NBC Sports to Present Kraft Hockeyville USA NHL Preseason Game

Hockey heads north to the upper peninsula of Michigan tomorrow night on NBCSN at 7 p.m. ET for the second iteration of Kraft Hockeyville USA, when the Buffalo Sabres face off against the Carolina Hurricanes at Lakeview Arena in Marquette, Mich.

NBCSN's comprehensive Kraft Hockeyville USA coverage will celebrate hockey's rich history in Marquette and the upper peninsula of Michigan. Marquette was one of more than 1,000 communities which submitted stories about the passion of hockey in their towns and finished ahead of runner-up Rapid City, S.D. (Rushmore Thunderdome), in an online vote.

Lakeview Arena received $150,000 dollars in arena upgrades for being named Kraft Hockeyville USA. The arena opened in 1973 and was home to the Marquette Iron Rangers of the United States Hockey League. The Iron Rangers were the first North American professional team to sign a female player, Karen Koch, in 1969. Marquette is also home to Northern Michigan University, which won the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Championship in 1991.

Many current and former NHL players have ties to Marquette and the upper peninsula of Michigan, including Hurricanes general manager Ron Francis, who grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, about 165 miles east of Marquette.

Four-time Emmy Award-winning play-by-play commentator Mike 'Doc' Emrick will call the action from Lakeview Arena, alongside Emmy Award-winning Inside-the-Glass analyst Pierre McGuire and analyst Jeremy Roenick. Host Liam McHugh and Roenick will anchor studio and intermission coverage on-site.

Immediately following Kraft Hockeyville USA from Marquette, NBCSN will air a special NHL season preview show at 9:30 p.m. ET, hosted by Kathryn Tappen alongside analysts Mike Milbury and Keith Jones. The program will examine will include a comprehensive breakdown of the Eastern and Western Conferences and dive into key topics heading into the 2016-17 campaig

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