90 American Hockey League games to be shown on ESPN
ESPN America will be the live and exclusive television home of the American Hockey League this season, having reached an agreement with the league to televise up to 90 games on ESPN America across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
The 30-team professional ice hockey league – based in the United States and Canada – serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League (NHL). Coverage throughout the season will be a combination of live and as-live.
ESPN America will feature as-live coverage of Hamilton Bulldogs travelling to the Toronto Marlies on Sunday 21st October, with the first live game coming to the channel on Friday 26th October with Peoria Rivermen playing host to the Chicago Wolves.
ESPN America will bring hockey fans exclusive coverage of the Calder Cup playoffs and Finals from April through to June. The channel will also feature coverage of The 2013 Dunkin’ Donuts AHL All-Star Classic, pitting the top players from the AHL’s Eastern Conference against the best of the Western Conference. The two-day event begins with the AHL All-Star Skills Competition on Sunday 27th January followed by the AHL All-Star Game on Monday 28th January.
The NHL lockout has meant many players have taken their talents to the AHL. Mikael Granlund, arguably the best prospect in hockey, has left the NHL’s Minnesota Wild to join the Houston Aeros, while Chris Krieder, a New York Rangers future star is playing for the Connecticut Whale. The Oklahoma City Barons are the team to have benefited most from the lockout, with three top young NHL prospects – Jordan Eberle, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Justin Schultz – joining their roster.
The AHL will join an extensive portfolio of top class sport on ESPN America and ESPN America HD, the only European networks devoted exclusively to the best in North American sport. The channel features coverage of the NFL, NHL, MLB and NCAA Football and Basketball across Europe, available to 19 million homes in more than 40 countries.
Game Schedule
October 2012, date time (GMT)
Sunday 21st 12.00pm* Hamilton at Toronto
Friday 26th 1.00am* Chicago at Peoria (LIVE)
Sunday 28th 9.00am Abbotsford at Lake Erie
Monday 29th 5.00pm Grand Rapids at Chicago
November 2012
Saturday 3rd 8.00am Chicago at Rockford
Sunday 4th 8.00pm Chicago at Charlotte (LIVE)
Tuesday 6th 12.00am Chicago at Charlotte (LIVE)
Sunday 11th 2.30pm Oklahoma City at Abbotsford
Friday 16th 1.00am Chicago at Peoria (LIVE)
Sunday 18th 4.00pm Hamilton at Toronto
Tuesday 20th 1.00am Milwaukee at Chicago (LIVE)
Sunday 25th 12.30pm Milwaukee at Chicago
Wednesday 28th 1.00am Rockford at Chicago (LIVE)
Friday 30th 1.00am Chicago at Milwaukee (LIVE)
*BST
For game times and updated schedule information throughout the AHL season, visit www.espnamerica.com.
