December Programming Highlights
TSN, ESPN Classic, NHL Network and Sports on CTV

TSN
2006 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship
The 2006 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship returns to Canadian soil with the Canucks primed and poised to defend their 2005 title on home ice. This year’s event will be held in Vancouver, Kamloops and Kelowna, B.C. from December 26 through January 5. TSN’s exclusive and extensive coverage includes a total of 14 games – two Canadian exhibition match-ups, all of Team Canada’s round-robin games, three Team USA round-robin tilts and the quarter-finals, semifinals, Bronze Medal Game and the Gold Medal Game. TSN’s Gord Miller will call the play-by-play alongside analyst Pierre McGuire. This year marks the return of the tournament to Canada for the first time since 2003, when the event was held in Halifax. TSN’s coverage of the Gold Medal Game from the 2003 World Juniors in Halifax attracted the largest audience in network history with 3.5 million viewers, while last year’s gold medal game drew 3.2 million viewers – the second most-watched program ever on TSN. TSN has been televising the World Juniors since 1991, and the tournament’s appeal as a viewer favourite is evident as four of the Top 5 programs of all time on TSN are World Junior broadcasts. TSN’s broadcast schedule for the 2006 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship is as follows:

•    Tuesday, Dec. 20 – Exhibition Game: Canada vs. Czech Republic at 10:30 p.m. ET
•    Thursday, Dec. 22 – Exhibition Game: Canada vs. Russia at 10 p.m. ET
•    Monday, Dec. 26 – Canada vs. Finland at 6:30 p.m. ET (includes pre-game) (encore on Dec. 27 at 3 p.m. ET)
•    Tuesday, Dec. 27 – USA vs. Norway at 12:30 p.m. ET
•    Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Canada vs. Switzerland at 6:30 p.m. ET (includes pre-game) (encore on Dec. 29 at 3 p.m. ET)
•    Thursday, Dec. 29 – USA vs. Finland at 12:30 p.m. ET
•    Thursday, Dec. 29 – Canada vs. Norway at 6:30 p.m. ET (includes pre-game)
•    Saturday, Dec. 31 – Canada vs. USA at 6:30 p.m. ET (includes pre-game) (encore on Jan. 1 at 1 p.m. ET)
•    Monday, Jan. 2 – Quarter-finals at 6:30 p.m. ET
•    Monday, Jan. 2 – Quarter-finals at 11 p.m. ET
•    Tuesday, Jan. 3 – Semifinals at 6:30 p.m. ET (includes pre-game)
•    Tuesday, Jan. 3 – Semifinals at 11 p.m. ET
•    Thursday, Jan. 5 – Bronze Medal Game at 3 p.m. ET
•    Thursday, Jan. 5 – Gold Medal Game at 6:30 p.m. ET (includes pre-game)

In addition, TSN will televise the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championship Preview Show on Friday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. ET. The 60-minute program will provide viewers with all of the latest details regarding the annual tournament, including in-depth features and exclusive interviews. TSN’s flagship news program, SportsCentre, will have daily Team Canada reports leading up to and during the tournament, including on-site analysis from its team of experts.

ESPN Classic joins in the celebrations with World Junior Weekend on December 24 and 25, dedicated to classic games from past World Junior championships. Please see the ESPN Classic section below for more information and broadcast schedule.

NHL on TSN
TSN sends holiday wishes with a fully loaded NHL broadcast schedule in December that includes 12 nationally televised games (five of which are in High Definition on TSN HD) and two regionally televised Molson Canadian Leafs Hockey games.

Highlights of the schedule include five Wednesday Night Hockey tilts and two doubleheaders, one of which features an all-Canadian matchup with Edmonton @ Vancouver on December 21.

