BOSTON – NESN, New England’s most watched sports network drops the puck on its 2009 college hockey schedule and celebrates
the 25th season of Hockey East with a special night of coverage on Friday, January 9. At 6:00 PM, NESN presents the television premiere of
25 Years of Hockey East - A Tradition of Excellence, a one-hour documentary that highlights the league’s most memorable moments from the
past 25 years. Hockey East Face Off Live, NESN’s half-hour Hockey East pre-game show, clears the ice at 7:00 PM and sets the stage for the
opening night of Hockey East Friday Night. In week one of live game coverage, No. 9 Boston College travels to No. 10 Vermont in a re-match of
last year’s Hockey East Championship game
“Hockey East is excited to kickoff another season with NESN and we are proud of our partnership, as our 25th anniversary celebrations
unfold,” said Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna.
“We are so pleased that Hockey East and NESN are celebrating 25th birthdays together in 2009,” said Joel Feld, NESN executive vice
president of programming and executive producer. “Our fans know that NESN’s commitment to the best hockey in the country doesn’t stop with
the Boston Bruins. Hockey East is the NCAA’s strongest conference and we will be showcasing their most compelling weekly match-ups right up
to the championship in March.”
Hockey East Friday Night features a total of 14 live games with top match-ups every week. In 2009, all 10 Hockey East schools make
an appearance on NESN, including five games with defending national and league champion Boston College. NESN’s coverage will culminate with
live high definition coverage of the Hockey East Semi-Finals and Championship from TD Banknorth Garden.
Tom Caron (play-by-play) and Tim Sweeney (color analyst) return to call the games for NESN’s Hockey East Friday Night broadcasts. Bob
Beers (studio host) and Brendan Walsh (studio analyst) return to host Hockey East Face Off LIVE a half hour before every game from the NESN
HD Television Center.
Tom Caron joined NESN in 1995 and has served in many different roles including his current role as the studio host of Boston Red Sox
baseball. The Lewiston, Maine native has served as NESN’s college hockey play-by-play announcer since 1996. His partner in the booth will be
Boston College alum Tim Sweeney. A former Boston Bruin, Sweeney has served as a college hockey commentator on NESN and other networks
since 1999. Bob Beers played 4 years at Maine and spent 8 years in the NHL with 4 different teams including the Bruins. He is currently in his
tenth season as the color analyst on WBZ radio’s Boston Bruins coverage. Brendan Walsh played at both BU and Maine, winning a national championship
with the Black Bears in 1999. The Dorchester, Massachusetts native played 5 years of professional hockey and served as an assistant
coach at Northeastern.
25 YEARS OF HOCKEY EAST…A TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE -- This one-hour special chronicles the storied history of one of college
hockey’s most successful leagues. Narrated by Tom Caron, this documentary highlights some of Hockey East’s most memorable moments over
the past 25 years. The program includes candid and exclusive commentary with some of the marquee players, coaches and administrators who
have helped make Hockey East one of college hockey’s most entertaining conferences.
2009 HOCKEY EAST EAST FRIDAY NIGHT SCHEDULE ON NESN |
| Date |
Game |
TV |
Time |
| Jan. 9 |
Boston College at Vermont |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Jan. 16 |
UMass-Lowell at Boston College |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Jan. 23 |
UNH at Boston University |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Jan. 30 |
Boston College at Providence |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Feb. 6 |
Maine at UNH |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Feb. 20 |
Boston College at UNH |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Feb. 27 |
Boston U. at Massachusetts |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Feb. 28 |
Merrimack at UNH |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Mar. 6 |
Boston College at
Northeastern |
NESN |
7:30pm * |
| Mar. 8 |
2009 Women's Championship |
NESN |
TBD |
| Mar. 13 |
Select Quarterfinal Game |
NESN |
7:30 pm * |
| Mar. 20 |
Hockey East Semifinal #1 |
NESN |
5:00 pm |
| Mar. 20 |
Hockey East Semifinal #2 |
NESN |
8:00 pm * |
| Mar.
21 |
Hockey
East Championship Game |
NESN |
7:00 pm * |
| * GAMES WITH ASTERISKS PRECEDED BY “HOCKEY EAST FACEOFF LIVE” (ALL GAMES LIVE UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED) |
