• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, September 8, 2011

The MSG network will look to integrate Twitter into its broadcasts of minor league hockey this weekend, hoping to take advantage of interactivity as viewers increasingly watch with a mobile device in their hands. Announcers of four games involving New York Rangers prospects will take questions via Twitter and address them while calling the action.

Some questions and viewer commentary that prompts a response will be posted as on-screen graphics. Play-by-play announcer John Giannone and rink-side reporter Dave Maloney will encourage the questions via a #NYRprospects hashtag. Maloney will toss some that come in to Rangers players on the bench during the game.

MSG, the New York-area regional sports network, is offering the four games Sept. 10-14 at a Michigan event for NHL up-and-comers. The NHL Network will be using its feed nationally.

The Twitter experiment comes as the network is taking a less formal approach to its coverage than it would for a regular-season NHL game. Some players will wear wireless microphones while on the ice and the pre-game and intermission talks given by the coach of the Rangers team will be captured.

After the game, announcers will answer additional questions they didn't get to during the game; they will be available in video clips on MSG's Web site.