TSN has partnered with Molson Sports & Entertainment to broadcast 40 Toronto Maple Leaf games during the 2003-04 season, eight of which will be televised nationally.
TSN’s Molson Canadian Leaf Hockey 32-game regional broadcast schedule hits the ice on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET as the Leafs head to New Jersey to take on the defending Stanley Cup champion Devils. Other highlights from TSN’s regional schedule include a rematch of last year’s Eastern Conference quarter-final with Toronto @ Philadelphia on March 18, two trips down the QEW to face the Buffalo Sabres (October 30 and April 2) and one game each against Edmonton (November 20), Calgary (January 13) and Ottawa (February 5). (See schedule below.)
TSN’s eight game national Maple Leafs schedule gets underway on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 8 p.m. ET with Toronto @ Dallas as Leaf goalie Ed Belfour faces his former teammates. Other highlights include a highly anticipated all-Canadian cross-conference match-up featuring the two biggest markets in the country with Vancouver @ Toronto on November 24, and a visit to Anaheim to face the Stanley Cup finalists on November 12.
TSN’s coverage of the Leafs also features six match-ups against the
Northeast Division rival Boston Bruins (one national, five regional).
“TSN continues to enjoy a solid relationship with Molson and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd., providing Leaf fans with top-notch coverage,” says Keith Pelley, President, TSN. “TSN is passionate about hockey. We’re dedicated to providing viewers with original, entertaining and comprehensive hockey coverage all season long.”
Joe Bowen and Harry Neale return to the broadcast booth to handle the play-by-play and colour commentary, respectively, for 38 Toronto Maple Leafs games this season while TSN’s Gord Miller and Pierre McGuire will call two national Leafs games (November 24 and December 2).
“Once again, we are very happy to be with TSN to produce Molson Canadian Leaf Hockey,” says Jo-Ann McArthur, president, Molson Sports & Entertainment. “Molson Sports & Entertainment has been producing hockey telecasts for the past 50 years. Our experience, combined with our innovative approach and fresh new ideas, allows us to keep the experience
exciting and entertaining for the viewers.”
Molson That’s Hockey, Leaf Edition will continue to air prior to TSN Leaf telecasts. Hosted by Dave Hodge, the show includes features, interviews, in-depth analysis, a preview of the evening’s upcoming game, and up-to-the-minute scores from around the NHL.
Throughout the season, NHL Network will be televising encore presentations of TSN’s Leaf telecasts the following morning at 2 a.m. ET. NHL On The Fly, the network’s signature show, returns to the airwaves in early October with hosts Dan Pollard and Todd Lewis. Airing nightly in prime time, NHL On The Fly features live look-ins to NHL games in progress, breaking news, highlights, interviews, pre- and post-game reports, team press conferences and expert analysis from hockey veterans such as Gary Green, Neil Smith and Dave Reid.
TSN’s regional Leafs broadcasts are available in the Toronto Maple Leafs broadcast region, defined by the NHL as all of Ontario west of a line drawn roughly north from Brighton to Petawawa.
TSN’s 2003-04 Toronto Maple Leafs Broadcast Schedule
October
Thursday, Oct. 16 Toronto @ New Jersey 7:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Oct. 22 Toronto @ Dallas 8 p.m. ET
National
Thursday, Oct. 23 Toronto @ Phoenix 9 p.m. ET
Monday, Oct. 27 Atlanta @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Oct. 30 Toronto @ Buffalo 7 p.m. ET
November
Tuesday, Nov. 4 Pittsburgh @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, Nov. 7 Toronto @ New Jersey 7:30 p.m. ET
National
Wednesday, Nov. 12 Toronto @ Anaheim 10:30 p.m.
ET National
Thursday, Nov. 13 Toronto @ Los Angeles 10:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Nov. 20 Toronto @ Edmonton 9 p.m. ET
Monday, Nov. 24 Vancouver @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
National
December
Tuesday, Dec. 2 NY Rangers @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
National
Thursday, Dec. 4 Toronto @ Boston 7 p.m. ET
Thursday, Dec. 11 Toronto @ Minnesota 8 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 19 Toronto @ Washington 7 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Dec. 23 Florida @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, Dec. 26 Toronto @ NY Rangers 7 p.m. ET
January
Thursday, Jan. 1 Toronto @ Boston 7 p.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 5 Toronto @ Pittsburgh 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Jan. 6 Nashville @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Jan. 13 Calgary @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Jan. 20 NY Islanders @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Jan. 21 Toronto @ Washington 7 p.m. ET
National
Tuesday, Jan. 27 Carolina @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Friday, Jan. 30 Toronto @ Atlanta 7:30 p.m. ET
National
February
Tuesday, Feb. 3 Chicago @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Feb. 5 Toronto @ Ottawa 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Feb. 10 Toronto @ Tampa Bay 7 p.m. ET
Thursday, Feb. 12 Columbus @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Feb. 17 Boston @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
National
Thursday, Feb. 19 Toronto @ Carolina 7 p.m. ET
Wednesday, Feb. 25 Toronto @ Florida 7:30 p.m. ET
March
Tuesday, Mar. 2 Boston @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Mar. 4 NY Islanders @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Mar. 9 Florida @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Mar. 16 Boston @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Mar. 18 Toronto @ Philadelphia 8 p.m. ET
Tuesday, Mar. 23 Tampa Bay @ Toronto 7:30 p.m. ET
Thursday, Mar. 25 Toronto @ Boston 7 p.m. ET
April
Friday, Apr. 2 Toronto @ Buffalo 8 p.m. ET
Schedule subject to change