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Oh. Hey. Did you forget the World Cup of Hockey was still going on this year? Did you also forget ESPN is carrying most of the games? Yeah, me, too.
Anyway, here's the schedule straight from the Worldwide Leader itself. Check your remote control for whatever channels are ESPN and ESPN 2 where you live.
Date | Time (ET) | Telecast | Network |
Sat, Sep 17 | 3:30 p.m. | Group Play: USA vs. Europe | ESPN2 |
8 p.m. | Group Play: Czech Republic vs. Canada | ESPNEWS | |
Sun, Sep 18 | 3 p.m. | Group Play: Sweden vs. Russia | ESPN |
8 p.m. | Group Play: North America vs. Finland | ESPN2 | |
Mon, Sep 19 | 3 p.m. | Group Play: Europe vs. Czech Republic | ESPN2 |
8 p.m. | Group Play: Russia vs. North America | ESPN2 | |
Tue, Sep 20 | 3 p.m. | Group Play: Finland vs. Sweden | ESPN |
8 p.m. | Group Play: Canada vs. USA | ESPN | |
Wed, Sep 21 | 3 p.m. | Group Play: North America vs. Sweden | ESPN |
8 p.m. | Group Play: Europe vs Canada | ESPN2 | |
Thu, Sep 22 | 3 p.m. | Group Play: Finland vs. Russia | ESPN |
8 p.m. | Group Play: USA vs. Czech Republic | ESPN2 | |
Sat, Sep 24 | 7 p.m. | Semifinal one | ESPN2 |
Sun, Sep 25 | 1 p.m. | Semifinal two | ESPN |
Tue, Sep 27 | 8 p.m. | Final: Game one | ESPN |
Thu, Sep 29 | 8 p.m. | Final: Game two | ESPN2 |
Sat, Oct 1 | 7 p.m. | Final: Game three (if necessary) | ESPN2 |
Four Islanders (as of now) are participating in the tournament, including John Tavares (Team Canada) and Nikolay Kulemin (Team Russia). Coach Jack Capuano is on the staff for Team USA, although no players from the Islanders were chosen.
Team Europe is loaded with current and former Islanders like Thomas Griess, Jaroslav Halak, Frans Nielsen, Thomas Vanek and Mark Streit. Miro Satan, of all people, is even the team's GM. Let's hope that rag tag band of deserted loners works out better than this one did.
Other entrants are the usual rogues gallery of international talent such as Finland, Sweden and the Czech Republic. And the all-under-24 Team North America features some of the game's best up-and-coming talent.
Broadcasters for the event include ESPN stalwarts Steve Levy, Linda Cohn, John Buccigross and Barry Melrose, as well as NHL legends Chris Chelios and Brett Hull and newcomer Leah Hextall. Basically, NHL means the 1990's to ESPN so expect lots of jokes about Pogs and Bill Clinton playing the saxophone.