TSN would be beneficial for the CHL. While it's hard to say if the quantity of nationally broadcasted games will increase, the CHL could certainly use the hype machine that has turned the World Junior Hockey Championship into such a marque event.

TSN has the broadcast rights to all IIHF and Hockey Canada events. It's main junior attraction has always been the world juniors but in recent years has started to amp up its coverage of the under-18s and the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Having CHL games air on the same station as those events seems like a natural fit.

It may not be related, but TSN used the tag line "the future of hockey lives here" during this year's world junior.

The CHL signed a 12-year-deal with the Rogers-owned Sportsnet in 2014. Interestingly, there have been well sourced rumours that the CHL's 12-year deal with french-language TVA Sports, also inked in 2014, will soon end, shifting games back over to the Bell-owned RDS.

Notebook: Patenaude invited to Swiss camp

Michael Hawkins/Saint John Sea Dogs

Saint John Sea Dogs goaltender Noah Patenaude has been invited to Switzerland's world junior training camp.

According to a news release, the team's training camp begins Dec. 6 in Switzerland. After a first round of the cuts, the reaming players will travel to the Edmonton bubble on Dec. 13. The team is scheduled to make its final cuts on Dec. 23 after two pre-tournament games (Dec. 20 vs USA and Dec. 22 vs Sweden).

Congrats @Noahpatenaude1 ! Good luck! https://t.co/PDPTDfXtPF

— Anthony Stella (@AnthonyStella_) November 23, 2020

Four goaltenders were invited to the camp and the team is expected to carry three for the tournament. Patenaude, a dual Canadian/Swiss citizen, is the only one of the four currently playing in North America. 

Patenaude has arguably been Saint John's MVP this season, posting a 4-6 record to go along with a 3.62 goals against average and a .889 save percentage.

Former Sea Dogs goaltender Robert Mayer played for Switzerland at the 2008 World Junior Hockey Championship.

SCHEDULE CHANGES

The QMJHL confirmed Tuesday that Saint John's weekend games have been postponed.

The Sea Dogs were scheduled to host the Acadie-Bathurst Titan on Saturday and Halifax Mooseheads on Sunday. Saint John's games last weekend were also postponed along with Wednesday's match against Moncton.

Officially, Saint John's next scheduled game is next Thursday, Dec. 3 against the Cape Breton Eagles at TD Station. The Saint John area will have to be out of the orange phase and back into the yellow for there to be any chance of that game happening.

No games are scheduled in the Maritimes this weekend.

AUS SEASON CANCELLED

Atlantic University Sport announced Wednesday that the conference's winter sport season - which includes hockey - has been cancelled.

There was a bit of good news though. The "AUS will allow member-driven competition for the upcoming winter semester," meaning exhibition games are still possible.

Wednesday's announcement impacts several Sea Dogs alumni who were set to play for AUS squads this season. There was definitely some initial worries about players leaving U Sports programs to turn pro, but that seems like less and less of a problem given how few leagues around the globe have managed to get going - and stay going - during the pandemic.

Sea Dogs returning to Sportsnet

The Saint John Sea Dogs are returning to Sportsnet.

The Canadian Hockey League's playoff preview has confirmed that Saturday's Game 2 and Wednesday's Game 4 of the President Cup will both air nationally on Sportsnet 360. Game times remain the same - 7 p.m. on Saturday and 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Sea Dogs were on Sportsnet once this past season, facing the Mooseheads in Halifax on Jan. 7.

All games will also air on TVA Sports or TVA Sports 2. Games 1, 5 and 7 will be broadcast on Rogers TV throughout New Brunswick.

Tim Roszell will also have the call of every game on 96.1 NewSong FM, meaning you should mute whatever feed you are watching and listen to that.

This is by far the most television exposure the Sea Dogs have ever gotten for a playoff series. It was a struggle to find a quality stream or broadcast of the finals in 2010, 2011 and 2012. This is a nice change.

The QMJHL Final is the only league final that will have games air on Sportsnet this year, per the CHL website. This despite Mississauga being in the OHL Final.

Speaking of Mississauga, Rogers TV Peel, which broadcasts Steelheads home games, closed its doors the other day (the OHL Final will still be broadcast). This, along with closures out west, have to create some concerns over the future of local CHL TV broadcasts.

