List of American Stanley Cup Finals television announcers

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

This is a list of American Stanley Cup Finals television announcers.

Play-by-play

Announcer Years Network(s)
Al Albert 1985 USA Network
Kenny Albert 2014 (Game 1); 2021
2023, 2025, 2027
NBC/NBCSN
TNT
Marv Albert 1976-1977 NHL Network
Ted Darling 1976 NHL Network
Win Elliot[1] 1966 NBC
Mike Emrick 19871988; 19951999; 20062020 ESPN
Fox
OLN/Versus
NBC/NBCSN
Jim Gordon 19671968, 1979 CBS
NHL Network/WOR-TV
Dan Kelly 19691972; 19771980; 19821985 CBS
NHL Network
USA Network
Jiggs McDonald 19891992 SportsChannel America
Sean McDonough 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 ABC
Sam Rosen 1986 ESPN
Tim Ryan 19731975; 1980 NBC[2]
CBS
Gary Thorne 19932004 ESPN/ABC
Ken Wilson 1986 ESPN
Bob Wolff 1966 RKO General

NBC aired Games 1 and 4[3] of the 1966 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings. Win Elliot served as the play-by-play man while Bill Mazer served as the color commentator for the games.[4]

For the 1967 and 1968 playoffs, Jim Gordon worked play-by-play and Stu Nahan worked color commentary and intermission interviews for CBS. During the regular season, the duo[5] alternated roles each week. For instance, Gordon provided the play-by-play on December 30 while Nahan did the same the next week. In 1968–69,[6] Dan Kelly did play-by-play while Bill Mazer did color and intermission interviews.[7][8] While Dan Kelly once again handled all of the play-by-play work in 1971, Jim Gordon replaced Bill Mazer[9] in 1970–71. For the CBS' Stanley Cup Finals coverage during this period, a third voice was added to the booth (Phil Esposito in 1971 and Harry Howell in 1972).

From 1972–73[10]1974–75,[11] NBC not only televised the Stanley Cup Finals[12] (including a couple of games in prime time[13]), but also weekly regular season games on Sunday afternoons. NBC also aired one regular season and a couple of playoff games in prime time during the first couple of seasons. Tim Ryan and Ted Lindsay (with Brian McFarlane as the intermission host) served as the commentators for NBC's NHL coverage during this period.[14][15][16]

For the

play-by-play man while Bill Clement was the color commentator for SportsChannel America. Also during the Stanley Cup Finals, Mike Emrick[18][19][20] served as the host while John Davidson[21] served as the rinkside[22][23] and intermission analyst[24] (Herb Brooks
filled that role in 1989).

2003 was the only year that ABC broadcast both the

Continental Airlines Arena. Gary Thorne mentioned this the following night, and thanked Nessler for promoting ABC's broadcast of game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.[25]

CBC feeds (1978-1981)

Announcer Years Network(s)
Bob Cole 19801981 Hughes
USA Network
Danny Gallivan 1978 NHL Network
Dan Kelly 19781980 NHL Network
Hughes
Jim Robson 1980 Hughes

Color commentators

Announcer Years Network(s)
Don Awrey 1977 NHL Network
Curt Bennett 1976
Brian Boucher 20202021; 2025, 2027 NBC/NBCSN
TNT
Bill Chadwick 1979 NHL Network/WOR-TV
Bill Clement 19862004 ESPN[26]/ABC
SportsChannel America
John Davidson 19951999; 20032004; 2006 Fox
ABC
OLN/NBC
Phil Esposito 1971 CBS
Ray Ferraro 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 ABC
Emile Francis 1966 RKO General
Jim Gordon 19711972 CBS
Gary Green 19821985 USA Network
Harry Howell 1972 CBS
Keith Jones 2023 TNT
Ted Lindsay 19731975 NBC
Mike Liut 1985 USA Network
Bill Mazer 19691970 CBS
Pierre McGuire 20062019, 2021 NBC/NBCSN
Stan Mikita 1976 NHL Network
Stu Nahan 19671968 CBS
Lou Nanne 1980 CBS
Eddie Olczyk 20072021; 2023, 2025, 2027
Versus
NBC/NBCSN
TNT
Mickey Redmond 1986, 1988 ESPN
Chico Resch 1976, 1978 NHL Network
Garry Unger

