A new radio partnership and broadcast network will bring Powell River Kings fans more hockey when they want it and help raise the team’s community profile.
Powell River Kings Junior A Hockey Club and CJMP 90.1 FM have joined to create “Hockey Night in Powell River.” Each Saturday night, from now on, Kings fans will be able to tune in to live CJMP coverage or listen online on the radio station’s streaming Internet feed.
“This is something that makes a lot of sense,” said Nadine Porchetta, Kings marketing and community relations manager. “The Kings are Powell River’s community-owned hockey club and this deal partners us with Powell River’s community-owned radio station.”
CJMP board director Don Mitchinson also sees this as a natural partnership.
“We’ve been looking for ways to add live programming and engage more segments of the community,” said Mitchinson. “Saturday night hockey is a great way to do both.”
CJMP program director Zoë Ludski said she hopes this will bring more volunteers and member support.
“It’s inspiring to turn on the radio and hear a local voice talking about sports in the community,” said Ludski.
The community radio station will also bring a live show from Kings’ broadcaster Alex Rawnsley who will be hosting a 30-minute Monday evening hockey program called Kings All Access. The show will feature player and coach interviews, highlights from weekend games and a preview of the week ahead. Rawnsley said the program will be a return to a similar program he hosted three years ago called Kings Corner. The program debuted this week and continues each Monday at 6 pm.
“We’re super excited about having Alex join our membership,” said Ludski. “At CJMP we believe in ‘each one teach one’. Alex has a ton of professional experience so that will add to our roster.”
In addition to the community radio partnership, the Kings have also launched a 24-hour, live streaming online radio station that will feature a mix of Kings and BC Hockey League programming as well as live simulcast games. The Kings Broadcast Network is hosting all 58 regular season games plus playoffs, said Rawnsley.
“Everything happens so quick in the season,” he said. “This will give fans a chance to catch up.”
Rawnsley is still encouraging fans cheer on the team at Hap Parker Arena, but the network will help to bring more information to fans about the players and coaches and create more buzz during the season.
The idea for the network has been with Rawnsley for the past couple years and was inspired by Western Hockey League team Portland Winterhawks who have their last five games online and available for on-demand listening. “I wanted to see how much farther I could take that idea,” he said, “and after two years, this is it.”
The network will also allow players’ parents and family who live in eastern Canada or the United States access to the games which may happen too late at night given time zone differences.
“This is a one-of-a-kind project that will give our fans more content and access to the club,” he said.
The Kings Broadcast Network is available online.
