Beginning Friday, Jan. 14, cable network NESN will begin broadcasting a feature-oriented half-hour television show entitled “Inside Hockey East,” which will air twice every Friday night, before and after NESN’s live coverage of Hockey East game action.
NESN’s Friday Night Ice package begins this week, but “Inside Hockey East” will make its first appearance next week at 6 p.m. Each installment of the show will be hosted at a particular Hockey East campus and will include player features, news from around the league and behind-the-scenes looks at personalities and events.
The show will also have interactive features like skill tips from Hockey East coaches and mystery alumni challenges. A total of six different installments will be produced, running from Jan. 14 to April 1, with new shows debuting every other week.
“We’re really looking forward to exposing our league through this new broadcasting endeavor,” said Hockey East Commissioner Joe Bertagna. “This is a great opportunity for Hockey East to captivate fans, new and old, who are looking for hockey programming during the NHL lockout.”
Cod Rock Media Productions, based in Kittery, Maine, will produce the show. Eric Frede, a familiar name in the Boston broadcasting community who has plenty of experience with Hockey East, will host each show. Cod Rock co-founder Dan Hannigan, the long-time play-by-play announcer for the Maine Black Bears’ radio broadcasts, will also be heavily involved in the show’s production.
Broadcast team Tom Caron and Andy Brickley will be joined by sideline reporter Corey Masse for NESN’s Hockey East Friday Night Ice package, which commences its second year starting this Friday. Included is a Jan. 14 matchup between Beanpot rivals Boston College and Boston University, and a final weekend game between 2004 Frozen Four participants BC and Maine.
2004-05 Friday Night Ice package on NESN
Fri., Jan. 7, 7:00 p.m. Boston University at Northeastern
Fri., Jan. 14, 7:00 p.m. Boston University at Boston College
Fri., Jan. 21, 7:00 p.m. Boston University at Maine
Fri., Jan. 28, 7:00 p.m. New Hampshire at UMass Lowell
Fri., Feb. 4, 7:00 p.m. Boston College at Providence
Fri., Feb. 11, 7:00 p.m. Massachusetts at New Hampshire
Wed., Feb. 16, 7:00 p.m. UNH at Merrimack (special edition)
Fri., Feb. 18, 7:00 p.m. Boston University at Massachusetts
Fri., Feb. 25, 7:00 p.m. New Hampshire at Boston College
Fri., Mar. 4, 7:00 p.m. Maine at Boston College
March 10-13, TBA Selected men’s quarterfinal matches
Sun., Mar. 13, TBA Women’s Championship Game
Fri., Mar. 18, 5:00 p.m. Men’s Semifinal I — FleetCenter
Fri., Mar. 18, 8:00 p.m. Men’s Semifinal II — FleetCenter
Sat., Mar. 19, 7:00 p.m. Men’s Championship Game from the FleetCenter
