The European Champions League

Wednesday 12/10
19:00-21:30 HOCKEY - CHL Pro Hockey Semifinal Semifinal 1: Salavat (RUS) vs. Metallurg (RUS)
21:30-22:00 HOCKEY - CHL Pro Hockey Highlights
22:00-00:30 HOCKEY - CHL Pro Hockey Semifinal Zurich (SUI) vs. Espoo (FIN)
00:30-01:00 HOCKEY - CHL Pro Hockey Highlights (episode 2)

Thursday 12/11
10:00-12:30 HOCKEY - CHL Pro Hockey Semifinal Semifinal 1: Salavat (RUS) vs. Metallurg (RUS)
12:30-13:00 HOCKEY - CHL Pro Hockey Highlights
13:00-15:30 HOCKEY - CHL Pro Hockey Zurich (SUI) vs. Espoo (FIN)

Anyway, they are in the semifinals now. Here is this week's games if you get them. Keep in mind that the TV listings that I have found have been all over the place. Even when you go to their website you're playing craps as to whether or not the games will be airing when they say they are.

And yes, those time listings are military times. Subtract 12 and you'll get the Eastern starting times. You're welcome!

The opening games had a North American guy doing the voice overs who may have been Islanders' radio guy Steve Mears. The last round had an English guy who was totally out of his element and he sucked holy hose water. He rarely was able to call the play and barely said anything about the players on the ice. Everything was, "nice pass to the open man" or "challenge by the Blues" and stuff like that. Also, he giggled nervously every time they showed someone getting checked. I could only make it through the first period with Espoo Blues of Finland beating HV71 Jinkoping (Sweden) 3-0. Yes, I will watch anyone play hockey but man, he was that annoying. There was only so much I could take.

The Champions Hockey League is modeled after the Champions League in soccer in that this tournament is for all of the teams that won the league titles in their respective countries. The tournament is reportedly being marketed quite aggressively in Europe as sort of their version of a Super League. We started with teams from the Czech Republic, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, amongst others. Now we are down to the final four.

Universal Sports is a channel that is trying to bring exposure to Olympic Sports all-year round. For my tastes, unless you like beach volleyball and skiing--which seem to be on all the time--you might be okay without it. But for some extra bonus hockey that you wouldn't ordinarily expect to see, well that is just gravy.