Tuesday/Wednesday notes: OHL west is real good

I was cruising through Twitter on Tuesday night and came across this tweet:

Erie still hasn't lost at home in regulation - 21-0-1-1.

— Josh Brown (@BrownRecord) January 24, 2017

That's quite crazy.

The Erie Otters are, once again, a very good hockey team. They improved to 22-0-1-1 at Erie Insurance Arena (which is a very good building) with a dominant 5-0 win over the Kitchener Rangers on Tuesday. The Rangers had just four shots through the first two periods and ended the night with 13.

The Otters' home record looks a lot like the Saint John Sea Dogs' 2010-11 mark, when the team went a remarkable 32-0-1-1 at Harbour Station.

The Otters joined the Sea Dogs in a significant statistical mark last season, becoming the fifth Canadian Hockey League franchise to record three straight 50-win seasons. The Otters have a very good chance of making it four consecutive seasons, which would be a CHL first.

The biggest difference between the Otters and the other members of the 50-win threepeat club is that Erie hasn't won a championship. Here's a look at the members, via the OHL website:

Canadian Hockey League – Three consecutive 50-win seasons:
Erie Otters (2013-16)
Kelowna Rockets (2012-15) (1 WHL title)
Edmonton Oil Kings (2011-14) (2 WHL titles, 1 Memorial Cup)
Saint John Sea Dogs (2009-12) (2 QMJHL titles, 1 Memorial Cup)
Kamloops Blazers (1989-92) (2 WHL titles, 1 Memorial Cup)

Unfortunatly for the Otters, they play in the same league - and division - as the London Knights, who derailed the team last year and could do so again this season. The OHL's Western Conference is ridiculous with the Knights, Otters and Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds all tied at the top. The Memorial Cup hosting Windsor Spitfires are two points back.

Whoever makes it out of the OHL and into the Memorial Cup should be well battled tested.

News & Notes: Li on Russia roster

There is a familiar name on the Russian team that will compete in the Canada Russia Series.

Nikita Li, who played in one regular season game with Saint John in 2014-15, is on the roster. The Sea Dogs put Li, a second-round pick in the 2015 CHL Import Draft, on waivers where he was claimed by the Victoriaville Tigres.

2014-15 was Li's only season in the QMJHL, recording 10 goals and six assists in 61 regular season games. He added one goal in four playoff games.

According to Elite Prospects, Li has three assists in 17 games with the KHL's Spartak Moscow this season.

The Canada Russia series begins on Monday in Prince George.

Some notes...

• Speaking of the Canada Russia Series, Sportsnet has list of players to watch at the event. No. 1 on the list? Sea Dogs forward Mathieu Joseph.
• The Sea Dogs' Jan. 7 in Halifax will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet. Game time has been adjusted to 4 p.m.
• The Tampa Bay Lightning website has a feature on Mathieu Joseph. 
• How about the Ottawa Senators' handling of Thomas Chabot? The blog Silver Seven looks at that.
• It certainly appeared the Ottawa 67's were destined to host the Memorial Cup in 2018. They have withdrawn their bid though, according to TSN Radio host.
• Sea Dogs prospect Shane Bowers was ranked 20th in the Sportsnet's November NHL Draft rankings. Bowers has six goals and six assists in 11 games with the USHL's Waterloo Black Hawks this season.
• Meanwhile, Bowers was ranked 24th in ISS' November rankings.
• The Sea Dogs fell to the "honourable mention" category in the CHL Top 10 this week.
• Saint John takes on the Titan in Bathurst tomorrow night at 7 p.m. They return home on Sunday to take on the Charlottetown Islanders at 3 p.m.
• Mathieu Joseph and Thomas Chabot both appear a new CHL on Sportsnet commercial:

Photo: Marc Henwood/Station Nation

Nathan Noel On A Roll

After having his 20-game point streak come to an end on Feb. 17, Nathan Noel went cold.

Between Feb. 19 and March 19 (the final day of the regular season), Noel recorded just two goals and two assists over the 13-game span. He had recorded 35 points during his point streak.

