Coming later this month, NHL Network will air the annual IIHF Junior Championships from Edmonton and Calgary. This is an event I have grown to enjoy very much over the last few years. NHL Network has gone from simulcasting TSN to producing its own coverage with its own announcers. Two years ago, JP Dellacamera was the lead announcer. Last year, NHL Network utilized Gary Thorne. This year, it’ll be Matt Rosen calling the games for NHL Network.
In addition, NHL Network has signed a new agreement with IIHF to air the event in the United States for 7 years and allows for streaming on NHL.com of the games involving the US National team.
We have the press release from NHL Network.
NHL NETWORK REMAINS EXCLUSIVE HOME OF IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP IN U.S. FOR SEVEN YEARS
Live Game Coverage of 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship Begins December 26 on NHL Network and NHL.com
NEW YORK, NY / COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (December 20, 2011) – NHL Network U.S. and USA Hockey have agreed to a long-term extension of their media contract that will keep the Network as the exclusive television and streaming home for the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in the United States through the 2018 event.
NHL Network U.S. will provide live broadcasts and NHL.com will provide live streams of the U.S. National Junior Team games at the 2012 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. NHL Network also will televise all medal-round games and five additional preliminary-round match-ups, airing a total of 15 games in high-definition from the tournament. All USA games will be NHL Network original broadcasts.
This year’s event will take place in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, from Dec. 26-Jan. 5, and the U.S. will look to medal in the tournament for the third straight year. The last time the event was staged in Canada (2010), the United States beat Canada in overtime to capture gold.
NHL.com writers Mike Morreale and Aaron Vickers will cover all angles of the 2012 World Junior Championship, ranging from country-by-country tournament previews to daily live blogs to covering every game from Edmonton and Calgary starting Dec. 26. NHL.com will provide customized coverage in seven additional languages including Czech, Finnish, French, German, Russian, Slovak and Swedish, for fans to follow favorite players from their countries. Game highlights and full coverage of the 2012 World Junior Championship will be available at NHL.com and NHL.com/Draft.
“The IIHF World Junior Championship is not only a preeminent international hockey tournament, it has become known as the place to view future NHL stars,” said Bob Chesterman, NHL Network vice president of programming. “Viewers will see a high level of skill and talent and intense match-ups between rival countries. The World Junior Championship is an excellent complement to our NHL programming.”
“We’re extremely pleased to extend our partnership with the NHL Network,” said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. “They’re passionate about televising the World Junior Championship and I think fans will notice continued enhancements in their coverage of Team USA and the tournament overall as time moves forward.”
The tournament’s popularity stems from its reputation as a showcase for the game’s best up-and-coming young players from around the world. Many current NHL stars have played in the tournament; an abbreviated list includes Patrick Kane (Blackhawks), Zach Parise (Devils) and Bobby Ryan (Ducks) for the United States; Sidney Crosby (Penguins), Steven Stamkos (Lightning) and P.K. Subban (Canadiens) for Canada; Alex Ovechkin (Capitals), Evgeni Malkin (Penguins) and Ilya Kovalchuk (Devils) for Russia; Nicklas Lidstrom (Red Wings), Henrik Zetterberg (Red Wings) and the
Sedin twins (Canucks) for Sweden; Martin Havlat (Sharks), Jaromir Jagr (Flyers) and Tomas Kaberle (Canadiens) for the Czech Republic; Teemu Selanne (Ducks) and the Koivu brothers (Saku – Ducks, Mikko – Wild) for Finland and Marian Hossa (Blackhawks), Marian Gaborik (Rangers) and Jaroslav Halak (Blues) for Slovakia.Many players who will take to the ice in this year’s tournament are very close to realizing their dream of an NHL career. No fewer than 57 players who played in the 2010 and 2011 competitions already have made their League debut.
Broadcast Team
Matt Rosen, Dave Starman and Rob Simpson will make up the broadcast team for the NHL Network’s coverage of Team USA’s games.Rosen, who will handle play-by-play duties, has called hockey and football for the Big 10 Network in addition to his extensive broadcast and hosting experience with the Phoenix Coyotes. Rosen has served as the host for all Coyotes Radio Broadcasts as well as the team’s post-game call-in show, “Coyotes Wrap-Up,” and the weekly magazine show “Coyotes Weekly.”
Starman, who will serve as analyst, is currently in his ninth season as lead analyst for CBS College Sports coverage of NCAA hockey. He served as the analyst for the NHL Network’s coverage of Team USA’s games at the 2009, 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship, as well.
Simpson, who will serve as rinkside reporter for all U.S. games, has contributed to the popular NHL LIVE show on NHL Network, MSG Network in New York, SIRIUS XM Radio and NHL.com broadband original programming.
2012 IIHF World Junior Championship – NHL Network-U.S. Broadcast Schedule
December 26 — January 5Monday, December 26
Canada vs. Finland — 3:30 p.m.
USA vs. Denmark — 8 p.m.Tuesday, December 27
Denmark vs. Czech Republic — 8 p.m.Wednesday, December 28
Finland vs. USA — 3:30 p.m.
Czech Republic vs. Canada — 8 p.m.Thursday, December 29
Canada vs. Denmark — 8 p.m.Friday, December 30
Czech Republic vs. USA — 3:30 p.m.
Finland vs. Denmark — 8 p.m.Saturday, December 31
USA vs. Canada — 8 p.m.Monday, January 2
Quarterfinal #1 — 5:00 p.m.
Quarterfinal #2 — 9:00 p.m.Tuesday, January 3
Semifinal #1 — 5:00 p.m.
Semifinal #2* — 9:00 p.m.Thursday, January 5
Bronze-Medal Game — 3:30 p.m.
Gold-Medal Game — 8:00 p.m.
That will do it.