CBC feeds (19781981)

Announcer Years Network(s)
Gary Dornhoefer 19791981 NHL Network
Hughes
USA Network
Dick Irvin Jr. 19781980 NHL Network
Hughes
Bobby Orr 1979 NHL Network
Mickey Redmond 1981 USA Network

Ice-level reporters

Announcer Years Network(s)
Erin Andrews 2004 ESPN/ABC
Brian Boucher 20202021; 2025, 2027 NBC/NBCSN
TNT
Herb Brooks 1989 SportsChannel America
John Davidson 19901992 SportsChannel America
Brian Engblom 19962003 ESPN/ABC
Ray Ferraro 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 ABC
Bob Harwood 20062010
OLN/Versus
Emily Kaplan 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 ABC
Jim Kelly 1986 ESPN
Steve Levy 19941999; 20012004 ESPN/ABC
Pierre McGuire 20062021 NBC/NBCSN
OLN/Versus
Joe Micheletti 1995-1999 Fox
Tom Mees 19871988; 1993 ESPN
Al Morganti 19932002 ESPN
Sandra Neil 1996 Fox
Mickey Redmond 1988 ESPN
Darren Pang 1995-2004; 2011; 2023, 2025, 2027 ESPN/ABC
NBC
TNT
Jackie Redmond 2023, 2025, 2027 TNT
Sam Ryan 20032004 ESPN/ABC
Christine Simpson 1997; 20062009
OLN/Versus
Craig Simpson 1997 Fox
Charissa Thompson 2010
Versus

Rules analysts

Announcer Years Network(s)
Dave Jackson 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 ABC
Don Koharski 2023, 2025, 2027 TNT

Studio hosts

Announcer Years Network(s)
Al Albert 1983 (in Long Island) USA Network
Chris Berman 2003-2004 ESPN/ABC
James Brown 19951998 Fox
Bill Clement 20062007
OLN/Versus
NBC
Bill Cullen 1966 NBC
Mike Emrick 19891992 SportsChannel America[27][28][29]
Jim Gordon 19711972 CBS
Suzy Kolber 1999 Fox
Steve Levy 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 ABC
Bill Mazer 19691970 CBS
Brian McFarlane 19731975 NBC
Liam McHugh 20112019; 2021
2023, 2025, 2027
NBC/NBCSN
TNT
Tom Mees 19861988 ESPN[30]
Al Michaels 20002002 ABC
Bob Neumeier 2008 NBC
Darren Pang 2009 NBC
Bill Patrick 20082011
Versus
Dan Patrick 20102011 NBC
Tim Ryan 1980 CBS
John Saunders 19932004 ESPN/ABC
Jim Simpson 1966 NBC
Kathryn Tappen 20162021 NBC/NBCSN
Mike Tirico 20182019 NBC
Al Trautwig 19821985 USA Network
Jim Van Horne 1982 (in Vancouver)

NBC's coverage of the 1966 Stanley Cup Finals marked the first time that hockey games were broadcast on network television in color.[31] The CBC would follow suit the following year. NBC's Stanley Cup coverage preempted a sports anthology series called NBC Sports in Action, hosted by Jim Simpson and Bill Cullen, who were between-periods co-hosts for the Stanley Cup broadcasts.

In the 1981–82 season,[32] Al Trautwig[33] took over as studio host for the USA Network. Dan Kelly did play-by-play with either Gary Green[34][35] or Rod Gilbert on color commentary. For the playoffs, Dick Carlson and Al Albert[36] were added as play-by-play voices of some games. Meanwhile, Jim Van Horne hosted Stanley Cup Finals games played in Vancouver.

