Yesterday was a big day in Canada not only because it was Canada Day, but also because it was the first of day free agency in the NHL (…which I guess really makes it a big day for all hockey fans).

In the good ol’ days (way long ago), you’d have to be glued to your radio and TV in order to stay on top of all the wheeling’s-and-dealings. But, now with websites being updates in real-time, social networks updated in seconds, and the ability to send rapid ‘news alerts’ through email, information spreads faster than ever before.

But, it seems some sports news organizations still don’t have a full handle on all the new technologies.

There was a serious EMAIL FAIL by Sportsnet.ca.

Here are 3 unedited “Hockey Central News Alerts” sent out by Sportsnet.ca yesterday.

——Original Message——
From: SPORTSNET.CA
To: XXXXXXXX
ReplyTo: email@sportsnet.ca
Subject: Hockeycentral News Alert – SPORTSNET.CA
Sent: Jul 1, 2010 12:33 PM

New York Rangers re-sign:

Length of contract: 2 years
Average annual value: $925,000

More at sportsnet.ca.

##

——Original Message——
From: SPORTSNET.CA
To: XXXXXXXX
ReplyTo: email@sportsnet.ca
Subject: Hockeycentral News Alert – SPORTSNET.CA
Sent: Jul 1, 2010 6:24 PM

Anaheim Ducks re-sign:

Length of contract: 5 years
Average annual value: $5 million

More at sportsnet.ca.

##

——Original Message——
From: SPORTSNET.CA
To: XXXXXXXX
ReplyTo: email@sportsnet.ca
Subject: Hockeycentral News Alert – SPORTSNET.CA
Sent: Jul 1, 2010 8:08 PM

Montreal Canadiens re-sign:

Length of contract: 1 year
Average annual value: TBD

More at sportsnet.ca.

##

Are you serious?

Sportsnet blasted out emails to their entire hockey mailing list and LEFT OUT the player’s name in the email?

I wonder how many Blackberry’s were buzzing yesterday only to have people look and find out that someone signed a contract, but they were not told who. How helpful is that?

My favorite is the last email above where an unknown person signed a 1 year contract for an amount to be determined. Wow… that email is just oozing with useful information!

Lastly, take a look at the subject. Am I the only one who thinks “Hockeycentral” is actually two words and might have deserved a space in the middle?

Sheesh!

[Many thanks to David B. for forwarding these emails to me.]