This season Premier Sports and FreeSports TV have viewers in the UK and Ireland sorted with all the best games from all the great leagues! NHL, KHL, SHL and EIHL all have live games across the networks, and the CHL and IIHF tournaments will also feature. So whether its the best from Canada and the USA you’re looking for, or the top European competitions, there’s something for all hockey fans this season.
You can follow Murph all season long on twitter: @MurphOnIce
FreeSports will once again be showing live Elite Ice Hockey League and Cup games during the 2019/20 season.
The free-to-air channel began showing the EIHL last season, and after a successful experience for both the broadcaster and the league, we are pleased to confirm that 17 games will be shown live during the new season.
“We can’t wait to get started with the new hockey season on FreeSports. It’s an exciting time with Sky UK viewers now able to see the games in HD as well!” said commentator Aaron Murphy. “After a thrilling journey last year, we’re hoping that this season will be even better. And on the back of two EIHL teams being shown live in the CHL too, there’s plenty of coverage on FreeSports. There’s so much to look forward to, and I’m delighted to present the broadcasts again with Paul Adey and Chris Ellis to even more viewers in the UK.”
“We’re delighted that Elite League games will be shown again live on FreeSports this season, and we look forward to exciting matches going live into people’s homes across the country. As before, there had to be suitability from the venues and the teams, and also for FreeSports themselves, when it came to choosing games for TV,” explained League Chairman Tony Smith. “The games we’ve selected for live broadcast reflect the factors that needed to be considered for the benefit of all involved. I would like to thank Richard Webb and everyone at FreeSports for their support, and I’m looking forward to working with them again this season.”
FreeSports’ will begin their live EIHL coverage from October. Each week when there is no live EIHL game, FreeSports will instead broadcast a highlights show. The schedule is as follows:
Wednesday 30 October 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff – Fife Flyers vs. Belfast Giants
Wednesday 13 November 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff – Glasgow Clan vs. Cardiff Devils
Wednesday 20 November 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff Challenge Cup ‘Play-In’ round – Coventry vs. Manchester
Wednesday 27 November 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff – Sheffield Steelers vs. Belfast Giants
Wednesday 11 December 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff Challenge Cup Quarter-Final 1st Leg – Belfast vs. Cardiff
Wednesday 18 December 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff Challenge Cup Quarter-Final 2nd Leg – Cardiff vs. Belfast
Tuesday 31 December 3:30pm on air, 4pm faceoff – Nottingham Panthers vs. Sheffield Steelers
Wednesday 15 January 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff, Challenge Cup Semi-Final First Leg – Glasgow vs. Sheffield
Friday 24 January 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff – Dundee Stars vs. Glasgow Clan
Wednesday 29 January 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff, Challenge Cup Semi-Final Second Leg – Nottingham vs. Cardiff
Wednesday 19 February 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff – Cardiff Devils vs. Fife Flyers
Sunday 8 March 3:30pm on air, 4pm faceoff, Challenge Cup Final – Sheffield vs. Cardiff
Wednesday 18 March 7pm on air, 7:30 faceoff – Cardiff Devils vs. Coventry Blaze
Sunday 29 March 1800 One of the final day fixtures
FreeSports will also show a Playoff First Leg, Playoff Second Leg and the Playoff Final.
Champions Hockey League
As well as the EIHL, Belfast Giants’ & Cardiff Devils’ Champions Hockey League games, which begin on 29 and 30 August respectively, will be shown in the UK exclusively on FreeSports. The channel will also cover the competitions as it extends beyond the group stage.
ABOUT FREESPORTS
FreeSports is currently available via Freeview (64), Sky (422), Virgin (553) FreeSat (252), TalkTalk (64), BT Vision (64) and online via the TVPlayer.
The Cardiff Devils and Belfast Giants went head-to-head in the 2019 EIHL Playoff Final. It was Number 1 Belfast vs. Number 2 Cardiff in an epic encounter from Nottingham, April 14 live on FreeSports TV.
FreeSports will be the place to follow Great Britain at the World Championship in Slovakia as they continue their multi-year deal to cover the national side.
All seven of GB’s games will be live on the free-to-air television channel and FreeSports will be airing another 18 games from the World Championship in May.
GB will play in the top flight of world ice hockey for the first time since 1994 and they were drawn in Group A in Kosice.
Games will be played in the Steel Arena and they begin their campaign against Germany on Saturday 11th May.
The mouthwatering match-up with Canada follows on Sunday 12th May and after a rest day, GB meet Denmark on Tuesday 14th May before facing USA on Wednesday 15th May.
Finland are the opponents on Friday 17th May, while Pete Russell’s side meet hosts Slovakia on Saturday 18th May. Britain complete their group campaign against France on Monday 20th May.
