All-female broadcast crew to work Calgary Flames, Golden Knights NHL game on Int’l Women’s Day

TORONTO, ON. March 6, 2020 – Recognising International Women’s Day, Sportsnet’s Sunday’s broadcast from Calgary between the Flames and the Vegas Golden Knights will be produced by an all-female production team live from Calgary, Toronto and Salmon Arm, B.C.

Play-by-play announcer Leah Hextall, game analyst Cassie Campbell-Pascall and reporter Christine Simpson cover the western conference clash.

The Rogers Hometown Hockey feature will also be delivered by an all-female crew. including executive producer Alison Redmond, game producer Maria Skinner and director Dawn Landis.

“International Women’s Day is an opportunity to inspire young women and put a spotlight on what is possible, while encouraging continued conversation and action to overcome gender-based barriers for women in the workplace,” Alison Redmond executive producer of Rogers Hometown Hockey said in a news release. “I’m proud to work with highly talented women, whose skill, experience and perspective allow us to deliver sports programming at its best.”

Hockey play-by-play announcer Leah Hextall made a statement on her facebook page about how much she is looking forward to calling her first NHL game, saying:

“This weekend, I reach a career milestone: my first NHL play-by-play assignment. I’ll be calling Sunday’s Vegas-Calgary game for Sportsnet, making history as part of the first all-female lineup – including the broadcast team and the production crew – to present an NHL game. I can’t even say it’s a dream come true because growing up, I didn’t know it was possible. Many of us didn’t see women occupying the space that we’ll hold during this landmark broadcast. I’m proud to join these talented women as we push for progress for women and girls. Representation matters because if you can see it, you start to believe that you can be it.”

Hockey analyst and Canadian hockey legend Cassie Campbell said “I’m looking forward to celebrating International Women’s Day by participating in an all-female broadcast on Sunday. It’s a huge game for both teams, and it will be exciting to share it with incredible women on the air and behind the scenes,”

Sportsnet has also been honouring women in sport and sports media throughout the week on their social media channels.

Sportsnet’s International Women’s Day week of programming will also includes features on female sports trailblazers including tennis star Billie Jean King, Toronto Raptors vice-president of basketball operations Teresa Resch and former WTA head Stacey Allaster.

International Women’s Day coverage on Sportsnet includes: 

“The Trailblazers” Features – TV & Sportsnet social platforms

• Kim Ng – MLB | Senior Vice President, Baseball Operations
• Teresa Resch – NBA | Director of Basketball Operations, Toronto Raptors
• Kendall Coyne Schofield & Rebecca Johnston – Olympians | Women’s Hockey
• Kim Davis – NHL | Executive Vice President, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs
• Stacey Allaster – USTA | Chief Executive, Professional Tennis
• Cammi Granato & Alexandra Mandrycky – NHL | Seattle expansion builders
• Billie Jean King – 39-time Grand Slam winner | 1987 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductee
• Bev Smith – 2-time Olympian | Canadian Basketball Hall of Fame inductee