FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 22nd, 2016

CSN TO CARRY LIVE COVERAGE OF THE “2017 NHL WINTER CLASSIC ALUMNI GAME” FEATURING BLACKHAWKS VS. BLUES LEGENDS ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31 at 1:30 PM CT

CSN’s “2017 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game” coverage – featuring Blackhawks legends Troy Murray, Eric Daze, and Murray Bannerman among others vs. Blues legends Bernie Federko, Brett Hull AND “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky – takes place Saturday, December 31 at 1:30 PM CT LIVE from Busch Stadium in St. Louis, MO;

Live streaming of the “Winter Classic Alumni Game” will also be made available to authenticated CSN Chicago subscribers on CSNChicago.com and via the NBC Sports app

CSN & CSNChicago.com to also provide extensive coverage of the Monday, January 2 “2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic” Blackhawks vs. Blues battle via detailed reports and analysis from Pat Boyle and Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers

Chicago, IL (December 22, 2016) – CSN Chicago (CSN), the television home for the most games and the most comprehensive coverage of the current Western Conference-leading Chicago Blackhawks, has announced it will televise the outdoor 2017 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game from Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri LIVE on Saturday, December 31 at 1:30 PM CT.  Legendary alumni from the Blackhawks (including a colorful roster featuring Troy Murray, Eric Daze, Murray Bannerman, Steve Konroyd, Jamal Mayers, Daniel Carcillo, Jack O’Callahan and “coaches” Tony Esposito & Cliff Koroll, among others) will team up to battle their yesteryear counterparts from the St. Louis Blues (including team legends Bernie Federko, Brett Hull, Al MacInnis, Adam Oates, Chris Pronger, along with “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky, and many more) in the opening game of the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic weekend.

In addition, the “Winter Classic Alumni Game” will also be streamed LIVE on CSNChicago.com and available via the NBC Sports app on tablets and smart phones.  The live streaming service is currently available to customers of Comcast/Xfinity, DIRECTV, DISH Network, AT&T U-verse, Mediacom, RCN, WOW!, Time Warner Cable and Charter, among numerous other carriers.  For a full list of carriers and more information about CSN Chicago’s live streaming service, viewers are urged to visit the following link: csnchicago.com/live-faq.

The 2017 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game is an NHL production (airing live on both CSN Chicago and FOX Sports Midwest) that will feature FOX Sports Midwest’s Blues play-by-play announcer John Kelly and NHL Network game analyst Mike Rupp in the broadcast booth, along with CSN’s Blackhawks Pre/Postgame Live host Pat Boyle providing in-game, rink side reports/player interviews from the Blackhawks bench.

Fans can look forward to a unique viewing experience with numerous players mic’d up during the game (including Blackhawks legend Darren Pang), as well as historical Blackhawks vs. Blues “flashbacks” integrated throughout the telecast.  Intermission updates will be on site from Busch Stadium.  NOTE: CSN will be re-airing the 2017 NHL Winter Classic Alumni Game later the same evening at 7:00 PM on CSN+ (viewers are urged to visit CSNChicago.com’s CHANNEL FINDER for complete CSN+ channel location details).

Throughout the “2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic” weekend, CSNChicago.com’s “BlackhawksTalk” section (csnchicago.com/blackhawks) will be presenting extensive coverage of all the surrounding festivities with up-to-the-minute reports from Pat Boyle (@CSNBoyle) and via CSNChicago.com’s Blackhawks “Insider” Tracey Myers (@TramyersCSN), along with comprehensive pre/post-game reports from Blackhawks digital reporter Charlie Roumeliotis (@CRoumeliotis).  The “2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic” game between the Blackhawks and Blues will be carried live on NBC Sports on Monday, January 2 with live opening face-off coverage beginning at 12 NOON and CSN will provide complete post-game coverage details, highlights, interviews, and much more later that evening on SportsTalk Live at 5:30 PM and In the Loop at 6:00 PM.

From a social media standpoint, fans are urged to follow the network’s Blackhawks Twitter account (@CSNBlackhawks) and the network’s primary Twitter home (@CSNChicago) for up-to-the-second game details, clips, photos, and more. Plus, fans also get interactive during the game by utilizing the Twitter hashtag #HawksTalk.

CSN Chicago, a partnership between the Chicago Blackhawks (NHL), Chicago Bulls (NBA), Chicago Cubs (MLB), Chicago White Sox (MLB) and the NBC Sports Group, features over 275 live pro games in high definition each year.  In addition, CSN delivers extensive pre/post-game coverage for its core pro team partners, as well as the Chicago Bears, along with numerous entertaining local sports discussion/social media-focused programs via In the Loop and SportsTalk Live.  Through the network’s growing digital platform, CSNChicago.com, Chicago sports fans tap into the most comprehensive and dedicated 24/7 online destination for breaking news, up-to-the-minute game previews/recaps, highlights, multimedia video clips, and standout coverage from CSNChicago.com’s team of “Insiders.”  Follow the network on Twitter via @CSNChicago.

NBC Sports Regional Networks is NBC Sports Group’s portfolio of nine regional networks that delivers more than 2,200 live sporting events annually and original content to more than 43 million homes. Aligned within network groups in the East and West, the NBC Sports Regional Networks are: CSN New England, CSN Philadelphia, TCN, CSN Mid-Atlantic, SNY; and CSN Bay Area, CSN California, CSN Chicago, and CSN Northwest. For additional information, visit CSN.com. For more information on NBC Sports Group properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios, headshots and logos, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com

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