Canadians have better access to Hockey Day in America than Americans

We saw the effort made by the NHL Network in the States to carry most, but not all, of Hockey Day in Canada last week. Now let's see how well Canadians can see Hockey Day in America.

Pittsburgh @ Buffalo
If you get a NBC affiliate from Boston, Buffalo, or Burlington, VT (Montréal viewers), you will see this game. Those living in Eastern Ontario through the Maritimes likely get at least one NBC feed from this area.

St. Louis @ Chicago
This game is available on TSN2 (sim subbing the NBC feed). If your primary NBC feed comes from Minneapolis, you won't have to worry about TSN2.

San Jose @ Detroit
This game is available on most NBC stations (outside Minneapolis) from Detroit west to the Pacific Ocean. So if your NBC station comes from Detroit, Spokane, Denver, or Seattle, this is your game. If not, you could watch the game on NHL Network Canada.

Boston @ Minnesota — the late game — is available coast-to-coast on every NBC station and TSN2.

Perfect? Pretty darn close. Your cable or satellite system may vary, and a lot of this depends on whether you get more than one NBC feed. If you get NBC stations from Detroit/Buffalo or Seattle/Buffalo or Boston/Detroit and you have TSN2, all you needed were snacks and drinks.

Even with one NBC feed and TSN2, you get at least 2 games on your TV. Americans can only get one on their TV regardless of where they live.

While American viewers can stream the games of their choice, flipping back and forth would cause a headache, and even then, you still wouldn't be as well off as Canadians. Though, Americans don't need cable to get their one game.

NBC could have offered the other feeds on digital subchannels, but for whatever reason, that technology has been underutilized on both sides of the border.

While some in the States still can't get the NHL Network, Canadians with cable can get an NBC station and most get TSN2. Those Canadians that get multiple network affiliates from the States on cable are in great shape.

Regardless on which side of the border you live on, if you are picking up Pittsburgh @ Buffalo, you will get the treat of watching the TSN crew of Gord Miller and Ray Ferraro. Ferraro has worked for NBC in the past and Miller has filled in on what was then Versus. Besides, Miller and Ferraro will barely be in the United States. From the HSBC Arena, you really can see Canada.

Former CBC play-by-play guy Ken Daniels and TSN analyst Darren Pang will call San Jose @ Detroit. Daniels will have the hometown call since he is the voice of the Red Wings. Pang's home club, St. Louis, will be in Chicago where NBCSN's second crew, Dave Strader and Brian Engblom, will call the action. The #1 crew — Doc, Edzo, and Pierre — will be in St. Paul for the late game.

Meanwhile, Canadians able to access CBC via antenna or cable, and those lucky Americans along the border got every second of Hockey Day in Canada coverage, which was more than Americans got on the NHL Network.

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For the second of two years in a row, a Canadian-based team plays in the evening on U.S. TV. Last year, Hockey Day in America overshadowed the Heritage Classic in Calgary. This year, the Canadiens get that honor as they host the New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre.

Also, like last year, the Canadian game is broadcast on CBC yet Versus/NBCSN have sent a crew to Canada. John Forslund and Andy Brickley will call the game for the NBCSN, since the network has no one left (still better than Joe Beninati). Forslund and Brickley have both been to the Bell Centre this week, as the Canadiens played Forslund's team on Monday (Carolina) and Brickley's team on Wednesday (Boston).

If you are going to truly celebrate Hockey Day in America, and since Canada is part of America, then NBCSN should let the CBC do what it does best, and show Bob Cole and Garry Galley doing the game for the CBC.

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When NBCSN was in Montréal on Wednesday, Pierre McGuire hung out with the visiting goalie, since RDS controls the traditional Inside the Glass area. Since CBC is also carrying Sunday's game, we will see if Brickley is anywhere on the floor since he will have trouble finding a spot. There won't be enough room to hang out with Glenn Healy and Martin Brodeur's backup.

Comments

[Mario T]

If you are going to truly celebrate Hockey Day in America, and since Canada is part of America," wait whaaa? Last i heard Canada was its own country, contrary to the belief of the Americans.............. we are part of the North american continant yeah, but are NOT in any shape or form part of the USA

[Chad]

Canadians I talk to deride the United States for calling themselves "America." I was just reflecting that perceived reality. When Mark Lee signed on for HDIC from Pittsburgh, he pointed out that Hockey Day in Canada was in America, so to speak.