ESPN2 to Televise WJC Games of TeamUSA

[star2city]

The long-awaited US television deal for the World Juniors has finally been announced.

ESPN coverage of U.S. team in World Juniors begins Dec. 25

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. --  ESPN will provide unprecedented coverage of Team USA games in the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, slated for Dec. 25, 2004 - January 4, 2005, at the Ralph Engelstad Arenas in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and Thief River Falls, Minnesota.

The slated coverage calls for ESPN2 to televise three of four U.S. games in the preliminary round of the championship. In addition, ESPN2 will televise all U.S. games leading to the gold-medal game. A U.S. appearance in the gold-medal game would be televised by ESPN.

"We're extremely pleased to have ESPN involved," said Doug Palazzari, USA Hockey executive director. "I know hockey fans in the United States will enjoy the high level of play they'll see."

With the games scheduled for the ESPN2 audience, the 2005 World Junior Championship will be broadcast in nearly 85 million homes.

ESPN2 Preliminary Round Schedule (all times Eastern):

Sat., Dec. 25, USA vs. Russia, 8:30 p.m.

Mon., Dec. 27, USA vs. Switzerland, 9:00 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 29, USA vs. Belarus, 9:30 p.m.(tape-delayed)

Along side ESPN's coverage of the tournament, U.S.-based World Sport, a high-definition network on Cablevision's Voom service, will televise all 21 games of the event from Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, which includes all Team USA games. The only live telecast on World Sport will come when Team USA plays Russia on Dec. 25. All other World Sport broadcasts will be on a delayed basis at selected times in January and February.

[dakotadan]

This is going to turn out to be great publicity for REA, UND, and the city of Grand Forks. We couldn't buy better publicity than being broadcast into 85 Million homes!!!

[SiouxMeNow]

This is going to turn out to be great publicity for REA, UND, and the city of Grand Forks. We couldn't buy better publicity than being broadcast into 85 Million homes!!!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

AWESOME!!! and it will be actual VIDEO - like the REAL GAME?? not just crappy 8-point agate type scrolling a score across the bottom of the screen that seems to make "SOME" people south of us pee in their pants?? VERY COOL!!!! GO RALPH GO!!!

[dakotadan]

Add on top of that the 2005 D-II Men's BBall Championship that is being televised on CBS and next seasons regional in hockey. Grand Forks is getting some awesome exposure nationally!!!!!

[Poncho & Lefty]

This sure is great, my June lives in Grand Forks and its a great town. It's nice to see that the NHL locked out so that this could happen. Couldn't have happened to better people, i love the Red River Valley and miss it everyday. Ann Arbor is nice and all but if it werent for my Betsy i'd still be a farm boy growing up in Manvel.