COLORADO SPRINGS, USA – USA Hockey and the NHL Network U.S. have agreed to a long-term extension of their broadcast deal that will keep NHL Network as the exclusive home for the IIHF Ice Hockey U20 World Championship in the United States through the 2018 event.

NHL Network will provide exclusive live broadcasts and NHL.com will provide live streams of all U.S. National Junior Team games at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship taking place Dec. 26 - Jan. 5 in Alberta, Canada. NHL Network will also televise all medal-round games and five additional preliminary-round match-ups, airing a total of 15 games in high definition.

"We're extremely pleased to extend our partnership with the NHL Network," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "They're passionate about televising the World Junior Championship and fans will notice continued enhancements in their coverage of Team USA and the tournament overall."

“The IIHF World Junior Championship is not only a preeminent international hockey tournament, it has become known as the place to view future NHL stars," said Bob Chesterman, NHL Network vice president of programming. “Viewers will see a high level of skill and talent and intense match-ups between rival countries. The World Junior Championship is an excellent complement to our NHL programming.”

All Team USA games will be NHL Network original broadcasts. "NHL On the Fly," NHL Network’s signature highlight show, and NHL Live will provide intermission coverage and nightly analysis of the tournament.

The U.S. National Junior Team is coming off back-to-back medals in the IIHF World Junior Championship for the first time ever, having earned a bronze medal in last year's event in Buffalo, N.Y., and a gold medal at the 2010 World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask.

The tournament's popularity stems from its reputation as a showcase for the game's best up-and-coming young players from around the world. Many current American-born NHL stars have played in the tournament, including Patrick Kane, Jack Johnson, Zach Parise and Bobby Ryan, to name a few.

The U.S. National Junior Team will begin preliminary-round play against Denmark on Dec. 26 at 8 p.m. EST. A full Team USA and NHL Network television schedule is below.

BROADCAST TEAM

Matt Rosen, Dave Starman and Rob Simpson will make up the broadcast team for the NHL Network’s coverage of Team USA’s games.

Rosen, who will handle play-by-play duties, has called hockey and football for the Big Ten Network in addition to his extensive broadcast and hosting experience with the Phoenix Coyotes. Rosen has served as the host for all Coyotes Radio Broadcasts as well as the team's post-game call-in show, "Coyotes Wrap-Up," and the weekly magazine show "Coyotes Weekly."

Starman, who will serve as the analyst, will begin his fourth consecutive stint covering Team USA's games at the IIHF World Junior Championship for NHL Network. He is currently in his ninth season as lead analyst for CBS College Sports' coverage of NCAA hockey.

Simpson, who will serve as the rinkside reporter for the medal rounds, has regularly contributed to the popular NHL Live show on NHL Network, MSG Network in New York, SIRIUS XM Radio and NHL.com original broadband programming.