CBS Sports Network to Broadcast National Collegiate Hockey Conference Games in 2013

CBS Sports Network and the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC) announced Tuesday the two parties have agreed on a multi-year deal to televise games beginning in the 2013-14 season, asthma the league’s inaugural campaign.

The agreement calls for a minimum of 18 conference games to be broadcast, ed including the NCHC’s tournament semifinal and championship games.

“With top teams and passionate fan bases, medic the National is poised to be an elite college hockey conference and we’re thrilled to be the national television partner,” CBS Sports Network Senior Vice President Dan Weinberg said. “College hockey has been a staple of our programming and we’re pleased to expand our coverage and further serve fans with compelling and competitive conference action.”

Western Michigan University officially joined the NCHC on Sept. 22 after the league was formed last July.

Conference commissioner Jim Scherr said he’s excited about the exposure the league will receive with the new television deal.

“We are delighted to be associated with the preeminent national broadcaster of college hockey,” Scherr said. “It is our goal to be the premier single-sport conference in intercollegiate athletics and the unmatched exposure and production quality that will be provided by CBS Sports Network will contribute significantly to realizing that vision.”

Joining WMU in the new conference will be Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, Denver, Colorado College, North Dakota and St. Cloud State.