June 29, 2006

ESPN Classic Pays Tribute to the Great White North With Made in Canada Weekend, Beginning Friday

In celebration of Canada’s 139th birthday this Saturday, ESPN Classic presents a holiday weekend salute to our home and native land with Made in Canada Weekend, from June 30 to July 2. Made in Canada Weekend highlights extraordinary Canadian athletes and some of the best sports moments to take place on Canadian soil.

Great Canadian athletes who will be honoured this weekend include arguably the greatest hockey player of all time, Wayne Gretzky, 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, two-time NBA MVP Steve Nash, and auto racing stars Paul Tracy and Jacques Villeneuve.

ESPN Classic also pays tribute to some of the most memorable moments in sports to take place in Canada, including the 1993 World Series featuring the champion Toronto Blue Jays, the Winnipeg Jets’ last game in Canada, and the now-defunct Naismith Cup from 1999 pitting the since re-located Vancouver Grizzlies against the Toronto Raptors.

Made in Canada Weekend kicks off at 7 p.m. ET on Friday, June 30 with the 1994 World Hockey Championship Final – Canada vs. Finland, where Luc Robitaille scored the tournament winning goal in a shootout, clinching Canada’s first championship title in 33 years.

ESPN Classic’s Made in Canada Weekend broadcast schedule is as follows:
Friday, June 30

· 7 p.m. ET – 1994 World Hockey Championship Final: Canada vs. Finland (Encores at 12 midnight ET and July 1 at 9:30 a.m. ET)
· 9:30 p.m. ET – NHL Classics: 1988 Smythe Final: Edmonton @ Calgary, Game 2 (Encores on July 1 at 2:30 a.m. ET and 6 a.m. ET)
· 11:30 p.m. ET – Legends: A Personal Journey – Mario Lemieux (Encores on July 1 at 4:30 a.m. ET and 9 a.m. ET)

Saturday, July 1
· 1 p.m. ET – ESPN Knockouts: Billy Irwin (Encores on July 2 at 1 a.m. ET)
· 2 p.m. ET – NHL Classics: 1996 Western Quarter-final – Detroit @ Winnipeg, Game 3 (Encores on July 2 at 2 a.m. ET)
· 4 p.m. ET – Classic Champ Car – 1995 Elkhart Lake (Encores on July 2 at 4 a.m. ET)
· 6 p.m. ET – 2003 Masters Revisited (Encores on July 2 at 6 a.m. ET)
· 7 p.m. ET – Russ Anber Presents – Ali/Chuvalo I: 40 Years Later (Encores on July 2 at 7 a.m. ET)
· 9 p.m. ET – 1992 World Series – Toronto @ Atlanta, Game 6 (Encores on July 2 at 9:30 a.m. ET)
· 11:30 p.m. ET – Gentilles: The Montreal Alouettes Cheerleader Calendar I (Encores on July 2 at 9 a.m. ET)

Sunday, July 2
· 12 noon ET – Steve Nash: NBA MVP – Phoenix @ Toronto (Encores at 12 midnight ET)
· 2 p.m. ET – 1999 Naismith Cup: Toronto @ Vancouver (Encores at 2 a.m. ET)
· 4 p.m. ET – Grey Cup Classics 1986: Hamilton vs. Edmonton (Encores at 4 a.m. ET)
· 6 p.m. ET – 2002 Canadian National Long Drive Final (Encores on July 3 at 6 a.m. ET)
· 7 p.m. ET – Tennis Canada Classics: 1995 Men’s Final – Pete Sampras vs. Andre Agassi (Encores on July 3 at 7 a.m. ET)
· 9 p.m. ET – 1993 World Series: Philadelphia @ Toronto, Game 6 (Encores on July 3 at 9:30 a.m. ET)
· 11:30 p.m. ET – Gentilles: The Montreal Alouettes Cheerleader Calendar II (Encores on July 3 at 9 a.m. ET)

ESPN Classic features great individual performances, controversial victories, huge upsets, momentous comebacks and unforgettable team dynasties. ESPN Classic has encore broadcasts of the most cherished classic games and moments from the world of sports. The network has all the bases covered with baseball, basketball, hockey, football, golf, wrestling, boxing, soccer, tennis, skating, Reel Classics sports movies and much more. ESPN Classic's Web site is located at www.tsn.ca/classic.

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For More Information:
Matthew Garrow, Communications Officer, (w)416.332.7599, (c)416.859.4738
Andrea Goldstein, Director of Communications, (w)416.332.7575, (c)647.224.8800

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