NHL on TSN’s broadcast schedule for December is as follows:
•    Tuesday, Dec. 6 – Atlanta @ San Jose at 10:30 p.m. ET
•    *Wednesday, Dec. 7 – Calgary @ New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. ET
•    *Tuesday, Dec. 13 – Phoenix @ Montreal at 7:30 p.m. ET
•    *Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Dallas @ Buffalo at 7 p.m. ET
•    *Friday, Dec. 16 – Buffalo @ Pittsburgh at 7:30 p.m. ET
•    Tuesday, Dec. 20 – Colorado @ Nashville at 7:30 p.m. ET
•    Wednesday, Dec. 21 – New Jersey @ NY Islanders at 7:30 p.m. ET
•    *Wednesday, Dec. 21 – Edmonton @ Vancouver at 10 p.m. ET
•    Wednesday, Dec. 28 – Nashville @ Vancouver at 10:30 p.m. ET
•    Thursday, Dec. 29 – Minnesota @ Calgary at 10 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 30 – NY Islanders @ Ottawa at 7 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 30 – Nashville @ Edmonton at 9:30 p.m. ET

*available in High Definition on TSN HD

TSN’s Molson Canadian Leafs Hockey broadcast schedule for December is as follows:
•    Thursday, Dec. 1 – Toronto @ Atlanta at 7 p.m. ET
•    Thursday, Dec. 22 – Toronto @ Boston at 7 p.m. ET

Championship Curling on TSN
Curling makes a triumphant return to TSN with Championship Curling on TSN, featuring afternoon and evening draws from the first seven of nine days (Saturday through Friday) from the Scott Tournament of Hearts, Tim Hortons Brier, Ford World Curling Championships from Canada, and this month’s Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings Canadian Curling Trials beginning December 3 from Halifax. The Canadian Curling Trials features Canada’s elite, as they compete for the right to represent the nation at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games. The field will include the current Canadian women's champion led by skip Jennifer Jones, as well as the reigning Canadian men's champion skipped by Shawn Adams. TSN’s broadcast schedule for the Canadian Curling Trials is as follows:
•    Saturday, Dec. 3 at 12 noon ET and 7 p.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 4 at 1 p.m. ET and 5:30 p.m. ET
•    Monday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET
•    Tuesday, Dec. 6 at 1 p.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET
•    Wednesday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. ET and 10 p.m. ET
•    Thursday, Dec. 8 at 12 noon ET and 6:30 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 9 at 12 noon ET and 6:30 p.m. ET

Special Olympics Day
TSN continues its support of Special Olympics Canada with Special Olympics Day on December 3 – a day of programming dedicated to honouring the inspirational achievements of Special Olympics athletes across Canada. Throughout the day, TSN personalities will host a variety of short features recognizing Special Olympics athletes from across Canada, including interviews with the athletes. The day also features a two-hour special at 10 a.m. ET entitled Special Olympics Day on TSN, celebrating the accomplishments of Canadian Special Olympics athletes, coaches and volunteers. Hosted by TSN’s Gino Reda and Jennifer Hedger, viewers are invited to call a toll-free line during the day and make a donation to Special Olympics Canada.

In addition, ESPN Classic will televise the Sports Celebrities Festival Auction on December 3 at 8 p.m. ET (encore broadcast at 11 p.m. ET). The auction is a fundraiser for Special Olympics and a key component of the Sports Celebrities Festival.

Special Olympics Canada is committed to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport. TSN has been a strong supporter of Special Olympics Canada for the past 21 years, generating awareness and supporting fundraising efforts for the organization and its worthwhile and rewarding programs.

NFL
NFL action continues in December with 10 games on the gridiron. Holiday highlights include doubleheaders on Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and a Saturday tripleheader on December 17. All NFL games are available in High Definition on TSN HD:
•    *Sunday, Dec. 4 – Oakland @ San Diego at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    *Sunday, Dec. 11 – Detroit @ Green Bay at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    *Saturday, Dec. 17 – Tampa Bay @ New England at 1:30 p.m. ET
•    *Saturday, Dec. 17 – Kansas City @ New York Giants at 5 p.m. ET
•    *Saturday, Dec. 17 – Denver @ Buffalo at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    *Sunday, Dec. 18 – Atlanta @ Chicago at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    *Sunday, Dec. 25 – Chicago @ Green Bay at 5 p.m. ET
•    *Sunday, Dec. 25 – Minnesota @ Baltimore at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    *Saturday, Dec. 31 – Denver @ San Diego at 4:30 p.m. ET
•    *Saturday, Dec. 31 – New York Giants @ Oakland at 9:30 p.m. ET
*available in High Definition on TSN HD

CIS Football
The CIS Football season reaches a thrilling conclusion with the Desjardins Vanier Cup on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. ET. Canadian University football supremacy for 2005 will be decided at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton, Ont.

