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Sharks, Flames to open 1998-99 NHL season in Tokyo

Posted: Thu February 19, 1998 at 1:56 AM ET

NAGANO, Japan (CNN/SI) -- While a new Olympic hockey champion will be crowned in Nagano this weekend, the National Hockey League announced Thursday that the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames will open the 1998-99 season with a two-game series in Tokyo.

The series, which has been dubbed NHL GAME ONe, will be played at Yoyogi Arena on October 10-11.

"The enthusiasm for NHL hockey and NHL players in Japan has been phenomenal, both in Tokyo for GAME ONe Japan last October and for the Olympic Winter Games here in Nagano," NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. "I look forward to joining the Flames and Sharks here in Tokyo next October as we continue to bring our game to more and more people throughout the Pacific Rim."

This marks the second straight year two teams will begin the regular season in Japan. The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and the Vancouver Canucks split a two-game set to start the 1997-98 season.

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