Hradek, Granato and Morosi to Broadcast Every Team USA Game Throughout Tournament
Extensive Coverage of 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic Begins January 1
Boyle, Demers and Jaffe to Appear On-Site from Miami for Practice Day and Outdoor Game
NHL Network™ today announced it will provide exclusive coverage of the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, marking the 50th edition of the storied international tournament, along with extensive coverage of the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic®. Operating as the U.S. TV home for the 18th consecutive year, NHL Network will air live game broadcasts of the World Junior Championship plus previews, highlights, interviews and analysis of the tournament from St. Paul, Minnesota on the NHL Network flagship studio show NHL Tonight ™.
Often serving as a preview of the NHL’s next generation of stars, the World Junior Championship has launched the careers of dozens of current NHL captains, All-Stars and award winners. The 2026 tournament returns to United States ice for the first time since 2018 and marks the seventh time the U.S. has hosted the event, bringing 10 of the world’s top under-20 national teams together in one of hockey’s most anticipated annual showcases.
Coverage will begin on Friday, December 26 with four live game telecasts on NHL Network: Slovakia vs. Sweden at 1 p.m. ET, followed by Finland vs. Denmark at 3:30 p.m. ET, then USA vs. Germany at 6 p.m. ET, and Canada vs. Czechia at 8:30 p.m. ET. NHL Network will preview the 2026 World Junior Championship tournament matchups and players to watch on NHL Tonight: 2026 World Junior Championship Preview on Thursday, December 25 at 6 p.m. ET. Additional Team USA games include against Switzerland on Saturday, December 27, vs. Slovakia on Monday, December 29, and against Sweden on Wednesday, December 31 all at 6 p.m. ET.
NHL Network’s coverage will spotlight each nation’s pursuit of international success and the next wave of NHL talent. For the sixth consecutive year, NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek will provide the play-by-play call for each Team USA game alongside former NHL winger and former head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team Tony Granato with Jon Morosi serving as reporter. The broadcast team brings decades of game calling, coaching and national reporting experience to NHL Network’s national coverage. Morosi will also contribute the following original features on Team USA throughout the network’s studio content on the tournament:
- A sit-down with University of Minnesota head coach Bob Motzko as he returns to coach Team USA for the first time since 2018 will include his reaction to his previous World Junior Championship coaching experience;
- Boston College forward and Nashville Predators prospect Teddy Stiga discusses his path to Team USA and development at the collegiate level;
- University of Michigan defenseman Dakoda Rhéaume-Mullen, the son of hockey trailblazer Manon Rhéaume, sit-down to talk about his family legacy and opportunity to represent Team USA;
- University of Minnesota forward and Buffalo Sabres prospect Brodie Ziemer, the probable captain for Team USA, discusses leadership and expectations;
- University of Minnesota-Duluth forward and Detroit Red Wings prospect Max Plante discusses growing up in Minnesota and the tournament being in his backyard, plus him mom, Kristi, joins to talk about having three sons involved with hockey;
- And Boston University forward and New York Islanders prospect Kamil Bednarik talks about his father’s terrible work accident and his own resilience.
NHL Network’s flagship studio show NHL Tonight and the @NHLMedia across all social platforms will extensively cover the World Junior Championship tournament, plus the complete on-air schedule for the World Junior Championship tournament is available below.
NHL Network’s 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship Live Game Schedule:
| Date | Matchup | Time |
| Friday, December 26 | Slovakia vs. Sweden | 1 p.m. |
| Finland vs. Denmark | 3:30 p.m. | |
| USA vs. Germany | 6 p.m. | |
| Canada vs. Czechia | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Saturday, December 27 | Germany vs. Slovakia | 2 p.m. |
| Switzerland vs. USA | 6 p.m. | |
| Czechia vs. Denmark | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Sunday, December 28 | Switzerland vs. Sweden | 2 p.m. |
| Latvia vs. Finland | 4:30 p.m. | |
| Monday, December 29 | Sweden vs. Germany | 1 p.m. |
| Czechia vs. Finland | 3:30 p.m. | |
| USA vs. Slovakia | 6 p.m. | |
| Denmark vs. Canada | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Tuesday, December 30 | Germany vs. Switzerland | 2 p.m. |
| Denmark vs. Latvia | 4:30 p.m. | |
| Wednesday, December 31 | Slovakia vs. Switzerland | 1 p.m. |
| Latvia vs. Czechia | 3:30 p.m. | |
| Sweden vs. USA | 6 p.m. | |
| Finland vs. Canada | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Friday, January 2 | Quarterfinal #1: TBD vs. TBD | 2 p.m. |
| Quarterfinal #3: TBD vs. TBD | 6 p.m. | |
| Quarterfinal #4: TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Sunday, January 4 | Semifinal #1: TBD vs. TBD | 4:30 p.m. |
| Semifinal #2: TBD vs TBD | 8:30 p.m. | |
| Monday, January 5 | Bronze Medal Game: TBD vs. TBD | 4:30 p.m. |
| Gold Medal Game: TBD vs. TBD | 8:30 p.m. |
*All times ET
With the New Year approaching, one of the NHL season’s most anticipated events also returns as NHL Network provides live on-site coverage of the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic® from loanDepot Park on Friday, January 2 during the 4:30 p.m. ET edition of NHL Tonight. The Florida Panthers will appear in their first-ever outdoor NHL game, while the New York Rangers bring a notable NHL Winter Classic legacy, having remained unbeaten in their previous appearances.
NHL Network’s Brian Boyle, Jason Demers and Billy Jaffe will lead its NHL Winter Classic coverage. Boyle’s on-site presence brings a full-circle perspective to the event, returning to the NHL Winter Classic as an analyst after experiencing the outdoor stage as a player in 2012. The trio will provide practice-day coverage from Miami on Thursday, January 1 during NHL Tonight at 6 p.m. ET, offering viewers behind-the-scenes access as an MLB venue is transformed into an NHL outdoor stage.
