USA Hockey and the NHL Network have reached a three-year agreement that includes coverage of the International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship, and of the upcoming Qwest Tour, featuring the 2009-10 U.S. Women’s National Team, it was announced Tuesday.

The NHL Network will have live coverage of all U.S. games and all games of the medal round. The tournament will be played in Ottawa Dec. 26-Jan. 5. Union coach Nate Leaman will be an assistant coach for the U.S. team.

Also, the NHL Network will televise all games played by Team Canada in the preliminary round.

The Qwest Tour broadcasts include Team USA’s contests against Canada, Oct. 16, 2009, in Spokane, Wash.; Oct. 29, 2009, in Denver; and Dec. 30, 2009 in St. Paul, Minn. In addition, the NHL Network also will televise the final game of the Tour, against Finland on Feb. 4, 2010, in Colorado Springs, Colo. just prior to the Feb. 12 start of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

"We’re extremely pleased to showcase two of our most prominent teams – the U.S. National Junior Team and the U.S. Women’s National Team – on the NHL Network," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "We look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the NHL Network."

"Our association with USA Hockey is another building block in making the NHL Network the Home of Hockey," said John Shannon, executive In charge of programming and production for the NHL Network. "It's great to be part of covering a truly marquee event like the World Junior Hockey Championship, as well as giving more exposure to the women's program as they prepare for the Vancouver Olympics."