NCAA Football
TSN heads south of the border to the college football fields for coverage of seven championship bowl games including a doubleheader on December 30. TSN’s NCAA Football broadcast coverage for December is as follows:
•    Friday, Dec. 23 – Fort Worth Bowl at 8 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 23 – Poinsettia Bowl at 12:30 a.m. ET
•    Saturday, Dec. 24 – Hawaii Bowl at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    Tuesday, Dec. 27 – Insight Bowl at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 30 – Music City Bowl at 12 noon ET
•    Friday, Dec. 30 – Independence Bowl at 3:30 p.m. ET
•    Saturday, Dec. 31 – Liberty Bowl at 1 p.m. ET

President’s Choice Raptors Basketball
TSN hits the hard court with President’s Choice Raptors Basketball in December for a showdown with the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. ET. Raptor star forward Chris Bosh will tangle with the reigning Slam Dunk Champion, Josh Smith, in an Eastern Conference battle.

PGA TOUR
TSN rounds out the PGA TOUR season with the following three golf events in December, as well as a 2005 season review:

Target World Challenge
•    Thursday, Dec. 8 – First Round at 3 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 9 – Second Round at 3 p.m. ET
•    Saturday, Dec. 10 – Third Round at 3 p.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 11 – Final Round at 3 p.m. ET

Wendy’s Three-Tour Challenge
•    Sunday, Dec. 18 – First Round at 12:30 a.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 18 – Final Round at 4 p.m. ET

PGA TOUR Season Review
•    Friday, Dec. 23 at 4:30 p.m. ET

ADT Golf Skills Challenge
•    Sunday, Dec. 25 at 12 midnight ET
•    Monday, Dec. 26 at 12:30 a.m. ET

Year in Review
Throughout the holiday season, TSN relives the most memorable sports events and moments of 2005 with SportsCentre: Year in Review. The one-hour special counts down the Top 10 sports stories of 2005 and highlights the Top 5 Plays of the Year, as voted by viewers on www.TSN.ca. SportsCentre: Year in Review airs Saturday, Dec. 24 at 7 p.m. ET, with encores on December 25 at 2 a.m. ET, 6 a.m. ET, 8 a.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET, and December 26 at 7 a.m. ET, 9 a.m. ET, 11 a.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET.

TSN also reflects on the greatest moments from the 2005 Bell Canadian Open on December
23 at 3:30 p.m. ET. The 60-minute program looks back as Mark Calcavecchia held off a late-charging Ben Crane and Ryan Moore to capture the greatest honour in Canadian golf.

2005 World Series of Poker
TSN’s coverage of the 2005 World Series of Poker continues in December. This year’s winner takes home the largest cash prize in World Series of Poker history – a mind-boggling U.S. $7.5 million. The tournament was a huge draw, attracting more than 5,000 participants, all competing to take home the title of World Series Poker Champion. TSN’s continuing broadcast schedule for the 2005 World Series of Poker is as follows:
•    Sunday, Dec. 4 at 4:30 p.m. ET
•    Saturday, Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 18 at 2:30 p.m. ET
•    Saturday, Dec. 24 at 3 p.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 25 at 3 p.m. ET
•    Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 7:30 p.m. ET

UEFA Champions League
TSN has coverage of the following UEFA Champions League soccer matches in December:
•    Tuesday, Dec. 6 – Matchday #6 at 4 p.m. ET
•    Wednesday, Dec. 7 – Matchday #6 at 4 p.m. ET

NHL Network
NHL Network has an exciting mix of live programming and original productions in December. Leading the way are five live NHL match-ups, including the defending Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning. NHL Network’s NHL broadcast schedule in December is as follows:
•    Sunday, Dec. 4 – NY Islanders @ Detroit at 5 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 9 – Colorado @ New Jersey at 7:30 p.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 11 – Buffalo @ Minnesota at 7 p.m. ET
•    Wednesday, Dec. 14 – Tampa Bay @ Anaheim at 10:30 p.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 18 – Colorado @ NY Rangers at 5 p.m. ET

