Last week, the NHL released the full 2008-09 national television broadcast schedule, giving the Thrashers a total of 10 games on three different television channels. American fans will be able to see Atlanta twice, as a part of VERSUS’ Game of the Week: against Philadelphia on Oct. 28 and against Washington on March 16. Both are home games for Atlanta.
However, foreign fans will get even more exposure to new head coach John Anderson and the remade Thrashers, as Canada’s cable channels attempt to give the neighbors up north more exposure to teams from their home county. Atlanta will appear four times on the Canadian cable channel TSN, each time facing a Canadian team. The schedule includes broadcasting of Thrashers games on consecutive nights against both Montreal and Ottawa. The Thrashers’ television schedule also includes all four games against the Montreal Canadiens, as the French-partner of the NHL, RDS, has agreed to broadcast each of the Canadiens 82 games this season.
In the coming weeks there will be even more chances for the Thrashers to appear on national television as the NHL Network has yet to announce its 75-game schedule. Additionally, NBC has only selected two of its 10 games to be broadcasted games this season.
MINOR LEAGUERS STAY BUSY
It was a quiet week for the Thrashers, as the team prepares for training camp in just a few weeks. This has left Atlanta’s minor league affiliates busy, looking to fill out their own rosters for the upcoming season.
On Friday, Gwinnett announced the re-signing of defenseman Jeff Mason for the 2008-09 season. Mason led all defensemen in scoring last season, during the Kelly Cup Playoffs. He finished the season with five goals and 15 assists, and his plus-9 rating was the second-best on the team among defensemen.
Mason, a Providence College standout, is a name Thrasher fans should keep in the back of their minds down the road. Mason spent his first three years of professional hockey in the ECHL, but hopes to make a run for the NHL in the coming years. His stick-handling and knack for being in the right place at the right time should be enough to give him at least the opportunity to prove his worth in hockey’s top league. How long he stays will be determined by his toughness against more talented offensive players.
FREE SAMPLES AT PHILIPS
The Thrashers will host a ‘Select-A-Seat’ event on Aug. 23 for fans looking to purchase season tickets from a variety of ticket options. The seats around Philips Arena will be marked, designating which seats are available for purchase with each ticket plan. Plans range from a full season, 41 games, or partial-season plans consisting of 13- and seven-game mini-plans. More information on the event can be found at atlantathrashers.com.
Boral can be reached at jboral@scoreatl.com.
Loading ...
