NHL on CTV
NHL on CTV is the name of a former
Regular season coverage
CTV's involvement with the NHL began in the 1965–66 season with a series of Wednesday-night regular season games. These were produced by the McLaren ad agency, which also produced the Saturday night Hockey Night in Canada games for the CBC. As was the case with the Saturday games, they were contests (usually at home) of the Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, and after 1970, the Vancouver Canucks. CTV decided to pull out of midweek NHL coverage in 1975, opening the way for local TV stations in the three Canadian cities that had NHL clubs to carry mid-week telecasts of their hometown NHL clubs.
On March 16, 1966, CTV's coverage of the game between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs was frequently interrupted for news updates on the Gemini 8 space mission, which had run into serious trouble after being successfully launched that morning; when the game ended, CTV joined a simulcast of CBS News coverage in time for the capsule's re-entry and splashdown.
Ironically, CTV affiliate
In the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, the NHL returned to CTV, with regular season games[1] on Friday[2] nights (and some Sunday afternoons) as well as partial coverage of the playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals.
CTV/Carling O'Keefe[3][4][5] initially signed a contract well into the 1984–85 season. As a result, they wanted to cram as many games as possible (beginning in February) in the brief window they had. 1985–86's coverage didn't begin until November, so to avoid conflicts with CTV's coverage of the Major League Baseball postseason.
While
The deal with CTV was arranged by the Quebec Nordiques (who were owned by Carling O'Keefe[3]) and all 14 U.S.-based NHL clubs,[5][6][7][8] who sought to break Molson's monopoly[5][8][9][10] on NHL broadcasting in Canada. All of the CTV's regular-season telecasts originated from Quebec City or the United States, as Molson shut them out of the other six Canadian buildings (as Carling did to them in Québec City).
After the 1985–86 season, CTV decided to pull the plug
Regular season schedules
1984–85
Date | Teams |
---|---|
February 15 | Edmonton-New York Rangers |
February 22 | St. Louis-Buffalo |
March 1 | Minnesota-Detroit |
March 8 | Philadelphia-Washington |
March 15 | Winnipeg-Québec |
March 22 | Montréal-Washington |
March 24 | Québec-Hartford |
March 29 | Edmonton-Hartford |
1985–86
Date | Teams |
---|---|
November 8 | St. Louis-Buffalo |
November 15 | Vancouver-Washington |
November 22 | Winnipeg-Pittsburgh |
November 29 | Montréal-Buffalo[16] |
December 6 | New York Islanders-Québec |
December 13 | Hartford-Buffalo |
December 20 | New York Islanders-New York Rangers |
December 27 | Montréal-New Jersey[17] |
January 3 | Washington-New Jersey |
January 10 | Edmonton-Québec[18][19] |
January 17 | Québec-Hartford |
January 24 | New York Islanders-Washington |
January 31 | St. Louis-Detroit |
February 2 | Toronto-Chicago |
February 7 | Montréal-Washington |
February 9 | Québec-Boston |
February 14 | New York Rangers-Detroit |
February 21 | Québec-Minnesota |
February 23 | Toronto-Minnesota |
February 28 | Québec-Buffalo |
March 7 | Hartford-Buffalo |
March 9 | Calgary-Detroit |
March 14 | Calgary-Québec |
March 21 | Winnipeg-Washington |
March 28 | New York Islanders-Washington[20] |
April 4 | Montréal-Buffalo[21] |
Stanley Cup playoffs coverage
In 1984–85, Dan Kelly and Ron Reusch called the Philadelphia-Quebec Wales Conference Final series. They also called three games at the Québec Colisée of the Montréal-Québec Adams Division Final and Games 2 and 5 of the Philadelphia-New York Islanders Patrick Division Final.