But after two playoff games, Noel has seemingly found his scoring touch again. In Saint John’s opening post-season wins over the Acadie-Bathurst Titan this past weekend, the 18-year-old forward registered five assists, which leads the QMJHL.

Although he has limited QMJHL post-season experience, Noel has proven to be a playoff performer. In Saint John’s five-game series against the Baie-Comeau Drakkar last year, the St. John’s native recorded five goals and two assists, giving him a total of 12 points in seven career playoff games.

20-year-old Sam Povorozniouk, who led the Sea Dogs in goals during the regular season with 39, has also gotten off to a strong start this post-season. His four goals place him in a tie him for the league lead. Povorozniouk had just one career CHL playoff goal prior to this season.

DOGS DAILY: Big Weekend For LeBlanc

Former Sea Dogs defenseman Olivier LeBlanc had an impressive weekend.

With a total of three goals and two assists in two games against the Acadie-Bathurst Titan, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles alternate captain was named the QMJHL’s first star of week.

Olivier Leblanc (@3LeBlanc), a @BlueJacketsNHL pick, has the game winner for @CBSEHockey tonight in Sydney pic.twitter.com/g97pvYCd6n

— Kris Abbott (@EastlinkKris) January 17, 2016

LeBlanc, who returned from a three-game suspension handed to him following a hit to head on Saint John’s Oliver Felixson, now has five goals and 27 points in 38 games with the Screaming Eagles this year.

Cape Breton is in third place in the Maritimes Division with 50 points, which is seven points back of second place Saint John. The Sea Dogs also have three games in hand.

The Eagles could inch closer to the Dogs this weekend if they are able to pick up some points when the two meet on Friday and Saturday at Harbour Station.

Meanwhile, Victoriaville’s Alexandre Goulet and Moncton’s Conor Garland were named the second and third stars of the week, respectively.

Sportsnet Adds Sunday Games

As we just announced on our preview show, SNet adds a second CHL game weekly to compliment our Friday night package starting Sunday Jan 11th
— Jeff Marek (@JeffMarek) June 23, 2014

Sportsnet will be broadcasting two CHL games each week beginning this January.

Officially announced tonight on Sportsnet’s NHL schedule preview show, the network will be showing a CHL game each Sunday afternoon beginning January 11. The games will compliment Sportsnet’s existing Friday Night Hockey package.

Sportsnet will broadcast over 60 CHL games this season. As usual, the Subway Super Series, Top Prospects Game, and Memorial Cup will all be shown nationally on the network.

In February, Sportsnet signed a 12-year partnership extension with the CHL that will see them exclusively broadcast the league through the 2025-26 season.

It’ll be interesting to see how things go this season with Sportsnet also running Canada’s NHL broadcasts. While it may seem like the CHL will just be shoved into the corner at Sportsnet, there could be a ratings increase with more promotion during NHL broadcasts. If ratings increase, the amount of games broadcast will likely grow over time. Hopefully things go smoothly this season and into the future.

Wednesday Notebook

Highlights from Sunday’s 2-1 Sea Dogs win:

Connor Donaghey now has 10 goals and 20 assists in 18 games with the MHL’s Yarmouth Mariners. That includes this overtime goal:

Thanks to @avgnsdave for the video.

Some other random stuff:

• The Sea Dogs play a three-in-three this weekend. They host the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles on Friday and Saturday night at Harbour Station before travelling to Bathurst on Sunday afternoon for a huge game against the Titan.
• Details about the 2014 QMJHL Entry Draft - taking place in Sherbrooke - were released this week. The draft is on May 31^st beginning at 11am Atlantic.
• Defenseman Bailey Webster was named a first-team all-star in the NB/PEI Major Midget Hockey League. He had 25 points – five goals and 20 assists – in 31 regular-season games with the Kensington Wild.
• The AUS Men’s Hockey semi-finals begin tonight. Stephen MacAulay and the Saint Mary’s Huskies take on Mike Thomas and the UNB Varsity Reds while Pierre Durepos and the Universite de Moncton Aigles Bleus will face the Acadia Axemen.
• The Sea Dogs tweeted a photo of Stephen Anderson skating on Monday.
• The Canadian Press’ early, early, early roster projection for Team Canada’s 2018 Winter Olympics team includes Jonathan Huberdeau.
• Kitchener Rangers play-by-play man Mike Farwell tweeted on Sunday that “under the new broadcast deal, Sportsnet will be adding Saturday afternoon CHL games to complement traditional Friday night games.” Definitely intriguing with Rogers taking over the national NHL rights next season, which includes Saturday night games.
• Could Jack Eichel go first overall in the 2015 NHL Draft?
• Mike Hoffman, Simon Despres, and Eric Gelinas all got called up to their NHL teams following the Olympic break.

