Up to three games involving Team USA in the upcoming World Junior Championships will be telecast on YES Network, a regional sports network based in New York City, which is carried over satellite systems.
The 10-nation under-20 tournament takes place Dec. 26, 2002-Jan. 5, 2003 in Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Jim Rich will provide play-by-play coverage and Andy Brickley will add color commentary. Rich is a sports broadcaster for KMSP, a Fox television affiliate in Minneapolis/St. Paul, and produces and hosts college hockey’s only weekly conference radio show, “This Week In The WCHA.” This will be Rich’s third stint in the broadcast booth at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
Brickley, who spent 11 seasons as a forward in the National Hockey League, has delivered television color commentary for the Boston Bruins on the New England Sports Network since 2000. Brickley played for current U.S. National Junior Team Head Coach Lou Vairo at the 1981 IIHF World Junior Championship.
All possible televised games will begin with the tournament’s Qualification Round on Thursday, Jan. 2, pending Team USA’s participation in that round. Consequently, the U.S. National Junior Team finishes either second or third in Group A following the Preliminary Round, the YES Network will air the subsequent Qualification Round contest involving Team USA at 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, Jan. 2.
The YES Network will also televise the U.S. if it reaches the Friday, Jan. 3 Semifinal Round (by either finishing first in Group A after the Preliminary Round or by winning a Qualification Round game on Jan. 2). Team USA’s Semifinal Round contest would be televised at midnight EST on Jan. 3 and re-broadcast at 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 4.
Regardless of a win or loss by the U.S. in the Semifinal Round, the YES Network would air Team USA’s Medal Round contest at 7 p.m. EST on Sunday, Jan. 5 (gold-medal game is live).
Also, for the first time ever all U.S. National Junior Team games, including Preliminary Round games, can be heard live exclusively through online audiocasts at www.USAHockey.com.
Online Audiocast Schedule
USA vs. Russia — Thursday, Dec. 26, 5 p.m.
USA vs. Switzerland — Saturday, Dec. 28, 3 p.m.
USA vs. Belarus — Monday, Dec. 30, 1 p.m.
USA vs. Slovakia — Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1 p.m.
Qualification Round — Thursday, Jan. 2, 3 or 7 p.m.
Semifinal Round — Friday, Jan. 3, 3 or 7 p.m.
Bronze/Gold Medal Game — Sunday, Jan. 5, 3 p.m./7 p.m.
YES Network Television Schedule-*
Qualification Round — Thursday, Jan. 2, 7 p.m. – **
Semifinal Round — Friday, Jan. 3, midnight
Semifinal Round — Saturday, Jan. 4, 1 p.m. (rebroadcast)
Bronze/Gold Medal Game — Sunday, Jan. 5, 7 p.m.
* — Pending Team USA’s participation in any of these rounds.
** — If U.S. vs. Canada matchup on Jan. 2, TV start time will be 9 p.m. EST.
