Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia Counts Down to 2012 Winter Classic

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia will provide comprehensive coverage of the Philadelphia Flyers’ preparation for the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, pitting the Flyers against the Rangers at Citizens Bank Park on January 2, 2012. Comcast SportsNet will air daily Countdown to a Classic reports in SportsNite beginning on Sunday, December 25, plus two 30-minute specials recounting the history between the teams and previewing the games.

In addition to airing the Legends game, Comcast SportsNet will air live pre and postgame programs for both the Legends game and the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic game. The Comcast Network will air the Adirondack Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears from Citizens Bank Park on Friday, January 6.

Countdown to A Classic
Beginning on Sunday, December 25, Comcast SportsNet will air daily Countdown to a Classic segments in SportsNite and Daily News Live. These segments will feature little known Winter Classic facts, trivia, interviews with past players, ballpark preparations, etc.

Comcast SportsNet will also air two “Countdown to a Classic” half-hour specials on Sunday, December 25 at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. and Sunday, January 1 at 7 p.m. and 11:30 p.m. The December 25 program will be hosted by John Boruk and Lisa Hillary, and will focus on the history and traditions surrounding this yearly outdoor game.  The January 1 program, hosted by Jim Jackson and Lisa Hillary, will examine the storylines leading up to the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic.

The Orange Line
Comcast SportsNet’s weekly Flyers magazine show, The Orange Line will focus on the Winter Classic.  On Monday, December 26 at 7 p.m. host Lisa Hillary will examine the Flyers/Rangers Rivalry as the two franchises get set to meet in the Winter Classic, plus fans will get an inside look at the making of Ilya Bryzgalov’s Winter Classic mask and former Flyer Jeremy Roenick talks about his return to Philadelphia for the Legends Game.  The Orange Line airing on Tuesday, January 3 at 7 p.m. will recap all the events around the Winter Classic.

Behind Enemy Lines
Comcast SportsNet will go Behind Enemy Lines with the Madison Square Garden Network on SportsNite beginning on Friday, December 30 and continue through Monday, January 2.  Fans will hear from Rangers’ insiders, beat writers, etc. to get the inside scoop on the Rangers’ preparation for the game.

Legends Game Coverage
Comcast SportsNet will broadcast the Legends game on Saturday, December 31 at 1 p.m. pitting the Philadelphia Flyers alumni, including Comcast SportsNet’s Rick Tocchet, plus Eric Lindros, Marc Recchi, and Bernie Parent, against the New York Rangers Alumni featuring Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, and John Vanbiesbrouck. Live coverage begins with Flyers Pregame Live at 12:30 featuring John Boruk, Lisa Hillary, Al Morganti, and Bill Clement.  Calling the game on Comcast SportsNet will be Flyers broadcaster Jim Jackson and NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes with Steve Coates and Al Trautwig reporting from the Flyers and Rangers’ benches, respectively.  Flyers Postgame Live will air immediately after the game.

Winter Classic Day of Game Coverage
Comcast SportsNet will air Flyers Pregame Live with Michael Barkann, Rick Tocchet, Steve Coates, Jackson, Boruk, Hillary, Morganti, and Clement live from Citizens Bank Park beginning at Noon on Monday, January 2. NBC will carry the game live at 1 p.m. with Comcast SportsNet’s Flyers Postgame Live airing immediately following the game. Bill Clement will host a chat on CSNPhilly.com during the Winter Classic game broadcast.

2010 Winter Classic Replay
On Saturday, December 31 at 6:30 p.m. and Monday, January 2 at 10 a.m., Comcast SportsNet will replay the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic featuring the Flyers vs. Bruins from Fenway Park.

Phantoms Game
The Comcast Network will air the Adirondack Phantoms vs. Hershey Bears game from Citizens Bank Park on Friday, January 6 at 7 p.m.  Former Phantoms radio voice Brian Smith and Philadelphia Flyer forward Ian Laperriere will call the game.

CSNPhilly.com
Fans can log onto www.csnphilly.com/winterclassic for analysis and predictions from Tim Panaccio, Bill Clement, Steve Coates, Jim Jackson, Sarah Baicker, and others. Plus fans will hear from Flyers Alumni, get Winter Classic tailgating tips, discuss the best places to watch the game, and many other fun ideas around the Winter Classic.