To celebrate the return of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN after an almost 20-year hiatus, the sports channel is collaborating with three music artists to remix one of the most iconic songs in hockey.

The classic “NHL on ESPN” theme is being remixed throughout the first three rounds of the playoffs. Canadian megaproducer Murda Beatz along with producer Foster kick off the collaboration with their take which gives the iconic theme song a trap beat and bass boost, and includes the signature “Murda on the beat” tagline.

ESPN shared the collaboration with a video montage on Instagram.

 

“The ‘NHL on ESPN’ theme song is one of those songs that became synonymous with our hockey coverage over the years, so we knew we wanted to celebrate the return of the Stanley Cup Playoffs on ESPN by bringing a unique element to it,” said Lucas Ferraro, ESPN’s director of sports marketing in a press release. “All the artists did a phenomenal job modernizing the track for today’s fans while infusing the classic elements we all know and love.”

While Murda Beatz’s remix debuted during the first round of the playoffs, alternative band Joywave’s remix will premiere during the second round while EDM duo, Zed’s Dead, will debut their remix at the start of the conference finals.

“I’ve been a long-time fan of hockey and the Leafs, dating back to my childhood days growing up in Canada,” Murda Beatz told Complex Canada. “The ‘NHL on ESPN’ theme is a classic in the hockey space, and when I was approached to put my spin on it, it took me back to those days, and was a no brainer for me to do it.”

Each remix will run across TV in commercial spots created for each round of the playoffs, and on social media across ESPN, NHL and the artists’ social handles, as well as on ESPN radio.