RELATED: [NHL optimistic about future in China | China Games part of long-term plan to grow hockey]
Fans will experience the momentous trip from the perspectives of Canucks and Kings players, including their international flight accommodations; cultural explorations of the Shanghai fabric market, Beijing Street Food Tour and Great Wall of China; and interactions with youth hockey players and fans in attendance for the preseason games. The special also will feature exclusive glimpses of the preparations for the historic games; interviews with members of the Canucks and Kings organizations; and mic'd up content from players, coaches, and officials on and off the ice.
"The NHL China Games were an incredible cultural experience for our players, on and off the ice," said Steve Mayer, NHL Chief Content Officer and Executive Vice President, and Executive Producer of NHL CHINA GAMES ALL ACCESS. "For the Canucks and Kings players, the opportunity to help bring the game of hockey to China and explore the incredible cities of Beijing and Shanghai was unforgettable, resulting in meaningful and engaging content we can't wait to share with our fans in North America."
The matchups on Sept. 21 at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Shanghai and Sept. 23 at Huaxi LIVE Wukesong's Le Sports Center in Beijing were the first NHL preseason games held in China. The 2017 NHL China Games presented by O.R.G. Packaging advanced the NHL's commitment to grow the game globally, while furthering the League's international strategy and long-term business plans in China.
With a population of more than 1.3 billion, China is committed to hockey and expects to expand its participation in all winter sports to 300 million people by 2022. The League plans to work side-by-side with sports bureaus across China in developing grassroots hockey programs, supporting local youth hockey and hockey development at all levels. The NHL also will look to develop programs that provide schools with training and instructional content to implement these impactful hockey programs that promote physical education, sportsmanship, teamwork and fitness through participation in hockey.
Sportsnet will re-air NHL CHINA GAMES ALL ACCESS on the following dates (all times Eastern): Monday, Oct. 2, at 9 p.m. on Sportsnet; Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Sportsnet and SN1, respectively; and Thursday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. on SN360. NHL Network's encore presentations of the special are set for Tuesday, Oct. 3, at 11 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 4, at 8:30 a.m. and 8 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 7, at 6 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 8, at 11:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m.