In
CBC and Molson Brewery used a loophole in that games involving Canadian-based teams (excluding the
Year | Round | Series | Games covered | Play-by-play | Colour commentator(s) |
1985 | Divisional finals | Philadelphia-New York Islanders | Games 2, 5 | Dan Kelly | Ron Reusch |
Montréal-Québec | in Québec City[23][24][25] | Dan Kelly | Ron Reusch | ||
Conference finals | Québec-Philadelphia | Games 1–6 | Dan Kelly | Ron Reusch | |
1986 | Divisional semifinals | Québec-Hartford | Game 3[26][27][28] | Dan Kelly | Ron Reusch and Brad Park |
Calgary-Winnipeg | Games 1–3 | Russ Peake (in Calgary) Curt Keilback (in Winnipeg) |
Doug Smith and George Kingston (in Calgary) Rod Black (in Winnipeg) | ||
Divisional finals | Washington-New York Rangers | Games 4–6 | Dan Kelly | Ron Reusch | |
Conference finals | Calgary-St. Louis | Games 1–7[29][30] | Dan Kelly | Ron Reusch and Bobby Taylor |
Stanley Cup Finals coverage
In
Round | Series | Games covered | Play-by-play | Colour commentator(s) |
Quarterfinals | Boston-Toronto | Games 1–5 | Bill Hewitt | Bob Goldham (in Boston) Brian McFarlane (in Toronto) |
New York Rangers-Montréal | Games 1–6 | Danny Gallivan | Dick Irvin Jr. | |
Minnesota-St. Louis | Game 7 | Bill Hewitt | Bob Goldham | |
Semifinals | Boston-St. Louis | in St. Louis | Danny Gallivan | Dick Irvin Jr. |
Chicago-New York Rangers | Games 2–4 | Bill Hewitt | Bob Goldham |
In
In 1985, CBC televised Games 1 and 2 nationally while Games 3–5 were televised in Edmonton only. CTV televised Games 3–5 nationally while games were blacked out in Edmonton. Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games on CTV.
In 1986, CBC only televised Games 1 and 2 in Montreal and Calgary, but televised Games 3–5 nationally. When CTV televised Games 1 and 2,[32] both games were blacked out in Montréal and Calgary. Like in the year prior, Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games for CTV.
NHL-Soviet Super Series
In 1979–80, 1982–83, 1985–86, 1988–89, and 1989–90, CTV televised a handful of games of the NHL-Soviet Super Series, where touring Soviet clubs visited NHL teams in a series of exhibition games.
On New Year's Eve 1985, CTV broadcast one such game between the Montreal Canadiens and CSKA Moscow in Montreal.[33] Although CTV aired the game (as a "Special Presentation of CTV Sports"), it was not considered an official part of NHL on CTV package. That was because the broadcast was presented by Molson instead of Carling O'Keefe. Therefore, a special on-air talent was utilized; Bob Cole, Ron Reusch, and Dick Irvin Jr. called the game[34] while Dan Matheson and Brian McFarlane hosted the telecast together on CTV.
CTV's later involvement with the NHL
CTV Sportsnet's coverage
The new network gained credibility before it went on the air, wrestling the NHL Canadian cable package away from long-time holder
"The Hockey Song" was used to open NHL broadcasts on CTV Sportsnet in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Hockey Night in Canada rumours
The possible movement of
The CBC's deal with the NHL was set to expire after the
But on November 26, 2013, the league announced that Rogers Communications had won all Canadian television rights to the league beginning with the 2014–15 season and extending through the 2025–26 season. While Rogers will sublease Saturday night and playoff games (including the Stanley Cup Finals) to CBC, thereby keeping that network's iconic Hockey Night in Canada in place until at least the 2017–18 season. However, Rogers will take over the production of games. Rogers and CBC later renewed their partnership through the end of the 2025–26 season.
Thus, CTV, TSN, and their parent company will be out of NHL coverage until at least 2026 once some TSN regional agreements with some Canadian-based teams expire.
Announcers
Play-by-play
Color commentators
- Bob Goldham: 1972 Stanley Cup Finals
- Brian McFarlane: 1972 Stanley Cup Finals
- Ron Reusch: 1984–86
- Philadelphia Eastern Conference Final series after the New York Islanders was eliminated. He left CTV for the Islanders broadcasts commitment full-time.[36][37]
Studio hosts
Studio analysts
- Philadelphia Eastern Conference Final series after the New York Islanders was eliminated. He left CTV for the Islanders broadcasts commitment full-time.[36][37]
- John Garrett: 1985 playoffs (after Vancouver missed the playoffs). Garrett joined the CTV crew as a studio analyst for the Canadiens-Nordiques Adams Division Final series. He retired before the start of the 1985–86 season, left CTV in October 1985, and joined CBC the following year.
