NHL on Hughes
Also known asNHL '80
GenreNHL hockey telecasts
Presented by
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
Production
Production locationsVarious NHL venues
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time180 minutes or until the game ends
Original release
NetworkHughes Television Network
ReleaseJanuary 25 (1980-01-25) –
May 22, 1980 (1980-05-22)
Related

NHL on Hughes is the de facto name of a TV program that broadcast National Hockey League games on the defunct independent Hughes Television Network during the 1979–80 season.[1] The program aired under the title The NHL '80.[2][3]

Hughes broadcast[4] eight Friday night games,[5] two Thursday night games[6] (on March 20 and April 3, 1980),[7] the All-Star Game,[8] some playoff games, and the first five games[9] of the Stanley Cup Finals[10] (the final game, Game 6, was broadcast by CBS). Hughes' broadcasts were distributed to about 55% of the United States[11] with a notable exception being the Florida Suncoast.

Hughes and the USA cable network technically, used CBC's Hockey Night in Canada feeds for the American coverage of the first five games of the Stanley Cup Finals. The first broadcast involved the Atlanta Flames against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 25.[12]

Playoff coverage

Round Teams Games Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
First round Pittsburgh-Boston Game 2
New York Rangers-Atlanta Game 4 Jiggs McDonald Pete Stemkowski
Quarterfinals Buffalo-Chicago Game 3 Dan Kelly Jim Craig[13]
Montreal-Minnesota Games 6–7 Dan Kelly Mickey Redmond
Semifinals Philadelphia-Minnesota Games 1, 3–4
Game 4 used (CBC's feed)[14][15] 		Dan Kelly (Games 1, 3, and first half of Game 4)
Jim Robson (second half of Game 4) 		Bill Clement (Game 1)
Pete Stemkowski (Game 3)
Gerry Pinder and Howie Meeker (Game 4)
Buffalo-New York Islanders Games 3, 6 (CBC's feed)[16][17][18] Dan Kelly (second half of both games)
Jim Robson (first half of Game 3)
Bob Cole (first half of Game 6) 		Gerry Pinder and Howie Meeker (Game 3)
Gary Dornhoefer (Game 6)

Stanley Cup Finals

Main article: 1980 Stanley Cup Finals

Videos:[19][20][21][22][23][24]

Play-by-play Color commentator(s)
Bob Cole (Games 1–2; first half)
Jim Robson (Games 3–4; first half and Game 5; second half)
Dan Kelly (second half of Games 1–4, overtime in Game 1, and first half of Game 5) 		Gary Dornhoefer and Dick Irvin Jr.

References

  1. ^ "Sports BRIEFING". Chicago Tribune. October 10, 1979.
  2. ^ "Tait is named to VPI post". Gadsden Times. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  3. ^ 1980 Stanley Cup Finals Game 6: NY Islanders - Philadelphia Flyers on YouTube
  4. ^ "NHL Games Telecast On Hughes Network". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. October 11, 1979. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "NHL hits jackpot with Friday games". The Calgary Herald. October 10, 1979. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  6. ^ "Newspaper says Unger to suit up with Flames". The Phoenix. October 10, 1979. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  7. ^ "Hughes Network to Show Number of Hockey Games". New York Times. 1979-10-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-03-24.
  8. ^ "NHL, Hughes Network Agree on Prime-Time TV Coverage". Los Angeles Times. October 10, 1979. p. F6.
  9. ^ Rothenberg, Fred (May 25, 1980). "NHL may be robbed of TV showcase". The Daily Sentinel. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  10. ^ "Games Will be Televised". Reading Eagle. The Canadian Press. May 13, 1980. Retrieved 2023-09-04.
  11. ^ Ledman, Gary (March 8, 1980). "Despite Gold, TV Brass Has Hockey On Hold". The Evening Independent. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Hughes network NHL finalize deal". The Montreal Gazette. October 10, 1979. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  13. ^ "CRAIG ON TV". The Bryan Times. April 19, 1980. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  14. ^ 29.04.1980 G1 Minnesota North Stars - Philadelphia Flyers on YouTube
  15. ^ Flyers vs North Stars 1980 playoffs, Game 4 highlights on YouTube
  16. ^ Game 3 1980 Stanley Cup Semifinal Sabres at Islanders (CBC) on YouTube
  17. ^ New York Islanders 5 Buffalo Sabres 2 Stanley Cup Semi-Finals Game 6 May 10 1980 on YouTube
  18. ^ Game 6 1980 Stanley Cup Semifinal Sabres at Islanders *ORIGINAL CBC HNIC BROADCAST on YouTube
  19. ^ Game 1 1980 Stanley Cup Final Islanders at Flyers better quality on YouTube
  20. ^ HD Game 1 1980 Stanley Cup Final Flyers at Islanders Full CBC Hockey Night in Canada broadcast on YouTube
  21. ^ Stanley Cup ' 80 Gm 2 Intro HNIC on YouTube
  22. ^ Game 3 1980 Stanley Cup Final Flyers at Islanders Denis Potvin end to end goal on YouTube
  23. ^ Game 4 1980 Stanley Cup Final Flyers at Islanders on YouTube
  24. ^ Stanley Cup ' 80 Gm 5 Intro HNIC on YouTube
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