Wednesday, December 22, 2010

NHL Network U.S. to Broadcast All Team USA Games, 15 Games Overall at 2011 IIHF World Junior Championship

Press Release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – NHL Network U.S. will provide exclusive live coverage of all U.S. National Junior Team games at the 2011 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26 – Jan. 5, in Buffalo, N.Y. NHL Network U.S. will also 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 U.S. games will be NHL Network original broadcasts. In addition, NHL Network will provide nightly recaps on its signature show "NHL On the Fly."


Gary Thorne, Dave Starman, Fred Pletsch and Billy Jaffe will make up the broadcast team for the NHL Network’s coverage of Team USA games.


Thorne, who will handle play-by-play duties, boasts over 30 years of sports broadcasting experience. He served a 12-year stint (1992-2004) as the voice of ESPN’s NHL telecasts and was also the lead hockey play-by-play voice of NBC’s 2002 Olympic Winter Games coverage. Thorne currently serves as the play-by-play voice for Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles, and provides play-by-play for Major League Baseball on ESPN Radio.


Starman, who will serve as the analyst, is currently the 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 and 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship as well.


Pletsch, who will serve as the rinkside reporter in the preliminary round for the third straight year, is in his 11th season as an analyst on the Central Collegiate Hockey Association Game of the Week on Fox Sports Detroit. He has also worked as a sideline reporter for ESPN during the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship and is currently the associate commissioner of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.


Billy Jaffe, who will serve as the rinkside reporter for the medal round, regularly contributes to the popular “NHL Live!” show simulcast on Sirius XM Radio and NHL Network, the Network’s “NHL On the Fly,” and serves as the color analyst and in-studio for NHL on VERSUS.


A full NHL Network U.S. broadcast schedule is below.


NOTES: NHL Network U.S. is providing coverage of the IIHF World Junior Championship for the fourth straight year ... The U.S. will be defending its 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship gold medal, having defeated Canada, 6-5, in overtime, to claim the title last year in Saskatoon, Sask. For a full tournament schedule and ticket information, visit BuffaloWorldJuniors.com.



2011 IIHF World Junior Championship - NHL Network U.S. Broadcast Schedule
Dec. 26 - Jan. 5, Buffalo, N.Y.
Date Game Time (EST)
Sun., Dec. 26 Russia vs. Canada 4 p.m.
Finland vs. USA 8 p.m.
Tues., Dec. 28 Canada vs. Czech Republic 4 p.m.
USA vs. Slovakia 8 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 29 Norway vs. Canada 7:30 p.m.
Thurs., Dec. 30 Sweden vs. Czech Republic 3 p.m.
Germany vs. USA 7 p.m.
Fri., Dec. 31 Canada vs. Sweden 4 p.m.
USA vs. Switzerland 8 p.m.
Sun., Jan. 2 Quarterfinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Quarterfinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 3 Semifinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Semifinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Wed., Jan. 6 Bronze-Medal Game 3:30 p.m.
Gold-Medal Game 7:30 p.m.

*If qualified, USA will play at this time slot


(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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