Minnesota Swarm's Opening Round Playoff Game Will be Televised Live on FOX Sports

April 24, 2013 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Minnesota Swarm News Release


SAINT PAUL, Minn. - The National Lacrosse League's (NLL) Minnesota Swarm (7-9) today announced that the team's East Division Semifinal contest against the Toronto Rock (10-6) from Air Canada Centre will be broadcast live on FOX Sports North PLUS. Faceoff is set for 2 p.m. CT this Sunday.

The contest will be the third and final matchup between Minnesota and Toronto this season, but will take on new meaning in a single-elimination playoff scenario. The two teams split their regular season series, as the home team won in both instances by one-goal.

"The Minnesota Swarm is very excited to have the opportunity to partner with FOX Sports North PLUS and to be able to bring Sunday's playoff game to our fans on local television," Swarm Co-Owner and Vice President Andy Arlotta said. " Swarm fans are going to love watching the NLL Playoffs on the network and we look forward to seeing what we can do to build off of this for future broadcasts with FOX Sports North."

FOX Sports North PLUS can be found on the following cable operators:

Comcast - 694 HD, 13 or 23 SD

Charter Communications - 827HD or 227 SD

Others: contact your cable or satellite TV provider.

"We are grateful for the opportunity to provide this game for Minnesota Swarm fans," said Mike Dimond, Senior Vice President and General Manager of FOX Sports North. "It should be an exciting game in the divisional playoffs."

The Swarm will be hosting their official Playoff Viewing Party at Burger Moe's in downtown St. Paul, just steps from Xcel Energy Center. The festivities will begin at 2 p.m. in conjunction with the game and Burger Moe's will be offering happy hour prices to all Swarm fans.

"Sunday's viewing party is going to be a lot of fun," Swarm Director of Marketing Matt McCormack said. "Swarm fans are fantastic, and when they're together in one spot the energy and excitement is amped up. We're looking forward to bringing that atmosphere to Burger Moe's, which has been a great partner of ours for a number of years."

Minnesota's playoff berth in 2013 marked the fourth consecutive season that the team has made the postseason as well as the seventh time in the Swarm's nine years of existence. Last year, the Swarm advanced to the West Division Finals for the first time in team history after collecting their first ever postseason victory on the road against the Colorado Mammoth in the West Division Semifinals.

Sunday's meeting between No. 4 seed Minnesota and No. 1 seed Toronto marks the first time that the two will have met in the playoffs. Due to the NLL's crossover rule, the Swarm will start the postseason in the East Division this year. The crossover rule allows the fifth place West Division team to take the place of the fourth place team from the East Division if the fifth place team has a better record.

Sunday's matchup can also be seen on TSN2 in Canada and will be streamed live on YouTube.com/TLN in the U.S. and outside Canada.



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