On Tuesday, the Phoenix Coyotes officially announced what MVP Today announced nearly a month ago regarding the team being among an unprecedented six NHL teams that will open the 2010-11 NHL regular season in Europe.

The Coyotes join the Boston Bruins, Carolina Hurricanes, Columbus Blue Jackets, Minnesota Wild and San Jose Sharks as team that will participate in the 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere and NHL Face-Off. This marks the fourth consecutive season the NHL will begin the regular-season with games contested overseas.

The Coyotes will play two games against the Bruins at O2 Arena in Prague, Czech Republic, on Saturday, Oct. 9 and Sunday, Oct. 10. The Coyotes’ current roster boasts Czech Olympian Zbynek Michalek and countrymen Petr Prucha, Martin Hanzal, Robert Lang and Radim Vrbata.

The Coyotes franchise, then the Winnipeg Jets, last traveled to Europe for a preseason tournament against Finnish club teams in September 1994.

The prospect of playing overseas is met by different responses depending on the franchise. For the Phoenix Coyotes, the opportunity is a way to account for one home game during the early part of the season when the club struggles to draw a large home crowd even during the best of times. Plus, if Ice Edge Holdings is successful in purchasing the club and their idea of playing five regular-season games in Saskatoon is accepted by the NHL Board of Governors, then the Coyotes will have six less midweek home games to play in front of sparse crowds.

“The Premiere Games are a highly anticipated part of our season launch, and we are extremely pleased that six teams – more than ever – will open their season in Europe,” said Gary Bettman, NHL Commissioner. “With these games, nearly half of our Clubs will have participated in Premiere – a testament to how excited our teams are to be playing before our outstanding fans in Europe.”

The NHL opened the 2008-09 regular season in Europe in front of capacity crowds when the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning played two games in Prague and the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators squared off in a two-game set in Stockholm. The Anaheim Ducks and Los Angeles Kings opened the 2007-08 NHL regular season in front of two sellout crowds at O2 Arena in London.

More information on 2010 Compuware NHL Premiere will be released at a later date, including ticket information, broadcast information, training camp schedules and preseason schedules.