NHL Network Continue to Show the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship

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, medstore Dec. 26 to Jan. 5. NHL Network also will televise all medal-round games and five additional preliminary-round match-ups, generic sale airing a total of 15 games in high-

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.”