Hockey is Canada’s passion.
Psychologists and anthropologists may debate the reasons for this strange phenomenon, but the fact remains (and is worth repeating): hockey is Canada’s passion.
And so, it’s not really a surprise that Edmonton’s own Aquila Productions has come up with a brand new hockey series that will begin airing on Sportsnet Monday, Nov. 24. Hosted by Chris Simpson, Hockey Unlimited will offer ten half-hour segments during this season.
Aquila gave us Oil Change, an award-winning series, that – the producers agreed – has run its course after five seasons. It was a series of behind-the-scenes looks at an NHL team in the throes of rebuilding. Oil Change has quite rightfully developed a following that borders on cult admiration. But you can be rebuilding a team only for so long. And that has been the limitation that the Aquila team has imposed upon themselves.
The new series will be going further and deeper than just the NHL. After all, the title (Hockey Unlimited) says it all. As the producers promise, they are going to follow hockey from its grassroots all the way up: minor, junior, college/university, recreational beer league, women’s, senior amateur, international and all levels of pro hockey.
Sportsnet has become the only guy in town to cover the NHL (with a few regional exceptions thrown in). This series is going to show that the network is seriously aware that without the grassroots, there wouldn’t be any grass. Good for them.
Many seem to think that only men between the ages of 18 and 49 are fanatic enough to spend most (if not all) of their spare time with or around hockey. Considering how many kids of both sexes love the excitement of actually playing the game, this series is bound to discover that hockey, indeed, knows no limitations. That’s how it is in Canada, and this is a Canadian show, aimed at Canadian audiences.
Here’s the plan: each episode of Hockey Unlimited (10 episodes in season one) will include two 8-12 minute documentaries about some significant issue, event, personality or other aspect of hockey. These features will be also accessible, once the show airs, online through live streaming off the Sportsnet site.
Check it out:
| Station | Date | Start | Series | Episodes |
| SN Pacific | Mon, 11/24/14 | 14:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN West | Mon, 11/24/14 | 15:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN East | Mon, 11/24/14 | 17:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Ontario | Mon, 11/24/14 | 17:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Pacific | Mon, 11/24/14 | 20:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN West | Mon, 11/24/14 | 21:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN East | Mon, 11/24/14 | 0:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Ontario | Mon, 11/24/14 | 0:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Pacific | Tue, 11/25/14 | 16:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN West | Tue, 11/25/14 | 17:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN East | Tue, 11/25/14 | 19:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Ontario | Tue, 11/25/14 | 19:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Pacific | Wed, 11/26/14 | 10:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN West | Wed, 11/26/14 | 11:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN East | Wed, 11/26/14 | 13:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Ontario | Wed, 11/26/14 | 13:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN One | Wed, 11/26/14 | 23:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Pacific | Thu, 11/27/14 | 14:00 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN West | Thu, 11/27/14 | 15:00 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN East | Thu, 11/27/14 | 17:00 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN Ontario | Thu, 11/27/14 | 17:00 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN One | Fri, 11/28/14 | 22:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN One | Sat, 11/29/14 | 22:00 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
| SN One | Sun, 11/30/14 | 18:30 | Hockey Unlimited | 1 |
Tagged: Aquila Productions, Chris Simpson, Hockey Unlimited, Oil Change, Sportsnet
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