BREAKING NEWS: Peter Puck Returns to Hockey Night in Canada!!!!

I apologize for not posting links this week. I've been quite busy at work and I've been doing stuff for work and it's been taking time out of blogging. But when something breaks, I'm all over it.

For instance, the return of Hockey Night in Canada which will be seen in the US on NHL Network this season. And to top it all off, Peter Puck returns to the NHL with 26 new episodes on HNIC! I talked about this two years ago when former analyst Brian MacFarlane was hoping to bring back the animated character to TV. It's now come into fruition and I look forward to seeing the little guy return to HNIC later this month. Here's the release.

GOODBYE SUMMER! CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA RETURNS WITH AN ACTION-PACKED 57^TH SEASON

Legendary Don Cherry celebrates 30 years on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada; Guy Carbonneau, Kevin Weekes and Glenn Healy added to broadcast team; Peter Puck returns to CBC

Get ready hockey fans! CBC's unprecedented 57th regular season returns on Saturday, Sept. 26^th, with a special pre-season matchup between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, starting at 6:30 p.m. ET with Hockey Tonight hosted by Ron MacLean. Then, the regular season gets in full swing on Thursday, Oct. 1 with a special all-Canadian doubleheader starting with a special edition of Hockey Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, followed by the Leafs and Canadiens as well as the Canucks and Flames at 10 p.m. ET. Saturday, Oct. 3 features another game addition—a live broadcast from Stockholm, Sweden featuring the Detroit Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues on Saturday, Oct. 3 at 3 p.m. ET, followed by a full slate of evening games. CBC’s season is highlighted by the biggest games all year long, including 25 all-Canadian tilts, the 2010 NHL Winter Classic, the Canadiens 100^th Anniversary Game on Friday, Dec. 4, four appearances from the 2009 Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins, and the much-anticipated 10^th annual HOCKEY DAY IN CANADA broadcasting from Stratford, Ontario on Saturday, Jan. 30. Additional games have also been added throughout the season featuring the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames (please see updated broadcast schedule attached).

The program will celebrate an important milestone later this season, as the popular and impeccably dressed Don Cherry, host of Coach’s Corner on CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA, marks his 30^th season with CBC. The Kingston, Ont. native debuted in April, 1980, and has since become a national icon with his intimate knowledge of the game; entertaining and enthralling Canadians with his commentary every Saturday night.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA today also announced the addition of Guy Carbonneau, Kevin Weekes and Glenn Healey to the all-star lineup of commentators and play-by-play talent for the 2009-10 season.

Three-time Stanley Cup winner and Frank J. Selke Trophy recipient, Guy Carbonneau, joins the lineup as an analyst during Montreal Canadiens broadcasts throughout the year. The former captain (1989-94) and head coach (2006-09) of the Habs will provide viewers with an in-depth knowledge of the historic franchise and its players.

Netminder Kevin Weekes will serve as a Western Conference analyst alongside play-by-play man Mark Lee. The Scarborough native has always been known as an astute observer of the game and adds a veteran player’s perspective to the booth. Weekes’ career spanned 348 regular season games, manning the nets for Vancouver, Carolina, Florida, Tampa Bay, the New York Islanders and the New York Rangers in addition to the New Jersey Devils—reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 as a member of the Hurricanes.

A former NHL player, hockey broadcaster and NHLPA Executive, Glenn Healy will appear between-the-benches as an analyst on broadcasts featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs, as well a pre-game and Hot Stove commentator. His extensive contacts and experience on multiple levels of professional hockey will add another valuable layer of insight to the already reputable cast.

Plus—this season, CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA is bringing home a classic with a twist. Peter Puck animated cartoons will be produced and aired in HD beginning Saturday, Oct. 3 as part of Hockey Tonight. This all-new 26-part series will focus on interesting and unique stories of players and remarkable moments in hockey.

Returning this season are all the special segments that hockey fans know and love. Every Saturday night leads off with Hockey Tonight and includes Inside Hockey with Eilliotte Friedman telling stories of the people and places that shape the game of hockey. A CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA mainstay, Coach’s Corner returns for its 22^nd season every Saturday night during the first intermission of Game One. During the second intermission of Game One The Hotstove is back with more candid debate and discussion of the current issues from around the NHL. Pierre LeBrun, Al Strachan, Mike Milbury will all be regular contributors. Coast-To-Coast also returns with Mike Milbury and Kelly Hrudey joining Ron MacLean. In the second intermission of Game Two, Up-to-the-Minute, keeps fans abreast of all of the night’s scores and highlights from around the league. At 1 a.m. ET, After Hours with Scott Oake, the one-of-a-kind post-game show, caps off the full night of hockey with live, in-depth post-game interviews featuring NHL players and personalities.

Canadians will be able to experience the program online with live and on-demand online video streaming of all games, including Punjabi-language broadcasts with Parminder Singh handling play-by-play duties and Harnarayan Singh providing analysis. Online streaming of Hockey Tonight and CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada I-Desk (hosted by Scott Morrison and Jeff Marek) will also return. CBCSports.ca is the destination for hockey fans, featuring weekly columns from personalities, breaking news, in-depth reports, interactive features, broadcast schedules and more.

