National Hockey League player Mark Messier has signed a marketing agreement with XM Satellite Radio. Messier will promote XM's broadcasts of NHL games and the XM NHL talk radio channel "Home Ice."
XM will be the sole presenting sponsor of the New York Rangers' on-ice ceremony to retire Messier's No. 11 jersey at Madison Square Garden prior to the Rangers - Edmonton Oilers game on Jan. 12. The sponsorship is part of a multi-year marketing agreement with the Rangers that makes XM the official satellite radio partner of the team.
The 16-time NHL All-Star leaves the game ranking second on the NHL's all-time scoring list with 1,887 points. He is the only player to captain two different franchises - the Rangers and the Oilers - to Stanley Cup championships; he won six Stanley Cup championships in total.
Messier will promote XM in print, broadcast, online, and in-store marketing campaigns aimed at sports fans.
XM began broadcasting live NHL games in October as part of a ten-year deal with the league. The satcaster becomes the exclusive satellite radio home of the NHL beginning with the 2007-2008 season.