NHL Network U.S to Broadcast MasterCard Memorial Cup

Press Release

NEW YORK (May 19, 2011) – For the fourth consecutive year, NHL Network U.S. will showcase the best teams in Canadian major junior hockey as they compete for a national championship title at the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup tournament. NHL Network U.S will feature a combination of live and tape delayed broadcasts throughout the 10 days of competition from the tournament’s host city of Mississauga, Ontario.

Fans will have the opportunity to see the NHL’s future stars and 2011 draft picks as they take to the ice from May 19-29 at the Canadian Hockey League’s pinnacle tournament. Those teams challenging for the 2011 MasterCard Memorial Cup include Western Hockey League (WHL) champion Kootenay Ice, Ontario Hockey League (OHL) champion Owen Sound Attack and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) champion Saint John Sea Dogs, plus the host team Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors (OHL).

NHL Network U.S. will air Rogers Sportsnet’s coverage of all tournament games with the broadcast team of play-by-play man Peter Loubardias, analyst Sam Cosentino and host Rob Faulds. All games will be broadcast in high definition.

Tournament coverage will begin on Saturday, May 21, at 9:00 a.m. ET with the re-broadcast of the previous night’s action between the Saint John Sea Dogs and the host Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors. Saint John is led by top-ranked prospects C Jonathan Huberdeau (No. 3 ranked) and D Nathan Beaulieau (No. 5 ranked), two of nine Sea Dogs on NHL Central Scouting’s final ranking list. Mississauga’s captain C Casey Cizikas, drafted 92nd by the NY Islanders in 2009, will lead the Majors to their first Memorial Cup appearance since 1961.

In the second game of Saturday’s double-header, NHL Network U.S. will provide live coverage when the Owen Sound Attack take on the Kootenay Ice at 7:00 p.m. ET. WHL Eastern Conference MVP and Kootenay center Cody Eakin, drafted 85th by the Washington Capitals in 2009, will lead the Ice against Owen Sound, which is coming off a big Game 7 win in the OHL championship series. The Attack’s 17-year-old, draft-eligible goaltender Jordan Binnington only allowed four goals on 70 shots over the last two games of the series.

Additional live game coverage will be added to the NHL Network U.S. schedule as the NHL’s Conference Finals series conclude. Fans are encouraged to check the schedule at www.nhlnetwork.com for updates.

All of NHL Network’s live broadcasts will feature intermissions originating from the NHL Network studio in Toronto. NHL Network will also feature nightly Memorial Cup coverage on NHL On The Fly with tournament news and notes and game analysis.

NHL.com also will have special coverage of the tournament in its entirety with a team of reporters and videographers on-site to cover the sights and sounds of the CHL’s best.

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