For hockey fans who can’t wait until Saturday nights to get their CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA fix, HNIC Radio on SIRIUS hits the airwaves on SIRIUS Satellite Radio’s Channel 122 on Monday, Sept. 28 and will air Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. ET. Host Jeff Marek, one of sports talk radio’s brightest stars, will return alongside rotating co-hosts Kelly Hrudey, Elliotte Friedman and Scott Morrison. HNIC Radio features intelligent hockey talk, insight and debate, keeping fans up-to-date on all the breaking news and issues from the world of hockey.

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. With 28 services offered on Radio, Television, the Internet, satellite radio, digital audio, as well as through its record and music distribution service and wireless WAP and SMS messaging services, CBC/Radio-Canada is available how, where, and when Canadians want it.

CBC’S HOCKEY NIGHT IN CANADA

UPDATED 2009-10 BROADCAST SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE/DISTRIBUTION TBD

Saturday, Sept. 26 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Detroit at Toronto (pre-season)

Thursday, Oct. 1 7 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7:15 p.m. ET Montreal at Toronto

10 p.m. ET Vancouver at Calgary

Saturday, Oct. 3 3 p.m. ET St. Louis at Detroit (from Stockholm, Sweden)

6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Washington

7 p.m. ET Montreal at Buffalo

7 p.m. ET Ottawa at New York Rangers

10 p.m. ET Calgary at Edmonton

Saturday, Oct. 10 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Pittsburgh at Toronto

10 p.m. ET Montreal at Edmonton

Saturday, Oct. 17 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET New York Rangers at Toronto

7 p.m. ET Ottawa at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Minnesota at Vancouver

Saturday, Oct. 24 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Vancouver

7 p.m. ET New York Rangers at Montreal

7 p.m. ET Boston at Ottawa

10 p.m. ET Edmonton at Calgary

Saturday, Oct. 31 2 p.m. ET Atlanta at Ottawa

6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Detroit at Calgary

Saturday, Nov. 7 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Detroit at Toronto (2009 Hall of Fame Game)

7 p.m. ET Tampa Bay at Montreal

7 p.m. ET New Jersey at Ottawa

10 p.m. ET New York Rangers at Calgary

Saturday, Nov. 14 2 p.m. ET NY Rangers at Ottawa

6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Calgary at Toronto

10 p.m. ET Vancouver at Colorado

Saturday, Nov. 21 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Washington at Toronto

7 p.m. ET Detroit at Montreal

7 p.m. ET Buffalo at Ottawa

10 p.m. ET Chicago at Edmonton

Saturday, Nov. 28 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Washington at Montreal

7 p.m. ET Ottawa at Boston

7 p.m. ET Calgary at Columbus

10 p.m. ET Edmonton at Vancouver

Friday, Dec. 4 7 p.m. ET Boston at Montreal (Canadiens 100^th Anniversary)

Saturday, Dec. 5 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Boston

10 p.m. ET Calgary at San Jose

Saturday, Dec. 12 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Washington at Toronto

7 p.m. ET Carolina at Ottawa

7 p.m. ET Montreal at Atlanta

10 p.m. ET Minnesota at Vancouver

Saturday, Dec. 19 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Boston at Toronto

7 p.m. ET Montreal at NY Islanders

7 p.m. ET Minnesota at Ottawa

10 p.m. ET Washington at Edmonton

Saturday, Dec. 26 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Montreal at Toronto

10 p.m. ET Edmonton at Vancouver

Friday, Jan. 1 12:30 p.m. ET NHL Winter Classic Pre-game

1 p.m. ET Philadelphia at Boston – NHL Winter Classic

Saturday, Jan. 2 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Calgary

10 p.m. ET Edmonton at San Jose

Saturday, Jan. 9 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Pittsburgh at Toronto

7 p.m. ET New Jersey at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Calgary at Vancouver

Saturday, Jan. 16 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Ottawa at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Pittsburgh at Vancouver

Saturday, Jan. 23 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Florida

7 p.m. ET New York Rangers at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Chicago at Vancouver

Saturday, Jan. 30 12 p.m. ET Hockey Day in Canada

2 p.m. ET Montreal at Ottawa

5 p.m. ET Hockey Day in Canada

6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Vancouver at Toronto

10 p.m. ET Edmonton at Calgary

Saturday, Feb. 6 2 p.m. ET Pittsburgh at Montreal

6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Ottawa at Toronto

7 p.m. ET Calgary at Tampa Bay

10 p.m. ET Edmonton at Colorado

Sunday, Feb. 7 3 p.m. ET Boston at Montreal

Saturday, Feb. 13 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Philadelphia at Montreal

7 p.m. ET Ottawa at Detroit

10 p.m. ET Anaheim at Calgary

Saturday, March 6 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Ottawa

10 p.m. ET Montreal at Los Angeles

Saturday, March 13 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Edmonton at Toronto

7 p.m. ET Boston at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Ottawa at Vancouver

Saturday, March 20 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Montreal at Toronto

10 p.m. ET Detroit at Vancouver

Saturday, March 27 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET New York Rangers at Toronto

7 p.m. ET New Jersey at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Vancouver at San Jose

Saturday, April 3 2 p.m. ET Ottawa at New York Islanders

6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Boston at Toronto

7 p.m. ET Buffalo at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Edmonton at Phoenix

Saturday, April 10 6:30 p.m. ET Hockey Tonight

7 p.m. ET Toronto at Montreal

10 p.m. ET Calgary at Vancouver

I hope to have links later today. Also, I have to catch up on press releases as well.