Sportsnet to Broadcast Canadian Women’s Hockey League Games
Sportsnet in Canada has agreed to a broadcast deal with the Canadian Women’s Hockey League.
The four-year deal, which starts this season, entails broadcasting three Clarkson Cup games – the CWHL’s playoff tournament – and special event games. The CWHL will also have a place on the Sportsnet website, which will include live scores.
Currently CWHL games are available for streaming for a one-time $10 fee on the CWHL website.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled that Sportsnet is on board to be our official Canadian playoff and special event broadcast partner,” said CWHL commissioner Brenda Andress. “This deal means unprecedented exposure for the female game, with more fans getting the chance to see our talented players in action, and more young girls getting inspired to lace up their skates and pick up a stick.”
Toronto Furies goaltender and CWHL co-founder Sami Jo Small told the Toronto Observer that the deal is a huge step in the right direction for professional women’s hockey.
“Showing more games on television will certainly expose our product to people right across the country which I think is really exciting,” she said. “People across the country have followed these players as they’ve grown up and played college hockey and now they can watch them play at the highest level.”
The Canadian Women’s Hockey League was founded in 2007. It is one of two major women’s ice hockey leagues in Canada. The CWHL currently has five hockey teams: two in Ontario (Brampton Thunder and Toronto Furies), One in Quebec (Montreal Stars), one in Albert (Calgary Inferno), and one in Boston, Massachusetts (Boston Blades).
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