Rogers Will Be Airing Mississauga Steelheads Championship Games

Published May 4, 2017 at 6:34 pm

steelheadscoachjamesrichmond

Rogers TV Mississauga will continue to air the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playoffs – in which the Mississauga Steelheads are vying for the league championship versus the Erie Otters starting on Thursday – despite announcing the station’s closure.

“Rogers TV’s coverage of the OHL Playoffs will continue without interruption this year,” said Rogers spokesperson Stephanie Leslie.

Cable 10, as it’s referred to, announced its closure on May 2, laying off 15 full-time employees.

Thousands of community news volunteers have gone through the doors at the 3573 Wolfedale Rd. station.

Financial challenges are among the reasons cited for shutting down, and Rogers TV Mississauga will no longer be on the air as of August 31.

The timing of the announcement worried fans who’ve been following the hometown team through their history-making season.

This marks the first time Mississauga and Erie have faced each other in the Rogers OHL Championship Series — the Steelheads are in their first final, while the Otters are making their third appearance after winning the title against the Barrie Colts in 2002 and losing to the Oshawa Generals in 2015.

Star players include Sauga boys Mike McLeod and Ryan McLeod (they’re brothers from Lorne Park) and Michael Little, as well as Nathan Bastian, Owen Tippett, and Nicolas Hague.

Steelheads owner Elliott Kerr says “we are thrilled” about the remaining playoff games being televised.

“The Rogers Cable relationship is very important to us,” said Kerr.

“This is a very difficult market, media-wise … you know, with no daily newspaper, no radio station, and no television station, so we need Rogers Cable or some form to continue to help spread the great Steelheads word and to continue to build our brand in this marketplace.”

The Steelheads, led by head coach James Richmond who’s also from Mississauga, are entering the best-of-seven series after sweeping the Peterborough Petes and winning the Eastern Conference final on April 26.

Regular tickets start at $25.95. Click here for more information.

Series schedule:

Game 1, Thurs., May 4 Mississauga at Erie, 7 p.m.
Game 2, Sun., May 7 Mississauga at Erie, 4 p.m.
Game 3, Mon., May 8 Erie at Mississauga, 7 p.m.
Game 4, Wed., May 10 Erie at Mississauga, 7 p.m.
Game 5, Fri., May 12 Mississauga at Erie, 7 p.m.*
Game 6, Sat., May 13 Erie at Mississauga, 7 p.m.*
Game 7, Mon., May 15 Mississauga at Erie, 7 p.m.*

*if necessary

insauga's Editorial Standards and Policies advertising