VERSUS/NBC Sports Network Winter Classic Weekend Schedule

VERSUS (NBC Sports Network on January 2nd) will be doing more extensive coverage on the Winter Classic than ever before. Here’s the listings for the network on that weekend.

Saturday, January 31
1:00 Winter Classic Alumni Game
6:00 NBC Sports: A Storied History
7:00 College Hockey: Boston University vs. Notre Dame
9:30 Notre Dame Hockey Special

Sunday, January 1
7:00 2010 Winter Classic: Philadelphia vs. Boston
10:00 2011 Winter Classic: Washington vs. Pittsburgh

Monday, January 2
7:30 AM 2010 Winter Classic: Philadelphia vs. Boston
10:00 AM 2011 Winter Classic: Washington vs. Pittsburgh
4:00 PM NHL Live
4:30 PM Cold War On Ice: Summit Series ’72
6:00 PM NBC Sports Talk
7:30 PM NHL Live
8:00 PM San Jose vs. Vancouver
10:30 PM NHL Live
11:00 PM NHL Overtime

And Here’s TSN’s Slightly More Extensive World Juniors Coverage

‘Tis the season for holiday traditions and TSN rolls out a doozy, as Canada’s Sports Leader heads to Edmonton and Calgary to deliver live coverage of the 2012 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. With multi-platform coverage on TSN, TSN2, TSN.ca, TSN Mobile TV and TSN Radio, hockey fans from coast to coast can cheer on Team Canada every step of the way when it goes for gold at the World Juniors.

 

Comprehensive coverage of the 2012 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP airs nationally on TSN, TSN2 and TSN Mobile TV from Dec. 26 to Jan. 5, with pre-competition games beginning on Monday, Dec. 19. Team Canada games are also available live online at TSN.ca, while the website has all World Juniors games on-demand.

 

Fans can also tune in to the tournament on Bell Media sports radio stations including TSN Radio 990 in Montreal, Team 1410 in Vancouver and Team 1200 in Ottawa.

 

In total, TSN will produce 26 games with exclusive live coverage of every Team Canada round-robin game, the quarter-final and semifinal match-ups, and the Bronze and Gold medal games. TSN’s 26-game schedule also includes live coverage of three Team Canada pre-competition games and 13 round-robin games not involving Team Canada. Prior to every Team Canada tournament game, TSN broadcasts a 30-minute pre-game show (see ‘Broadcast Schedule’ below).

 

Throughout the tournament, fans can join the conversation on TSN’s Fan Page on Facebook or follow TSN’s World Juniors analysts and experts on Twitter. Fans can also tweet their comments or questions using the #TSN and #2012WJC hashtags, with select tweets being featured during the TSN broadcasts.

 

Record Audiences

Team Canada’s heartbreaking loss to Team Russia at last year’s IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP delivered an average audience of 6.1 million viewers*, making it the most-watched broadcast ever on TSN. An astounding 12.2 million unique viewers tuned in to all or some of the entire broadcast. Currently, seven of the top 10 most-watched telecasts on TSN are World Juniors games.

 

TSN has been televising the IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP since 1991.

 

Broadcast Team

TSN’s coverage of the 2012 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP features James Duthie live on location in Edmonton and Calgary to host pre- and post-game shows – as well as intermissions – alongside Hockey Insider and leading junior hockey expert Bob McKenzie.

 

TSN game analyst Ray Ferraro makes his World Juniors debut this year calling all Team Canada games with play-by-play commentator Gord Miller. This marks the 10th consecutive year that Miller is in the broadcast booth for the event. Joining Miller and Ferraro is reporter Farhan Lalji, who is rinkside for Team Canada games.

 

Also featured in the booth are play-by-play commentator Dave Randorf and game analyst Craig Button, who call the action for other round-robin match-ups. New TSN recruit and former St. Louis Blues’ head coach Davis Payne, a native of Port Alberni, BC, provides analysis for these games from the TSN studio.

 

SPORTSCENTRE

Throughout the tournament, reporters Lalji, Jermain Franklin and John Lu file daily reports for SPORTSCENTRE. Canada’s most-watched sports news program also features expert analysis, interviews, and in-depth reports from Duthie, McKenzie and Ferraro.

 

TSN.ca

Canada’s industry-leading sports website provides fans with extensive coverage of the 2012 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Along with games available live and on demand, TSN.ca has up-to-the-minute tournament news and reports, extended video highlights, player profiles and interviews, schedules, results, statistics, rosters and photo galleries.

 

TSN.ca also boasts a brand-new video player with PVR functionality so that fans can go back and catch any action they may have missed while watching Team Canada games live online. In addition, all of Canada’s games feature a live blog and an integrated live chat, giving fans the opportunity to connect with each other throughout the tournament.

 

Hockey Insider McKenzie gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at the tournament with online columns and blogs. Fans can also keep up with TSN’s World Juniors broadcast team on Twitter for breaking news.

