Game at Wrigley Field Featuring the Chicago Blackhawks and the Detroit Red Wings Available on Jan. 1, 2009, at 1 p.m. ET

NHL fans who don’t want to miss a single shift of the upcoming Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic(TM) 2009 on New Year’s Day can tune into the game on their wireless phones with V CAST Video from Verizon Wireless, the two companies announced today.

At 1 p.m. ET on Jan. 1, the Chicago Blackhawks will host the Detroit Red Wings in the League’s annual outdoor game to be played this season at iconic Wrigley Field in Chicago. Verizon Wireless is teaming with the National Hockey League to bring both avid hockey fans and casual sports enthusiasts who want to be part of the historic event the opportunity to watch it on New Year’s Day. The game will be streamed in its entirety and can be found under the “What’s Hot” channel on V CAST Video.

“Bringing this once-a-year event to mobile customers is a great example of how compelling, long-form video content works on many different platforms,” said Tricia Lynch, director of content strategy and acquisition at Verizon. “Customers can watch the first period from their living rooms, then be sure they won’t miss the ending because they have V CAST on their mobile phones.”

“NHL fans are the most tech-savvy in all of sports,” said Andre Mika, the NHL’s senior vice president of broadband and new media production. “On a day when hockey fans across North America come together with the League to celebrate the game, we are thrilled to be able to offer these fans the opportunity to be part of the action on V CAST.”

The Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009 is the first time a major league sporting event in the United States will be shown as it happens on V CAST Video. Last year, the NHL Winter Classic, held in Buffalo, N.Y., was attended by more than 71,000 fans and millions more watched on national television across North America.

Customers with select V CAST-enabled phones can check out V CAST whenever they want for just $3.00 for 24-hour use or by signing up for the $15.00 V CAST VPak monthly subscription, which also includes access to the Verizon Wireless ESPN MVP service, Get It Now(R) and Mobile Web services. Customers get unlimited basic video, but application download fees may apply for 3D games and premium video. There are no airtime or megabyte charges to download, stream or watch V CAST content with any V CAST subscription.

For more information about video content from Verizon Wireless, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com.

Limited Number to be Auctioned for Cancer Research

Chicago Blackhawks’ Patrick Kane will unveil and use personally-designed skates and sticks during the upcoming Bridgestone NHL 2009 Winter Classic at Wrigley Field in Chicago on New Year’s Day.

Kane, working with designers and developers at Bauer Hockey, designed the skates and stick this past summer for exclusive use during the outdoor game. Only 88 skates and 88 sticks were created for this special event and Kane will personally sign and auction off a portion of the limited edition product to raise money for breast Cancer research in Chicago and his home town of Buffalo.

“It’s something I’ve been interested in from the beginning - designing your own skates and stick is a pretty unique experience,” Kane said. “It’s really exciting to look at a skate and design it to exactly how you want it to be made. To be able to give back to the community makes the whole experience even more special.”

The Nike Bauer Vapor XXXX skates designed by Kane feature the traditional black, white and red colors of the retro Blackhawks uniforms that will be worn during the game. The skates feature white patent leather tongues and a unique Patrick Kane logo exclusively created for the limited edition product. The word “Showtime” is printed on the tendon guard of the skate, referring to the high level of anticipation for the outdoor game as well as Kane’s exciting style of play. The Kane-designed Nike Bauer Supreme One95 stick is completely red and features the same logo design as well as a “Candy Kane” pattern to celebrate the holiday season. In addition, ‘Winter Classic PK88′ is written in the stick’s namebar to commemorate the memorable outdoor game.

“The skates and stick are the colors of the Blackhawks and should go well with the uniform, but at the same time, it’s a little bit of showtime,” Kane said. “Hopefully when I step out onto the ice, people will say ‘Oh wow, look at the skates Kane’s wearing.’ I’m fortunate enough to be the only one wearing these designs so it makes playing in the game even more exciting. You know the old saying, ‘Look good, feel good, play good.’”

Each skate and stick auctioned will be personally signed by Kane, individually numbered and accompanied by a letter of authenticity from Kane and Bauer Hockey. To access the online auction, which will run from Jan 1-10, 2009, visit Nikebauer.com

Bauer Hockey

Bauer Hockey is the world’s most recognized designer, marketer and manufacturer of hockey equipment and currently operates under the Nike Bauer Hockey name. Founded in Kitchener, Ontario in 1927, Bauer developed the first skate with a blade attached to a boot, forever changing the game of hockey. Since then, Bauer has continued to develop the most sought after products in the industry, including the widely successful Supreme and Vapor lines of products.

Tickets prices for 2008 NHL home-openers averaging nearly 25 percent more than in 2007

The National Hockey League began the 2009-10 season with international flair over the weekend and now fans across North America are ready to welcome the league back this week with a full-slate of games generating intense interest for tickets on the secondary market from RazorGator.

According to RazorGator, the industry-leader in security and service, prices for home-openers across the NHL this year are averaging $96 per ticket, almost a 25 percent increase from the home-opening games for each NHL team in 2007. Last year the average ticket price on RazorGator.com for NHL home- openers was $75. Overall, more NHL tickets are available to buy and sell online at RazorGator.com than at any other point in history.

As the gates open for regular season NHL hockey in North America this Thursday, Oct. 9, there are 14 teams featuring ticket price average of more than $130 on RazorGator.com. Highlighted by the Detroit Red Wings hoisting their Stanley Cup banner before their game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with an average ticket price of $170, the first night of regular season NHL action in the U.S. and Canada will feature four games. Seven more teams will host their first game of the season this Friday, Oct. 10.

“Hockey fans in Europe showed significant interest in tickets to see the NHL on their ice over the weekend and the interest from fans back here in the U.S. and Canada has been even hotter with record-breaking activity by buyers and sellers on RazorGator.com,” says Stephen Cucci, co-founder of RazorGator. “We’re seeing demand for NHL games at an all-time high with more hockey fans are looking to the secondary market to get their first glimpse of their favorite teams.”

Ticket buyers will find a myriad of priced tickets to see NHL action throughout the season, beginning with this week’s home openers. The highest average ticket price for a debut game from RazorGator is $301 to see the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames in Vancouver on Oct. 9. The other most- coveted games both involve the Montreal Canadiens with their first game hosted by Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 11 averaging $272 and their home season-opener Oct. 15, averaging $283 on RazorGator.com.

The best deals from around the league from RazorGator are for games in Philadelphia ($12 vs. Rangers, Oct. 11) in Chicago ($13 vs. Nashville, Oct. 13), Tampa Bay vs. Carolina and Phoenix vs. Columbus (both for $17, Oct. 11).

Source: RazorGator