- Dave Maloney: 1985–86 season. Maloney joined the CTV crew mid-season to replace Park in the same capacity for the rest of the regular season after he left for CTV mid-season to replace fired Harry Neale as head coach of the Red Wings.
- Brad Park: 1985 playoffs (after Detroit was eliminated). Park retired from playing in the summer of 1985[38][39] and joined the CTV crew[40][41] as a studio analyst and "third man" in the booth for the 1985 Stanley Cup Finals and the 1985–86 season. However, he was hired mid-season to replace Harry Neale as head coach of the Detroit Red Wings, forcing him to leave CTV. He once again re-joined the crew for the 1986 playoffs, which Detroit did not qualify for.[42][43][44][45]
- Bobby Taylor: 1984–85 season–1985–86 season (whenever he is not involved with the Philadelphia Flyers). He joined the CTV crew as a studio analyst and "third man" in the booth in the regular season and the playoffs for non-Flyers games and did the same in the 1986 playoffs after Philadelphia was eliminated.
References
- ^ "Old NHL on CTV schedules".
- ^ McKee, Ken (Mar 8, 1986). "Competitive NHL telecasting hasn't produced viewer bonanza". Toronto Star. p. C5.
- ^ New York Times. July 25, 1984. p. B8.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ a b Warren, Kelly (September 25, 1984). "Great hockey/beer war takes to the ice in Chicago". Newspapers.com. Chicago Tribune. p. B1. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-12-31.
- ^ a b "The National Hockey League and Molson Breweries announced Tuesday... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- Montreal Gazette. p. 53. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ McKee, Ken (Oct 2, 1985). "Ziegler, Molson's meet over TV rights". Toronto Star. p. F2.
- ^ McKee, Ken (September 12, 1986). "Marketing mystery: Argos off TV 38 days". Toronto Star. p. F8.
- ^ McKee, Ken (April 19, 1986). "CTV won't renew NHL contract". Toronto Star. p. D8.
- ^ Montreal Gazette. The Canadian Press. The Canadian Press. April 19, 1986. pp. 86, 88. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
- ^ McKee, Ken (April 16, 1986). "CTV's hockey games on thin ice Network reportedly unhappy with NHL's Friday night schedule". Toronto Star. p. E5.
- YouTube
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- ^ Bawden, Jim (January 5, 1986). "Linden plays wizard in Blacke's Magic". Toronto Star. p. E8.
- ^ Buck, Jerry (March 22, 1986). "Blacke's Magic is Linden Magic". Times Union. p. 25. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
- YouTube
- YouTube
- ^ McKee, Ken (November 7, 1985). "All-U.S. match CTV's challenge to Leaf broadcast". Toronto Star. p. C3.
- YouTube
- YouTube
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- ^ "Strike Forces CBS to Change Hockey Feature". Los Angeles Times. February 21, 1972. p. F12.
- ^ McKee, Ken (May 16, 1986). "Networks split TV coverage of Stanley Cup". Toronto Star. p. D4.
- ^ McKee, Ken (December 7, 1985). "Networks won't air games between NHL, Soviet teams". Toronto Star. p. C4.
- Montreal Gazette. December 24, 1985. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ Taaffe, William (March 11, 1985). "Hockey's Lord Of The Rinks". Sports Illustrated.
- ^ a b "CTV unveils hockey line up". February 8, 1985.
- ^ a b "Networks waste time with pre-game tripe". The Phoenix. May 6, 1985. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
- ^ Reinmuth, Gary (1985-04-19). "THE DEFENSE RESTS: BRAD PARK RETIRES". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- New York Times. 1985-04-20. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ISBN 978-1-118-33619-9.
- ^ Rosa, Francis (January 5, 1986). "NOTHING DYNAMIC IN DYNAMO GAME". Boston Globe. p. 80.
- ^ Tripi, Bob (December 30, 1985). "The Detroit Red Wings fired Coach Harry Neale today..." United Press International. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- New York Times. 1985-12-31. p. A12. Retrieved 2024-01-30.
- ^ Tripi, Bob. "The burden now falls on Brad Park to do... - UPI Archives". United Press International. Retrieved 2023-08-20.
- ^ "Brad Park was fired Tuesday as coach and director... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2023-08-20.