ESPN to Televise Every Game of 2016 World Cup of Hockey

With the ESPN back in the NHL fold with this September’s World Cup of Hockey (a co-production between the NHL and the NHLPA), the sports network and the NHL today announced the broadcast schedule for the tournament.

Every game in the tournament will be shown across ESPN’s various platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNEWS as well as on WatchESPN on computers, smartphones, tablets and other connected devices “via an affiliated video provider.”

Things kick off on September 17 at 3:30 PM when the USA takes on Team Europe on ESPN2. One of the marquee matchups will see Team USA take on Canada in primetime on September 20 at 8 PM on ESPN.

The best two-out-of-three finals will take place from September 27 to October 1 with game one being broadcast at 8 PM on ESPN on September 27, game two on September 29 at 8 PM on ESPN2 and game three (if necessary) on October 1 at 7 PM on ESPN2. You can find the full schedule here.

Commentary teams will see Steve Levy (play-by-play) and Barry Melrose (analyst) call all Team USA games as well as the semifinals and finals. Brett Hull, Chris Chelios, John Saunders, John Buccigross and Adnan Virk will hold studio hosting duties. Buccigross and (former Devils goaltender and current NHL Network personality) Kevin Weekes will call the remaining games with Buccigross on play-by-play and Weekes handling analysis. Leah Hextall will serve as an ice-level reporter and Linda Cohn will act as a feature reporter.

All games will emanate from the Air Canada Centre in Toronto. The tournament will include eight teams: the US, Canada, Russia, Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Team North America and Team Europe featuring some of the NHL’s best, including Kyle Palmieri and Cory Schneider of the Devils both on Team USA. Teams will compete in Group play with the top two finishers in each Group moving on to the semifinals and then to the finals. The tournament takes place from September 17 to October 1.

Kyle Palmieri One of NHL Network’s Forty Breakout Players of Last Season, Added to Team USA

What do players like Artemi Panarin, the reigning Calder Trophy winner as rookie of the year, Stanley Cup champion goaltender Matt Murray and super phenoms Jack Eichel and Connor McDavid have in common with Kyle Palmieri? All have been named to NHL.com and NHL Network’s list of forty breakout players from the 2015-16 season.

Palmieri came in at number eight on the list, compiled by researchers and producers from the NHL Network. It was all done for a show that will be broadcast later this summer on the channel.

The blurb that accompanied the right winger’s listing on the NHL’s website made mention of him having career highs in goals with 30, assists with 27 for 57 points. His previous highs came in Anaheim at 14 goals, 17 assists for 31 points. Palmieri also had 11 power play goals and 23 power play points according to NHL.com. Previously, it said he had only had seven goals and 14 points on the power play “in his first five NHL seasons combined.”

NHL.com also makes mention of Palmieri leading the Devils in goals, points, power play points and shots on goal (he had 222) and his “four game goal streak from Dec. 4-11.”

With the Devils this past season, Palmieri had an average ice time of 17:48, which the NHL.com article notes is “three-plus minutes more than his previous career-high.”

In other Kyle Palmieri-related news, the Montvale native was added to Team USA for the 2016 World Cup of Hockey.

The release on NHL.com says that he will replace Tampa Bay forward Ryan Callahan on the United States roster. Callahan, the former Ranger, just “had surgery on his right hip June 21 and is expected to need five months to recover.”

USA general manager Dean Lombardi said “Kyle brings an all-around game that we’re confident will fit nicely with the framework we’re looking to build. He’s coming off an outstanding year in New Jersey and will play an important role with our team.”

Palmieri has international experience with Team USA: he skated in the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, winning gold and the 2011 World Junior Championship, winning bronze and the 2008 World Under-18 Championship, also winning bronze in that tournament. He also played in the 2012 IIHF World Championship. NHL.com reports that he had two goals and two assists in seven games at that competition.

Palmieri joins fellow Devil Cory Schneider on Team USA’s World Cup of Hockey 23-man roster.

Congratulations to Kyle Palmieri on both of these honors!