Paul Adey, who won 55 caps for GB, scoring 28 goals and contributing 24 assists for 52 points, will cover the games for FreeSports alongside four-time Olympic broadcaster Aaron Murphy.
Adey said: “Working at any World Championship is special but this is very special indeed.
“I was lucky enough to play in a number of World Championship tournaments for GB, but was injured for the tournament in 1994.
“To compete against the best nations in the world is going to be amazing experience for GB.
“It will be the biggest moment of their careers and I know many are thinking they would come straight back down, but I think they can spring a surprise or two.
“They have a great roster and a great spirit. It is going to be an amazing few weeks that’s for sure.”
FreeSports will also be showing every GB Women’s game live at next week’s World Championship Division II Group A in Dumfries.
In addition, they will be showing five games from the men’s World Championship Division I Group A in Kazakhstan at the end of April and early May.
FreeSports is available free on Sky Channel 422, Virgin Media Channel 553, on Channel 64 on Freeview and BT and on Freesat Channel 252.
You can follow Murph during the World Championships here: @MurphOnIce
Ice Hockey UK are excited to announce that Great Britain’s Women’s matches at the World Championship in Dumfries will be shown live on free-to-air television for the first time.
FreeSportswill show all five GB matches at the IIHF Division II Group A tournament at the Dumfries Ice Bowl. The six-team tournament takes place from 2nd to 8th April 2019.
Following no relegation last year, GB are joined by Australia, DPR Korea, Mexico, Slovenia and promoted Spain.
Ice Hockey UK general secretary, Andy French, said: “It is brilliant news that GB Women will be showcased on FreeSports.
“It is a momentous first with women’s hockey being shown live in the UK for the first time.
“We are excited to be able to showcase women’s hockey to a wide audience via free-to-air television and we would like to thank FreeSports for making this possible.”
Richard Webb, operations director at FreeSports, said: “We are delighted to broadcast live women’s hockey for the first time on free-to-air television from Dumfries where FreeSports has aired a number of previous tournaments.
“It was a priority to get on board and showcase the women’s team in their bid for a gold medal.
“The coverage from this tournament adds to our support of ice hockey in the UK, showing live EIHL games and highlights, tournaments involving GB U20s, U18s and, of course, Great Britain Men who we will be covering from Slovakia this May.”
FreeSports is available free on Sky Channel 422, Virgin Media Channel 553, on Channel 64 on Freeview and BT and on Freesat Channel 252.
SCHEDULE Tuesday 2nd April 2019 Spain Women v Slovenia Women – 1pm DPR Korea Women v Mexico Women – 4:30pm Australia Women v GB Women – 8pm
Wednesday 3rd April 2019 Rest Day
Thursday 4th April 2019 DPR Korea Women v Australia Women – 1pm Mexico Women v Spain Women – 4:30pm GB Women v Slovenia Women – 8pm
Friday 5th April 2019 DPR Korea Women v Spain Women – 1pm Australia Women v Slovenia Women – 4:30pm GB Women v Mexico Women – 8pm
Saturday 6th April 2019 Rest Day
Sunday 7th April 2019 Mexico Women v Australia Women – 1pm Slovenia Women v DPR Korea Women – 4:30pm Spain Women v GB Women – 8pm
Monday 8th April 2019 Slovenia Women v Mexico Women – 1pm Australia Women v Spain Women – 4:30pm GB Women v DPR Women – 8pm
The 2019 CHL Final saw some history! It was the first time a German DEL side made the final, also the SHL side Frolunda was looking for a 3rd Grand Final victory. The game was LIVE on FreeSportsFebruary 5th. Enjoy the highlights here from Frolunda vs Red Bull Munich (Murph on the call):
Aaron Murphy chats to Coventry Blaze Head Coach Danny Stewart ahead of their EIHL clash against Guildford Flames, on Wednesday November 21st. Live on FreeSports from 7pm.
Aaron Murphy talks with MK Lightning forward Tim Wallace ahead of their game against the Glasgow Clan – live from 7pm onFreeSports Wednesday November 14th.
The Elite Ice Hockey League and FreeSports have announced an amendment to their scheduled list of televised games for 2018/19.
The game between Cardiff Devils and Fife Flyers, which was scheduled to be shown on Wednesday 21st November, has now been replaced by Coventry Blaze’s home game against Guildford Flames, which has moved from its original date of Wednesday 14th November.
It means that all clubs will have coverage from their home rinks through the course of the season as a result of this change.
Also changing is the date originally given for the preview show, scheduled for Tuesday 4th September at 8pm in the build-up to the new campaign and this has been pushed back until Thursday 6th September at 9pm.
Regarding the fixture change, Elite League Director of Hockey Operations Michael Hicks explained about the amendment and says Blaze’s addition was always going to happen.
“We knew when the original list went out that Coventry’s omission from it was always going to stand out and cause some level of disappointment,” he said.
