December 10, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Matt McConnell, Dave Starman and Fred Pletsch will make up the broadcast team for the NHL Network’s coverage of U.S. games in the upcoming International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, Dec. 26 – Jan. 5 in Ottawa.

The NHL Network will televise all U.S. games of the event. In addition, the Network will broadcast all medal-round games and all of Team Canada's preliminary-round games. The U.S. games will have a production and broadcast team, while all other contests on the NHL Network will utilize a feed from TSN.

McConnell, who will handle play-by-play duties, has 12 years of experience as an NHL broadcaster. He is currently the lead play-by-play broadcaster for NCAA hockey on CBS College Sports and also fills in on Atlanta Thrashers broadcasts on SportSouth.

Starman, who will serve as the analyst, is currently the lead analyst for CBS College Sports coverage of NCAA hockey. His resume includes previous broadcasting stints covering both the New York Rangers and the New York Islanders.

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

The first NHL Network broadcast from the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship will take place on Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m. EST, when Team USA faces Germany. The complete schedule is below.

NOTE: Broadcast coverage of the IIHF World Junior Championship on the NHL Network is only available to viewers in the United States.

NHL Network Coverage of 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship

Date	Match-Up	Time (EST)
Fri., Dec. 26	Germany-United States	3:30 p.m.
	Canada-Czech Republic	7:30 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 28	Kazakhstan-Canada	3:30 p.m.
	United States-Czech Republic	7:30 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 29	Germany-Canada	7:30 p.m.
Tue., Dec. 30	United States-Kazakhstan	7:30 p.m.
Wed., Dec. 31	Canada-United States	7:30 p.m.
Fri., Jan. 2	Quarterfinals	3:30/7:30 p.m.
Sat., Jan. 3	Semifinals	3:30/7:30 p.m.
Mon., Jan. 5	Bronze/Gold Medal Games	3:30/7:30 p.m.