Play Ball

Spring Training Schedule
Spring training is in session and FOX Sports North is excited for the start of baseball season. Our team will be in Fort Myers, Fla. to provide comprehensive coverage of Spring Training throughout March:
March 14 vs. Florida at 12:00 PM
March 26 vs. Cincinnati at 6:00 PM
March 30 vs. Tampa Bay at 12:00 PM

*March 29: Twins Live: Spring Training Special at 5:30 PM

Regular Season Schedule
FOX Sports North’s coverage begins Tuesday, April 7 against the Seattle Mariners. Other highlights from the 2009 schedule include: 15 games against the Chicago White Sox, six games against the New York Yankees, five games against the Milwaukee Brewers and four games against the defending American League Champion, Tampa Bay Rays.

The full broadcast schedule can be found on FOX Sports North’s Facebook page.

Hockey Day Minnesota 2009 Re-Cap

FOX Sports North, in conjunction with the NHL’s Minnesota Wild, televised the third annual Hockey Day Minnesota on Saturday, January 17, 2009. The broadcast event sponsored by Burger King was a success receiving top ratings and praise throughout the State of Hockey.

According to Nielsen Media Research, FOX Sports North received top ratings for their coverage of Hockey Day Minnesota including record-breaking ratings during the first hour of Hockey Day programming, and their highest-rated high school hockey and Gopher game this season.

The day-long event included over 20 hours of hockey-related programming, seven games from five locations and required over 100 FOX Sports North employees. The regional network balanced three production trucks stationed at Phalen Park, Xcel Energy Center and the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud as well as a total of 20 cameras, seven on-air reporters and ten play-by-play/game analyst duos throughout the day.

For the first time, the regional network included unique Hockey Day Minnesota coverage from Iraq. Throughout the day, fans had the opportunity to participate in a worldwide texting initiative designed to honor and celebrate the men and women serving our country. FOX Sports North received nearly 2600 text messages. Soldiers stationed in Iraq watched Hockey Day Minnesota on the Armed Forces Network.

"The spectacle of Hockey Day Minnesota took another huge step forward this year," said Minnesota Wild Chief Operating Officer Matt Majka. "The military component made this year's Hockey Day the best ever. Our contributions to the troops pale in comparison to the daily sacrifices they make and give to all of us.”

Media:
Hockey Day in Minnesota: A new ice age, Minneapolis Star-Tribune
http://www.startribune.com/sports/preps/37775524.html?elr=KArksi8cyaiUgOahccyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

A Hockey Day to remember for JM, Rochester Post-Bulletin
http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=22&a=380715

Hockey Day Minnesota: The World's Best Tribute from the World's Greatest Fans, Bleacher Report
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/113006-hockey-day-minnesota-the-worlds-best-tribute-from-the-worlds-greatest-fans

Photos:
1. FOX Sports North's Kevin Gorg, Anthony LaPanta and Mike Dimond with Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold at Lake Phalen in St. Paul
2. FOX Sports North production crew
3. Hockey Day Minnesota in Balad, Iraq

Minnesota Timberwolves Image Campaign

FOX Sports North continues to build the new Wolves' “See What They Can Do” campaign by granting an inside look at some of our favorite players by showcasing the players’ backgrounds and off-the-court personalities. If you didn’t get the chance to check out Kevin Love and Mike Miller, you can find their promos in the January archives.

Introducing Robby Incmikoski

FOX Sports North would like to introduce Robby Incmikoski (Ins–Muh-Cow-Ski ). Incmikoski will serve as an in-game reporter and host for the regional network’s pregame, sideline and postgame coverage for the Twins, Timberwolves, Wild and other live programming beginning with FOX Sports North’s live Twins Spring Training Special on March 29.

Incmikoski comes to Minneapolis from Phoenix, Arizona where he’s worked as a reporter and host for FOX Sports Arizona covering the Diamondbacks, Suns and Coyotes telecasts. While at FOX Sports Arizona, Incmikoski also served as a play-by-play announcer for the Arizona Sundogs of the Central Hockey League and radio host for the Phoenix Coyotes.

A native of South Philadelphia, Pa., Incmikoski earned his degree from Temple University.