“When the original TV schedule was drawn up, all teams had TV coverage, unfortunately with ice availability changes and scheduling all outside of our control, it meant the original date we had agreed for the Blaze game wasn’t suitable for all parties concerned.
“We continued to work in the background alongside FreeSports and the 11 member clubs to come up with an alternate solution.
“We had to release the original schedule of TV games, to allow the build-up to the start of the season to continue and to give ourselves and our partner FreeSports the time to prepare and promote the coverage of games.
“The TV schedule was always subject to change, which was stated at the time. Both the network and myself were confident Coventry would be included throughout the season and since then, we’ve come to an agreement with all clubs involved that this new date was the best option.
“Cardiff, Fife and Guildford were more than happy to make way for Coventry and now we have the ice confirmed for the new date along with the agreement from the teams involved as well as the network we can now pencil this game in.
“Now that we have a solution, I want to thank all parties involved, particularly Guildford for agreeing to the switch to facilitate FreeSports as well as Cardiff, who were more than happy to step aside.
“Their assistance was invaluable in helping to make this possible and I look forward to seeing our great sport on television this season.”
Cardiff and Milton Keynes Lightning will contest the first game live on FreeSports
AMENDED TELEVISION LIST (17 total)
Sunday 16thSeptember –
Cardiff Devils vs Milton Keynes Lightning (6pm)
Wednesday 26thSeptember –
Nottingham Panthers vs Cardiff Devils (7.30pm)
Wednesday 10thOctober –
Belfast Giants vs Guildford Flames (7.30pm)
Wednesday 31st October –
Sheffield Steelers vs Coventry Blaze (7.30pm)
Wednesday 14thNovember –
Milton Keynes Lightning vs Glasgow Clan (7.30pm)
Wednesday 21st November –
Coventry Blaze vs Guildford Flames (7.30pm)
Wednesday 5thDecember –
Dundee Stars vs Belfast Giants (7.30pm)
Thursday 27th December –
Sheffield Steelers vs Nottingham Panthers (7pm)
Wednesday 16thJanuary –
Manchester Storm vs Guildford Flames (7.30pm)
Wednesday 30thJanuary –
Guildford Flames vs Sheffield Steelers (7.30pm)
Thursday 14thFebruary –
Belfast Giants vs Glasgow Clan (Challenge Cup SF, 7pm)
ELITE LEAGUE AND FREE SPORTS ANNOUNCE TELEVISED GAMES
The Elite Ice Hockey League and FreeSports have announced the games which will be televised live in the 2018/19 season.
After discussions, the list was finally agreed upon that will see cameras across all Elite League venues in the coming campaign to bring live action from 17 games to television screens, including a game in late March.
Plus FreeSports will screen a preview show on the 4th September at 8pm in the build-up to the new campaign.
Starting the coverage off will be champions Cardiff Devils hosting Milton Keynes Lightning on Sunday 16th September – the night of their championship banner unfurling.
From there, FreeSports’ cameras will move to Nottingham on Wednesday 26th September, where Rich Chernomaz’s Panthers host the Devils.
Also included is a Challenge Cup semi-final, two play-off quarter finals and the play-off final, live from Nottingham on Sunday 14th April.
As well as showing a live game every second week, FreeSports will broadcast a highlights show every week as either a standalone programme or as part of the live game coverage, keeping fans in the picture throughout the season.
Presenting the coverage is Aaron Murphy, a man no stranger to UK audiences with his previous EIHL work, the NHL and World Championships and he’s looking forward to touring the country.
“Now that we know where we’re going to be this season, it adds an extra excitement for everyone on the FreeSports team,” he said.
“There are venues I’ve yet to visit, such as Guildford and Milton Keynes and I’m looking forward to revisiting places I haven’t been to in some time.
“The fans can also start to look ahead to what’s going to happen now as a thrilling Elite League season gets ready to play out in front of our eyes.
“There’s a lot to look forward to and I’m delighted to be able to bring EIHL action to the viewers of FreeSports.”
Elite League chairman Tony Smith spoke of his pleasure at revealing the games that will be shown and he admits getting the list together had its difficulties.
He added: “We’re finally over the line as you can see from the list, there are going to be some exciting games to watch on FreeSports in the coming season.
“To get to this point, there were a lot of logistical considerations to take into account when it came to deciding which games would be shown.
“There had to be suitability from the venues and the teams, not to mention from FreeSports themselves and a number of factors came into play before agreement was reached.
“Nevertheless, I’m thrilled we’ve got there and I want to thank Richard Webb and everyone at FreeSports for their support and I’m looking forward to working with them this season.”
About Free Sports
Free Sports is currently available via Freeview (95), Sky (422), Virgin (553) FreeSat (252), TalkTalk (95), BT Vision (95) and online via the TVPlayer.