NCAA Hockey
NCAA Hockey action continues in December with five games featuring top-ranked college teams. Highlights include a match featuring University of Minnesota phenom Phil Kessel, the projected #1 overall draft choice in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft, and a tilt between rivals Western Michigan and Northern Michigan on December 18. NHL Network’s NCAA broadcast schedule in December is as follows:
•    Friday, Dec. 2 – Denver @ Colorado College at 9:30 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 9 – Minnesota @ North Dakota at 8:30 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 16 – Harvard @ Dartmouth at 8 p.m. ET
•    Sunday, Dec. 18 – Western Michigan @ Northern Michigan at 2 p.m. ET
•    Friday, Dec. 30 – Harvard @ North Dakota at 8:30 p.m. ET

NHL On The Fly & NHL On The Fly: Final
NHL Network’s signature show NHL On The Fly continues to air live nightly from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET with live look-ins to NHL games every night, all across the League. Hosted by Dan Pollard and Todd Lewis, NHL On The Fly is a one-stop shop for up-to-the-minute hockey information and provides extended highlights – including overtime shootouts, real-time scores, interviews, pre- and post-game reports, news conferences and expert analysis from a variety of NHL veterans, including Gary Green and Dave Reid. NHL On The Fly: Final is a daily one-hour NHL wrap-up/highlights show that airs from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m. ET directly following NHL On The Fly.

Relive The Magic
The NHL’s Relive the Magic series continues this month as one lucky fan gets the thrill of a lifetime. On Monday, Dec. 19 at 8 p.m. ET, a fan from the Edmonton Oilers will get to watch a game with Kevin Lowe and trade experiences as they watch Lowe and the Oilers put an end to the Islanders dynasty and begin Edmonton’s reign during Game 5 of the 1984 Stanley Cup Finals.

ESPN Classic
World Junior Weekend
Before Canada gets set to defend its World Junior title, ESPN Classic spreads some holiday cheer with World Junior Weekend on December 24 and 25. Relive the most exciting moments in the rich history of the World Junior Hockey Championship with memorable Canadian games. Highlights include Wayne Gretzky netting a hat trick in his World Junior debut, five straight Championship titles for Canada in the nineties, and outstanding performances from future NHL stars including Jarome Iginla, Jose Theodore, Paul Kariya and many more. The complete schedule is as follows:
Saturday, December 24:
•    12 noon ET – 1978 Round Robin: Canada vs. USSR (encore broadcast at 12 midnight ET and December 25 at 8 a.m. ET)
•    2 p.m. ET – 1991 Gold Medal Final – Canada vs. Soviet Union (encore broadcast December 25 at 2 a.m. ET and 10 a.m. ET)
•    4 p.m. ET – 1993 Round Robin: Canada vs. Sweden
•    6 p.m. ET – 1994 Round Robin: Canada vs. Sweden (encore broadcast December 25 at 4 a.m. ET)

Sunday, December 25:
•    6 a.m. ET – 1996 Gold Medal Final: Canada vs. Sweden (encore broadcast at 2 p.m. ET)
•    12 noon ET – 1995 Round Robin: Canada vs. Czech Republic (encore broadcast December 26 at 12 midnight ET)
•    4 p.m. ET – 1997 Gold Medal Final: Canada vs. USA (encore broadcast December 26 at 4 a.m. ET)

Miracle on Ice
What would the Miracle of Christmas be without one of the greatest miracles the game of hockey has ever seen? ESPN Classic relives the Miracle on Ice on Christmas Day (December 25) at 8 p.m. ET (encore broadcast at 10 p.m. ET), as Herb Brooks led a group of unsung American hockey heroes from obscurity to the limelight. Experience the miracle all over again as the Americans beat the mighty Russians in the semifinals at the 1980 Winter Olympics.

Boxing Day on Boxing Day
Step into the ring with In This Corner’s Russ Anber for Boxing Day on Boxing Day, December 26 from 12 noon ET to 12 midnight ET. Join Anber for 12 hours of the sweet science, featuring the best that boxing had to offer from 2005. Highlights include a special two-hour In this Corner featuring George Chuvalo, the only Canadian boxer to ever square off with the great Muhammad Ali.