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B2 Networks Broadcasts Kelly Cup Finals

May 21, 2008 - ECHL (ECHL) News Release




PRINCETON, N.J. - The ECHL announced that every game of the 2008 Kelly Cup Finals will be available on B2 Networks, the "Official Broadband Broadcast Provider of the ECHL."

It marks the fifth year in a row that fans around the globe have been able to follow every game of the Kelly Cup Finals on B2 Networks, which launched the B2 Triangulation Interactive Player for the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Years of research and development have resulted in fans experiencing a more complete and interactive viewing experience. The exclusive technology not only allows users to view games, but also provides real-time scoring and game updates and embeds the play-by-play audio of the selected team into the programming. In order to utilize the new technology fans will need Microsoft Internet Explorer 6 or higher, a current version of Microsoft Windows Media Player 11 and a high-speed internet connection.

In addition to broadcasting ECHL games the past five seasons, B2 Networks has also broadcast the last two ECHL All-Star Games as well as every game of the conference finals and the Kelly Cup Finals each of the past four years. The first hockey game broadcast by B2 Networks was the Las Vegas Wranglers in February 2004 and the first hockey championship carried by B2 Networks was the 2004 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

2008 Kelly Cup Finals Schedule
Game 1 - Saturday, May 24 at 7:30 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati
Game 2 - Sunday, May 25 at 7:30 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati
Game 3 - Thursday, May 29 at 7:05 p.m. PT at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas
Game 4 - Friday, May 30 at 7:05 p.m. PT at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas
Game 5 - Monday, June 2 at 7:05 p.m. PT at Orleans Arena in Las Vegas *
Game 6 - Thursday, June 5 at 7:30 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati *
Game 7 - Saturday, June 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati *

B2 Networks
B2 Networks is a premier provider of reliable and secure international television and pay-per-view broadcasting systems. B2's worldwide network of arenas, stadiums, local venues and data centers are currently in use to distribute live sports and events to personal computers, television screens, mobile devices and commercial venues around the world. Working with organizations such as the AHL, ECHL, NLL, IHL, USHL, NAHL, Arena Football Leagues and selected NCAA and NAIA conferences and member institutions, B2 Networks has established itself as a leader in innovative global direct to home, mobile and television broadcasting. For the B2 Networks' Programming Guide visit www.b2tv.com, or for information about B2 Networks, visit www.b2now.com.

ECHL
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary in 2007-08, the ECHL is the Premier ‘AA' Hockey League and the third-longest tenured professional hockey league behind only the National Hockey League and the American Hockey League.

ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in four states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that will play with 24 teams in 16 states and British Columbia in 2008-09.

The league officially changed its name to ECHL on May 19, 2003.

The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 30 teams in the NHL in 2007-08, marking the 11th consecutive season that the league has had affiliations with at least 20 teams in the NHL.

There have been 355 former ECHL players who have gone on to play in the NHL after playing in the ECHL, including 99 in the last three seasons. There have been 210 former ECHL players who have played their first game in the NHL in the past seven seasons.

There are 15 coaches in the NHL who have ECHL experience including former Wheeling coach Peter Laviolette, who is head coach of the Carolina Hurricanes, and former Mississippi coach Bruce Boudreau, who is head coach of the Washington Capitals.

The ECHL is represented for the seventh consecutive year on the National Hockey League championship team in 2007 with Anaheim assistant coach Dave Farrish, players Francois Beauchemin and George Parros and broadcasters John Ahlers and Steve Carroll.

The ECHL has affiliations with 26 of the 29 teams in the American Hockey League in 2007-08 and for the past 18 years there has been an ECHL player on the Calder Cup champion.

In each of the last two seasons there have been more than 225 players who have played in both the ECHL and the AHL and there were over 800 call-ups involving more than 500 players. In the last five seasons the ECHL has had more call-ups to the AHL than all other professional leagues combined with over 2,000 call-ups involving more than 1,000 players since 2002-03.

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