Tales from Twins Territory: Rochester, Minn.

It was another successful year on the Twins Winter Caravan which visited cities in Twins Territory for three weeks in January. Once again, FOX Sports North cable affiliates were a part of the success of these stops providing promotional support as well as an on-site presence. New this year was the opportunity for Twins fans to share their favorite moments in Twins history with the recording of “Tales from Twins Territory.” Cable operators Cable One, Midcontinent Communications and Charter Communications assisted with the production of these spots at the well-attended stops in Fargo, Sioux Falls, St. Cloud and Rochester. Some of the best tales will be edited into spots that will air on FOX Sports North this season. Thanks to all the cable affiliates who participated in this year’s caravan.

Photo: Rochester, Minn. cable affiliate Charter Communications with Bert Blyleven and TC the Bear

Black Woods Blizzard Tour on FOX Sports North

FOX Sports North and Darby Hendrickson recently joined Ron Gardenhire, Kent Hrbek, Twins assistant coaches Rick Anderson and Joe Vavra on the Black Woods Blizzard tour through northern Minnesota . Snowmobiles cruised across Minnesota for three days to raise awareness for ALS. The tour raised over $425,000.
The snowmobile tour started at the Black Woods Grill and Bar in Proctor, Minn. on February 4th. Riders then went to Lake Vermillion and took a ride down the scenic north shore to Two Harbors where they were transported back to Proctor.

FOX Sports North was on hand as a media partner for the event and aired a half-hour special throughout February.

For more information on the ALS Minnesota Chapter, visit: http://web.alsa.org/site/TR/Rides/MinnesotaEvent1?fr_id=3530&pg=entry

Photo: Jeff Byle and Mike Dimond, FOX Sports North with Ron Gardenhire and Kent Hrbek, Minnesota Twins

Ad Sales Spotlight: Great Waters Brewing Company

Great Waters Brewing Company is a season-long Minnesota Wild sponsor on FOX Sports North and an important partner to the regional network. The St. Paul restaurant recently hosted a special autograph session in conjunction with FOX Sports North and the Minnesota Wild.

Over 200 fans crowded Great Waters Brewing Company, conveniently located close to the Xcel in the Historic Hamm building, on Monday, February 16 for a chance to meet Minnesota Wild right wing, Cal Clutterbuck.

Great Waters Brewing Company was established in 1997 and is open for WCHA weekend and St. Patrick’s Day with a full bar, menu service and banquet areas. For more information, visit: http://www.greatwatersbc.com/

Photo: FOX Sports North employees Cody Zwiefelhofer, Becky Ross and Tami Wiser with the Minnesota Wild’s Cal Clutterbuck

FOX Sports North Nominated for Diversity Award

FOX Sports North was recently nominated for a 2009 NAMIC Vision Awards by the National Association for Multi-ethnicity in Communications for Our Heroes: A Black History Month Special, which was produced by Trevor Fleck.
NAMIC recognizes the achievements of cable networks producing quality, multi-ethnic and cross-cultural original programming content. Winners will be announced at the 15th Anniversary NAMIC Vision Awards on Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Cal.

Employee Spotlight: Jeff Byle, Executive Producer

Give us a detailed job description of what you do at FOX Sports North:
My short job summary is that I am responsible for all aspects of production and content that hits our air. My job is to make Mike Dimond and FOX Sport North and FOX Sports Wisconsin look good.

Where did you attend school?
Eastern Michigan University...I'm a Huron not an Eagle.

What are some of your interests/hobbies?
I enjoy playing golf, basketball, eating wings (extra hot), coaching my kids' teams and watching college football, and Gophers Live.

Who is/are the most influential people in your life?
My brother Steven. He is developmentally disabled but really enjoys life. He has given me many unique perspectives on life, but most importantly to always appreciate God's blessings.

If you weren't doing this job, you would love to…
Bartend at a outdoor tiki hut in a tropical location...fire up the blender!

Tell us something unique or interesting about yourself.
I beat Grant Hill in a free throw shooting contest.

If you could have one super power, what would it be?
I'd like to be able to transport myself into any time in the past...that would be life's backspace button.