The search for a new Hockey Night in Canada anthem enters its final phase on Saturday with a one-hour special coinciding with the start of the 2008/09 NHL season.

Five semi-finalist composers — everyday Canucks whittled down from over 14,000 hopefuls — will be profiled on the primetime special at 9 p.m., hosted by HNIC‘s Ron MacLean and The Hour‘s George Stroumboulopoulos.

Each will be introduced along with a full recording of their anthem, produced by Juno winner Bob Rock. The special will also feature surprise appearances by notable Canuck musical talent. Voting will open up to the public following the special and will close on Oct. 7. Viewers can vote at www.CBCSports.ca/anthemchallenge, by phone and via SMS on their mobile phones.

The CBC lost rights to the venerable The Hockey Theme in the summer, following strained relations with composer Dolores Claman, who then sold the music to CTVglobemedia for its NHL broadcasts on TSN and RDS.

The NHL season opens Saturday at noon on CBC with a doubleheader from Europe, featuring the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning, followed by the Pittsburgh Penguins and Ottawa Senators. CBC has 87 games on tap.

CTVgm will air 115 games, with The Hockey Theme making its debut on RDS on Oct. 10, followed by TSN on Oct. 14. On the French side, RDS and CTVgm specialty RIS Info-Sports will broadcast a total of 84 games in addition to games featuring the Montreal Canadiens, which are celebrating their centennial.

CBC will announce the two anthem finalists on Oct. 9, while the winner will be revealed on Oct. 11 during HNIC‘s first Saturday doubleheader of the season.