COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today a partnership with Universal Sports that will provide live streaming and same-day television coverage of the final three Team USA games at the 2009 International Ice Hockey Federation World Women's Hockey Championship currently taking place in Hameenlinna, Finland.
The coverage begins Thursday (April 9) when Team USA plays its first qualifying-round game against Finland. Opening faceoff is set for 12 p.m. EDT. UniversalSports.com will stream the game live, while the Universal Sports Television Network will provide same-day coverage beginning at 4 p.m. EDT. A complete internet and television schedule is below.
Ari Wolfe will provide the play-by-play, while two-time U.S. Olympian AJ Mleczko will handle color commentary.
Team USA, the defending world champion, has won its first two games in the 2009 IIHF World Women's Championship, including 8-0 victories over Japan on April 4 and Russia on April 6.
At last year's IIHF World Women's Championship in Harbin, China, the U.S. beat Canada (which had not lost in 29 games) an unprecedented two times, including by a 4-3 count in the gold-medal game. In addition to the two wins over Canada, Team USA earned preliminary-round victories over Switzerland and Germany and outscored opponents by a 23-8 margin.
Universal Sports, formerly World Championship Sports Network (WCSN), a joint venture between NBC Sports and InterMedia Partners, serves as a multiplatform destination for Olympic and lifestyle sports programming. The Universal Sports Television Network andUniversalSports.com deliver exclusive live and on-demand coverage of world-class competitions, interaction with top athletes and in-depth access to sports news and information year round. Universal Sports Television Network is available on television in over 45 million U.S. homes. It can be viewed online via UniversalSports.com.
NOTES: Further coverage of the 2009 IIHF World Women's Championship can be found on USAHockey.com, as well as on the U.S. Women's National Team's Facebook page and on USA Hockey's Twitter page ... Team USA has won two gold medals and nine silvers in the 11 previous IIHF World Women’s Championships. The U.S. has won two of the last three world championships (2005, 2008).
Universal Sports Television Network/UniversalSports.com Broadcast Schedule of Team USA at the 2009 IIHF World Women’s Championship Schedule - Hameenlinna, Finland
Thurs., April 9 Finland Patria Arena 4-6:30 p.m. 12-2:30 p.m.
Fri., April 10 Canada Patria Arena 4-6:30 p.m. 12-2:30 p.m.
Sun., April 12 Bronze-Medal Game* Patria Arena 9-11:30 a.m. 8-10:30 a.m.
Gold-Medal Game Patria Arena 12-3 p.m. 12-3 p.m.
Universal Sports will broadcast the bronze-medal game only is Team USA is playing.
Tag(s): 2009