Thursday Notebook

Second thoughts on the CHL/Sportsnet extension: maybe it will actually be good to have junior hockey on the same network as the national NHL broadcasts.

On the one hand, Sportsnet could definitely shove their CHL broadcasts into a corner and forget about them. But on the other hand, there could definitely be a ratings boost by promoting the games on the same station as national NHL broadcasts. Presumably, an increase in ratings would see an increase in games shown. Something to think about.

Some other stuff…

• Huge game on Thursday night at Harbour Station between the Sea Dogs and Cataractes. Saint John currently holds the league’s final playoff spot with 38 points. Shawinigan is right behind them with 38 points as well. It’s the final meeting of the season between the two.
• Tough Olympics for Tomas Jurco and the Slovaks who, following a 5-3 loss to the Czech Republic in the qualification round yesterday, will finish 11^th. Jurco finishes his first Olympics with one goal and eight shots in four games.
• The AUS men’s hockey playoffs begin tonight with Moncton taking on StFX and UPEI facing Saint Mary’s. UNB and Acadia earned a bye through the first-round.
• The AHL website has a big time article on Mike Hoffman. The Ottawa Senators prospect is second in AHL scoring with 27 goals and 63 points in 48 games.
• Chronicle Herald sports columnist Chris Cochrane had a column on new Sea Dogs GM Darrell Young last week. “I went in there (to the interview) with a booklet on how we could attack the situation,” Young said, “they were impressed I took that much time to prepare.”
• Sam Cosentino mentions Hoffman, Young, and Yann Sauve in his latest column over at Sportsnet.ca.
• The Mill Rats have solved their playoff arena issues. They may have to play a game out at UNBSJ, though.
• Mike McGraw visitation and funeral info can be found here.

12 More Years Of Sportsnet

So this happened today:

Sportsnet today announced it has reached a 12-year partnership extension with the Canadian Hockey League through the 2025-26 CHL season, continuing its tradition as the exclusive broadcaster of the CHL and MasterCard Memorial Cup in Canada. 

The new agreement, which begins with the 2014/15 season, features a comprehensive suite of multimedia rights including television, online and mobile, delivering more than 50 CHL games each year, including CHL playoff games and the Memorial Cup. 

Sportsnet has been broadcasting CHL games since the network’s inception in 1998.
…
In addition, Sportsnet today announced a 12-year sub-licensing agreement with TVA Sports for exclusive French-language multiplatform rights for CHL games, beginning with the 2014/15 season.

Yeah. I’d like to say this sounds great but it’s pretty much what we are getting now. The 50 games includes playoff and Memorial Cup games.

That means about 35 actual CHL games per year, about one/week on average. Some of those are likely regional too. So more of the same old.
— Alan Caldwell (@smallatlarge) February 18, 2014

Sportsnet’s online content with Patrick King and Sam Cosentino is solid and the team of RJ Broadhead and Cosentino on the TV side are good as well. But it’s not fantastic from there. The people watching these broadcasts are hardcore junior hockey fans and it would be great if they could add some analysts who were hardcore junior hockey watchers as well.

Sportsnet did pick up the NHL Draft rights in their massive NHL rights deal so maybe they’ll add some more prospect people. And speaking of that NHL rights deal, you have to think the CHL may get even less air time – in terms of highlights, news stories, and other things - on Sportsnet now. Ugh.

I really thought we were going to see TSN snag the CHL rights but Rogers seems to have an unlimited amount of money. The dream of the TSN hype machine taking over the CHL is dead.

Maybe this new deal will be awesome. But I think we’ll see more of the same (hello, London Knights!). Prove me wrong, Sportsnet.