 

TSN Mobile

Fans on the go can keep tabs on all the action in Edmonton and Calgary with the TSN Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and BlackBerry, which delivers all the latest World Juniors news, plus in-progress scoring updates and stats.

 

TSN Radio

TSN Radio in Montreal (AM 990) hits the ice along with Team 1410 in Vancouver and Team 1200 in Ottawa, as the stations have live coverage of the 2012 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. Bell Media sports radio stations also regularly feature TSN’s hockey experts and Insiders breaking down all the action leading up to and during the World Juniors.

 

Broadcast Schedule

TSN’s 2012 IIHF WORLD JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP broadcast schedule is as follows:

Pre-Competition

• Monday, Dec. 19 – Canada vs. Finland at 9 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Thursday, Dec. 22 – Canada vs. Switzerland at 9 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Friday, Dec. 23 – Canada vs. Sweden at 9:30 p.m. ET on TSN

 

Round-Robin

• Monday, Dec. 26 – Canada vs. Finland at 3 p.m. ET on TSN

• Monday, Dec. 26 – Sweden vs. Latvia at 5:30 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Monday, Dec. 26 – USA vs. Denmark at 8 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Monday, Dec. 26 – Switzerland vs. Russia at 10:30 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Tuesday, Dec. 27 – Czech Republic vs. Denmark at 8 p.m. ET on TSN

• Wednesday, Dec. 28 – USA vs. Finland at 3:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Sweden vs. Switzerland at 5:30 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Canada vs. Czech Republic at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Russia vs. Slovakia at 10 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Thursday, Dec. 29 – Denmark vs. Canada at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Thursday, Dec. 29 – Latvia vs. Russia at 10 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Friday, Dec. 30 – USA vs. Czech Republic at 3:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Friday, Dec. 30 – Sweden vs. Slovakia at 5:30 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Friday, Dec. 30 – Finland vs. Denmark at 8 p.m. ET on TSN2

• Saturday, Dec. 31 – Czech Republic vs. Finland at 4 p.m. ET on TSN

• Saturday, Dec. 31 – Canada vs. USA at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Saturday, Dec. 31 – Russia vs. Sweden at 10 p.m. ET on TSN2

 

Playoffs and Medal Round

• Monday, Jan. 2 – Quarter-final #1 5 p.m. ET on TSN

• Monday, Jan. 2 – Quarter-final #2 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Tuesday, Jan. 3 – Semifinal #1 at 5 p.m. ET on TSN

• Tuesday, Jan. 3 – Semifinal #2 at 8:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Thursday, Jan. 5 – Bronze Medal Game at 3:30 p.m. ET on TSN

• Thursday, Jan. 5 – Gold Medal Game at 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN

Here’s How NHL Network Will Cover the World Juniors

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

Dec. 26 – Jan. 5

Date Game Time (EST)

Mon., Dec. 26 Canada vs. Finland 3:30 p.m.

USA vs. Denmark 8 p.m.

Tues., Dec. 27 Denmark vs. Czech Republic 8 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 28 Finland vs. USA 3:30 p.m.

Czech Republic vs. Canada 8 p.m.

Thurs., Dec. 29 Canada vs. Denmark 8 p.m.

Fri., Dec. 30 Czech Republic vs. USA 3:30 p.m.

Finland vs. Denmark 8 p.m.

Sat., Dec. 31 USA vs. Canada 8 p.m.

Mon., Jan. 2 Quarterfinal #1 5:00 p.m.

Quarterfinal #2 9:00 p.m.

Tue., Jan. 3 Semifinal #1 5:00 p.m.

Semifinal #2* 9:00 p.m.

Thur., Jan. 5 Bronze-Medal Game 3:30 p.m.

Gold-Medal Game 8:00 p.m.

World Juniors on NHL Network Round Robin Schedule

Largely done via NHL Network listings. All games will be proceeded and re-capped by NHL Live, NHL On the Fly or NHL Tonight.

Monday, December 26
3:30 Canada vs. Finland
8:00 USA vs. Denmark

Tuesday, December 27
8:00 Denmark vs. Czech Republic

Wednesday, December 28
3:30 Finland vs. USA
8:00 Czech Republic vs. Canada

Thursday, December 29
8:00 Canada vs. Denmark

Friday, December 30
3:30 USA vs. Czech Republic
8:00 Finland vs. Denmark

Saturday, December 31
8:00 Canada vs. USA

Expect to See More ‘Humorous’ Geico Ads as League Renews Partnership with Car Insurance Company

NEW YORK (December 19, 2011) ─ The National Hockey League (NHL) today

announced that GEICO has renewed as the “Official Automobile Insurance

Partner of the NHL” in the United States. As part of this agreement,

GEICO will serve as a multi-year sponsor of the NHL Winter Classic®, NHL®

All-Star Weekend when held in the US, Stanley Cup® Playoffs. GEICO also has

also secured exclusive digital and broadcast inventory on NHL, NBC, and NBC

Sports Network (being re-branded from VERSUS on Jan. 2, 2012) platforms as

the Presenting Partner of the Stanley Cup® Playoffs.

