RealGM

The CBC and Panasonic Canada announced Wednesday they will bring the first 3D broadcast of HNIC to Canadian homes on Dec. 11 when the Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens.

The second 3D broadcast available during the 2010-11 NHL season is scheduled for Feb. 20 at McMahon Stadium in Calgary when the Flames host the Canadiens in the Heritage Classic.

"We are very pleased to partner with Panasonic on this unique and ground-breaking initiative," Scott Moore, executive director for CBC Sports, said in a statement. "Together, we will be bringing an experience to Canadian hockey fans that has never been done before.

"This is a Canadian first and a very exciting time for television and hockey in Canada."

Hockey fans will require a special 3D TV and glasses to view the games, which will be aired on a still-to-be-determined separate channel from regular HD broadcasts.

Starting in October, Panasonic will be the official 3D and HD TV sponsor of HNIC.

In the first 3D National Hockey League telecast north of the border, CBC and Panasonic Canada will televise the Montreal Canadiens against the Toronto Maple Leafs at 7 p.m. (ET) from the Air Canada Centre on Dec. 11.

The CBC feed, bolstered by views from Panasonic's professional full HD 3D cameras, is being made available in the States via NHL Network U.S.

At press time, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox, DirecTV, Marco Cable and Paul Bunyan Communications have committed to airing the Montreal-Toronto game in 3D on Saturday night.