Montreal Canadiens fans in Northern Ontario scored a hat trick Oct. 16 with a big assist from two New Democrat MPs.
The Habs beat Boston in the home opener. Ginette Reno aced the anthem. And, if that could be topped, there’s the news that the regional French-language Canadiens games are available again through a new Eastlink TV package that deals with the new NHL TV rights and blackout regions.
"I’ve been on the phone with the NHL, Eastlink and RDS since the season opener,” said Nickel Belt MP Claude Gravelle, who’s been known to wear a Canadiens’ jersey to caucus meetings, in a news release. “I let them know how mad Greater Sudbury and Nickel Belt fans were. The league found out it’s best not to smack our Canadiens fans up north or mess with our long hockey historic alliances.”
Canadiens fans realized a few weeks ago that the league’s new Canadian broadcast rules would black out RDS coverage of the beloved team in large parts of the country. The NHL deemed the north an Ontario market attached to Toronto.
“It seems like the confusion around the new broadcast arrangement is settling, and I am glad to see the cable companies are finding solutions for the fans,” said Algoma-Manitoulin-Kapuskasing MP Carol Hughes, in a news release.
“I understand there are a few areas where the technology needed to provide this package doesn’t exist, but we hope that is fixed sooner than later. People work hard and like to relax with the game of their choice.”
Eastlink is advising fans to contact them for the $59.99 package available as of today that will feature 114 French regional broadcasts of Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators games.
