Canada Goes for Back-to-Back Gold at the 2008 IIHF World Championship Sports Programming / TSN Posted by RAD on Apr 29, 2008 - 04:53 PM TSN celebrates the 100th year of the International Ice Hockey Federation as Team Canada looks to win its second straight gold medal at this year’s 2008 IIHF World Championship in Quebec City and Halifax, airing May 2 to 18 on TSN and TSN HD. TSN presents live coverage of 16 games – three preliminary round tilts featuring Team Canada, one preliminary round game featuring Finland vs. Slovakia, five qualification round games (three featuring Team Canada), three quarter-final match-ups, the semifinals, and the Bronze and Gold medal games. This marks the first time in the tournament’s 88-year history that Canada has hosted the IIHF’s marquee event, as Team Canada looks to take advantage of the hometown crowds in its quest for back-to-back World championships. TSN’s Gord Miller and Pierre McGuire will call the action from the broadcast booth, while Dave Randorf will host the tournament coverage from the TSN Studios alongside Hockey Insider Darren Dreger and analyst Darren Pang. SportsCentre’s Paul Hollingsworth will file reports from the round-robin and quarter-final games in Halifax while James Cybulski will be rinkside at the semifinals and final in Quebec City. TSN will also air a 2008 IIHF World Championship Preview Show tomorrow (Wednesday, April 30) at 7:30 p.m. ET. During the 60-minute show, TSN’s hockey experts will handicap the tournament favourites and spotlight some of the best players in the tourney who currently play in the NHL and those who could be destined for the NHL. The IIHF World Championship features the best men’s hockey teams from 16 countries. Seven members of Canada’s gold medal-winning team from last year, including captain Shane Doan, tournament MVP Rick Nash and rookie sensation Jonathan Toews, will return to defend their gold medal at this year’s tourney, along with Team Canada GM Steve Yzerman. Behind Team Canada’s bench this year will be head coach Ken Hitchcock and associate coaches Pat Burns, Mike Johnston and Craig MacTavish. This year’s World Championship has added significance, as the IIHF World Rankings at the conclusion of the tournament will determine seeding for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Canada heads into the tournament ranked third, behind Sweden and Finland. TSN’s 2008 IIHF World Championship broadcast schedule is as follows: · Wednesday, April 30 - 2008 IIHF World Championship Preview Show at 7:30 p.m. ET · Friday, May 2 – Canada(B) vs. Slovenia(B) at 3:30 p.m. ET · Sunday, May 4 – Canada (B) vs. Latvia(B) at 3:30 p.m. ET · Tuesday, May 6 – Canada(B) vs. USA(B) at 3:30 p.m. ET · Wednesday, May 7 – Finland(C) vs. Slovakia(C) at 3:30 p.m. ET · Thursday, May 8 – 1B vs. 2C at 3:30 p.m. ET · Saturday, May 10 – 1B vs. 3C at 3:30 p.m. ET · Sunday, May 11 – 1C vs. 2B at 3:30 p.m. ET · Monday, May 12 – 2B vs. 2C at 11:30 a.m. ET · Monday, May 12 – 1B vs. 1C at 3:30 p.m. ET · Wednesday, May 14 – Quarter-final Game #1 at 1 p.m. ET · Wednesday, May 14 – Quarter-final Game #2 at 3:30 p.m. ET · Wednesday, May 14 – Quarter-final Game #4 at 7 p.m. ET · Friday, May 16 - Semifinal Game #1 at 1 p.m. ET · Friday, May 16 - Semifinal Game #2 at 5 p.m. ET · Saturday, May 17 - Bronze Medal Game at 3 p.m. ET · Sunday, May 18 - Gold Medal Game at 1 p.m. ET *2007/2008 Roper Reports Canada This article is from CHANNEL CANADA   http://www.channelcanada.com/ The URL for this story is:   http://www.channelcanada.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2187