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May 18, 2021 – Game on, hockey fans! As the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs gets into full swing this week and four Canadian teams begin their hunt for hockey’s Holy Grail, Sportsnet is inviting fans to go beyond the on-ice action with new exclusive original content and fan-favourite NHL Fantasy games. Complementing the network’s exclusive English-language national coverage of every game from every round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, these Sportsnet experiences will bring casual and hard-core hockey fans closer to the action in innovative and engaging ways.

“As Canada’s home of the NHL, we’re always looking for new opportunities to create connections with hockey fans across the country,” said Andrew Sutherland, Vice President, Marketing, Creative & Original Content, Sportsnet. “Through our original content initiatives and established fantasy games, we are providing engaging second-screen interactions for fans to share in together and experience the incredible energy of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in a completely unique way.”

Launching throughout the Playoffs, Sportsnet’s original content and fantasy games will be available across sportsnet.ca, the Sportsnet app, Sportsnet’s TV, streaming and social media channels.

Sportsnet Original Content

All new for 2021, Sportsnet’s original content offerings round out the viewer experience and provide creative ways for fans to get their hockey fix 24/7 throughout the NHL post-season. Original content initiatives on Sportsnet include:

Kes’ House

NHL alum Ryan Kesler is having a party… and everyone’s invited! In time for the Stanley Cup Playoffs Conference Finals, the former Canucks star’s home in Michigan is being transformed into the ultimate Hockey Hangout. As the hosts with the most, Kesler and Sportsnet are serving up a content mix of watch parties, storytelling and exclusive conversations. Combine all this with unpredictable celebrity drop-ins, and Canada’s hockey fans are in for an unforgettable Stanley Cup Playoffs experience at Kes’ House!

Starting during the Stanley Cup Conference Finals, fans can catch the latest from Kes’ House across all Sportsnet platforms, including Sportsnet’s TV and streaming channels, sportsnet.ca, the Sportsnet app and Sportsnet’s YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Watch a Game with Dangle

Take in the Toronto Maple Leafs post-season stretch with Steve Dangle, Lord of Leafs Nation. Available on Sportsnet’s YouTube channel starting May 20 for Game 1 of the Leafs-Canadiens series, fans can follow along with Dangle and special guests as they react, rant and rave their way through select Leafs games along the road to the Stanley Cup.

The Cup Keeper’s Stories

In a recurring post-season segment, host Christine Simpson takes a walk down memory lane with Hockey Hall of Fame curator and keeper of the Stanley Cup, Phil Pritchard. Reminiscing about champions of yore and hockey folklore, Pritchard offers a collection of his favourite Stanely Cup tales. The Cup Keeper’s Stories segments will be available throughout Sportsnet’s post-season coverage on TV and streaming channels.

The Show with Shawn McKenzie

Launching in time for the NHL post-season, reporter Shawn McKenzie is striking out on his own in the new digital series, The Show with Shawn McKenzie. In a weekly series that defies simple explanation, McKenzie explores the week in sports, challenges his Sportsnet colleagues on everything from fashion to footraces and everything in between. Episode One and Two are now available, with new episodes of The Show available every Sunday on Sportsnet’s YouTube channel.   

Also on Sportsnet.ca & Sportsnet App

• 31 Thoughts – Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek continue to serve up insights and interviews on 31 Thoughts: The Podcast presented by GMC available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Sportsnet.ca.
• On Social – Real-time highlights, headlines and insider news on Sportsnet’s YouTube, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook

NHL Fantasy Games

Returning to entertain and challenge hockey fans throughout the Playoff run, Sportsnet and its partners are giving fans the opportunity to win more than $160,000 in cash and prizes with two popular fantasy games:

Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey Playoffs Bracket

A bona fide fan-favourite, the Sportsnet Fantasy Hockey Playoffs Bracket gives Canada’s hockey fans a chance to test their luck as they select series favourites from the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final. Open for registration now, this fantasy game boasts more than $30,000 in case and prizes, including a $10,000 grand prize for the winning bracket. Fans can create brackets following each round online at sportsnet.ca/bracket.

Sportsnet Hockey Predictor, Powered by RAM

Returning for its second post-season, the Sportsnet Hockey Predictor gives fans the chance to make bold, split-second predictions in real-time on the Sportsnet app while watching live games on TV. Live from the start of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs to the hoisting of Lord Stanley’s Mug, fans can play Sportsnet Hockey Predictor multiple times throughout each game broadcast, increasing their changes to win the grand prize – a new RAM 1500 Rebel truck – or daily cash prizes of $1000. Complete details, including instructions and rules, are available on the Sportsnet app or sportsnet.ca/predictor.

As the exclusive home of national English-language coverage of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Sportsnet will deliver every game of every series of the NHL post-season. For live updates, breaking news and expert analysis, visit sportsnet.ca or the Sportsnet app. For full NHL on Sportsnet broadcast details, visit sportsnet.ca/schedule.

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About Sportsnet

Sportsnet is Canada’s #1 sports network. Uniting Canadians through sport, Sportsnet’s multimedia offerings include Sportsnet (consisting of 4 regional channels: East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360, Sportsnet World, the Sportsnet Radio Network, Sportsnet.ca, Sportsnet NOW, SN NOW+, the Sportsnet app, and podcasts. Sportsnet is the official Canadian NHL national multiplatform rights holder, and is the regional broadcaster for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Sportsnet also has extensive coverage of the Toronto Blue Jays and Toronto Raptors, as well as NBA, MLB, Grand Slam of Curling, National Bank Open, CHL, IndyCar, WWE, Super League Rugby, Premiership Rugby, Bundesliga, FA Women’s Super League, and FA Cup. Sportsnet is part of Rogers Sports & Media, which is a subsidiary of Rogers Communications Inc. (TSX, NYSE: RCI). Visit Sportsnet.ca.