 

During the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in Philadelphia, GEICO

will activate at the free fan festival, Spectator Plaza, hosting a “Guess

the Gecko” contest for chances to win prizes, an accuracy shooting contest,

a hockey suit-up challenge, and trivia games.

 

GEICO also will use the 2012 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic to launch

two new hockey-themed ads on NBC on Jan. 2. The ads will highlight some

notorious hockey rivalries and will commemorate the 75th anniversary of

GEICO by looking back at some historical hockey moments.

 

As a partner of the League’s jewel events, GEICO will receive

significant media exposure, including prominent in-ice brand position,

camera-visible dasherboards, presence at the accompanying fan festivals and

custom integration of the GEICO brand throughout all NHL-controlled media

properties including NHL.com, NHL Network™ and NHL Radio™.

 

“It’s exciting to have GEICO continue their partnership with the NHL

for many years to come” said Keith Wachtel, senior vice president of

integrated sales at the NHL. “GEICO’s commitment to activate against the

sport of hockey across the League, broadcast rightsholders and our member

Clubs is a great way to reach our avid and passionate fan base.”

 

According to Bill Brower, GEICO’s marketing director, “The NHL is a

great fit for us as we already support 18 NHL teams, local and national

broadcasts. It’s great to be a part of something that is fun and exciting

for the fans and we are very pleased to be associated with such an

important segment of American sports.”

 

“GEICO’s iconic advertising is a staple of our NHL telecasts and

their renewal demonstrates the benefits of the long-term partnership

between NBC and the NHL, including our new joint-sales effort,” said Seth

Winter, senior vice president of sports and Olympics sales and marketing

for NBC.

 

NHL, the NHL Shield, Stanley Cup and the word mark NHL Winter Classic are

registered trademarks and the NHL Winter Classic logo, NHL Network and NHL

Radio are trademarks of the National Hockey League. All Rights Reserved.

 

Here’s an Apparent Leak of the New NHL Network Logo

There you go. You can check out this and more from the NHL Network re-vamp – which I reported on first here at Puck the Media last week – including confirmation that NHL Tonight is coming, over at the great Paranoid Puck.

Your NHL National TV Schedule For the Week of December 19

Monday, December 19

Anaheim vs. Dallas, 8:00 p.m. ET, VERSUS
Play by Play: Dave Strader
Inside the Glass: Brian Engblom

Tuesday, December 20

Chicago vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m. ET, VERSUS/TSN2
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Inside the Glass: Pierre McGuire

Buffalo vs. Ottawa, 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN
Play by Play: Chris Cuthbert
Inside the Glass: Mike Johnson

Wednesday, December 21

Philadelphia vs. Dallas, 7:30 p.m. ET, VERSUS/TSN2
Play by Play: Dave Strader
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Inside the Glass: Brian Engblom

Montreal vs. Chicago, 7:30 p.m. ET, TSN
Play by Play: Chris Cuthbert
Inside the Glass: Mike Johnson

Detroit vs. Vancouver, 10:00 p.m. ET, TSN
Play by Play: Gord Miller
Inside the Glass: Ray Ferraro

Thursday, December 22

Detroit vs. Calgary, 9:30 p.m. ET, TSN
Play by Play: Dave Randorf
Inside the Glass: Darren Pang

Friday, December 23

Toronto vs. NY Islanders, 7:00 p.m. ET, TSN
Play by Play: Chris Cuthbert
Inside the Glass: Mike Johnson

Philadelphia vs. NY Rangers, 7:00 p.m. ET, NHL Network

Mike Milbury Will Remain Off the Air “While Focusing On His Affairs”

Here’s NBC Sports’ updated statement:

In our discussions with Mike, we both came to the conclusion that he should remain off the air while focusing on his affairs.”

Milbury Sends Denial Via Attorney

Through Milbury’s lawyer via ProHockeyTalk:

“Mike Milbury denies any allegations that there was an assault of any kind. He simply intervened in an altercation between his son and an opposing player. No one was struck, no one was injured and no one was threatened.”

Mike Milbury Charged with Battery and Assault of a 12-year Old, Wussification Suspected (UPDATED with info from NBC and CBC)

I… I can’t believe I’m writing this. From WCVB in Boston:

A former Boston Bruin and current TV analyst has been charged with assault and battery on a child.

Michael Milbury, who currently works as a hockey analyst for Versus NHL, was accused of assaulted a 12-year-old youth hockey player at the Dexter School Ice Rink in Brookline last week.

Milbury is an assistant coach of a local hockey team, and the alleged victim is a player from an opposing team.

Milbury played 12 seasons for the Bruins and was head coach for one season.

UPDATE: NBC’s statement:

“We are aware of the story and are gathering the facts. We will not have any further statements until we know more information.”

UPDATE: Just spoke to a CBC representative, who told me similarly that they will continue to gather information before making a decision regarding Milbury. Milbury only has one week left with the network before going exclusively to NBC.