CFL.ca Staff
EDMONTON –The Canada West Universities Athletic Association and Shaw Communications have agreed on a new deal that will see Canada West football games broadcast live on Shaw Television stations across western Canada over the next two seasons, including the 74th Hardy Cup final in the fall of 2010.
Opening week will feature a Saturday, September 4th match-up between the two-time defending Hardy Cup champion Calgary Dinos and the Saskatchewan Huskies in a rematch of the 2009 classic conference final also seen live on Shaw TV. The game goes at 7:00 p.m. Mountain Time from McMahon Stadium in Calgary.
The Dinos edged the Huskies 39-38 in last year’s final when a last-second field goal attempt by Saskatchewan went awry. Last fall’s season-opening broadcast saw Saskatchewan hand Calgary its only defeat of the regular season, a 34-33 shootout victory decided when Dinos head coach Blake Nill made a bold, but unsuccessful two-point attempt for the win in the extra session.
Shaw will broadcast six conference season match-ups, covering all six Canada West teams, with full coverage of at least one semifinal contest on November 6th and the Hardy Cup final on Saturday, November 13th.
“Shaw is pleased to renew our agreement with Canada West Athletics for two more years, to provide coverage of CIS Football on Shaw TV throughout western Canada,” said Alex Park, Vice President of Interactive Advertising and Programming for Shaw Communications. “Our customers have come to expect excellence in amateur sports coverage from Shaw and we have worked hard to improve our coverage each year. Western Canada needs every opportunity to celebrate our athletes and this is a great partnership to accomplish this.”
Other head-to-head battles through 2010 include a top Prairie battle when Alberta travel to Manitoba on September 11th, a rematch between the Huskies and Dinos in Saskatoon on October 15th and a meeting of provincial rivals Regina and Saskatchewan on October 29th.
“We are pleased to re-new our partnership with Shaw for another two years,” said Canada West Executive Director Val Schneider. “It has given us exposure throughout western Canada and is reflected in increased interest in Canada West football.”
Shaw TV and Canada West Athletics will continue with a broadcast schedule again in 2011, with games and dates to be announced next summer.
The complete Shaw TV / Canada West football “Game of the Week” schedule:
(Times are local)
Saturday, Sept. 4th: Saskatchewan at Calgary, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 11th: Alberta at Manitoba, 2:00 p.m.
Friday, Sept. 24th: Regina at UBC, 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 15th: Calgary at Saskatchewan, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 23rd: Manitoba at Alberta, 1:00 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 29th: Regina at Saskatchewan, 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 6th: Canada West semifinal
Saturday, Nov. 13th: 74th Hardy Cup