Things pretty much remained the same for USA during the 1982–83 season. Dan Kelly and Gary Green called most games, while Al Albert did play-by-play on several playoff[37] games and hosted one game of the Stanley Cup Finals.[38][39]

CBC feeds (1978-1981)

Announcer Years Network(s)
Dave Hodge 19781981 (all locations except Montréal) NHL Network
Hughes
USA Network
Dick Irvin Jr. 19781979 (in Montréal only) NHL Network
Hughes

Studio analysts

Announcer Years Network(s)
Paul Bissonnette 2023, 2025, 2027 TNT
Brian Boucher 20162019; 2022 NBC/NBCSN
ABC
Herb Brooks 1989 SportsChannel America
Anson Carter 20152021
2023, 2025, 2027
NBC/NBCSN
TNT
Chris Chelios 2022 ABC
Terry Crisp 19981999 Fox
John Davidson 19901993; 20002002 SportsChannel America
ESPN/ABC
Brian Engblom 20062010
OLN/Versus
Ray Ferraro 20062007 NBC
Wayne Gretzky 2023, 2025, 2027 TNT
Brett Hull 2007 NBC
Keith Jones 20062021
OLN/Versus
NBC/NBCSN
Mike Liut 19851986 USA Network
ESPN
Henrik Lundqvist 2023, 2025, 2027 TNT
Barry Melrose 19952004 ESPN/ABC
Mark Messier 20062008; 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028
OLN/Versus
ABC
Mike Milbury 1995 ESPN
20082019
Versus
NBC/NBCSN
Dave Maloney 19951998 Fox
Pierre McGuire 2008 NBC
Ryan Miller 2010 NBC
Eddie Olczyk 2006
Darren Pang 1994, 1996, 2004, 2012-2013 ESPN/ABC
NBC
Jeremy Roenick 2010; 20142019 NBC/NBCSN
Jim Schoenfeld 1993 ESPN
Patrick Sharp 20192021 NBC/NBCSN
P. K. Subban 2018; 2024, 2026, 2028 NBC
ABC

CBC feeds (1978-1981)

Announcer Years Network(s)
Don Cherry 1981 USA Network
Howie Meeker

Broadcast networks

CBS managed to televise the

Arthur M. Wirtz policy of not telecasting home games. While Dan Kelly once again handled all of the play-by-play work, Jim Gordon replaced Bill Mazer[41] in 1970–71. For the CBS' Stanley Cup Finals coverage during this period, a third voice was added to the booth (Phil Esposito in 1971 and Harry Howell
in 1972).

During the

New York Rangers, CBS took a rather calculated risk in not televising the Game 5 match on May 9 (CBS aired regular programming, including the original Hawaii Five-O
in that time period on that Tuesday night). This was despite the fact that Game 5 was a potential clincher with the Bruins up three games to one on the Rangers. CBS ultimately lucked out (since the Rangers won Game 5 3–2), and televised the clincher (Game 6) on Thursday night, May 11.

In

Wide World of Sports and local news shows that typically followed it on ABC stations
in the Eastern and Central time zones.

Mainly influenced by the

play-by-play for the first and third periods as well as overtime.[50] Meanwhile, Tim Ryan did play-by-play only for the second period. Minnesota North Stars general manager Lou Nanne[51] was the color commentator throughout the game. This turned out to be the last NHL game on American network television until NBC televised the 1990 All-Star Game.[52][53]

FOX split coverage of the

ESPN
.

Before the

agreement, which the network did not renew in 2006). The NHL and NBC shared in revenues from advertising.

As part of ESPN's new deal with the NHL, which starts with the 2021–22 season, ABC will exclusively air four Stanley Cup Finals over the life of the contract (2022, 2024, 2026, and 2028). This will be the first time that a broadcast over-the-air network will exclusively air the Stanley Cup Finals.

Cable

For USA's final full season of NHL coverage in 1984–85,[55][56] Dan Kelly[57] and Gary Green[58] once again, did most games, while Al Albert and Green called the rest. In all, USA covered about 55 games, including 33 in the regular season.[59] Also, Hartford Whalers goaltender Mike Liut was added as an intermission analyst for the Stanley Cup Finals.[60][61]

Games 1 and 2 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals were on OLN, while the remainder of the series was on NBC.

Under the terms of the contract running from

Stanley Cup Playoff games as possible (generally two per night in the first two rounds; the Conference Finals are usually played on alternating days), and two games of the Stanley Cup Finals (Games 3 and 4 in 2009,[62] 2010 and 2011
).

In 2014, NBCSN broadcast Games 3 and 4, while NBC televised the remaining games. NBC Sports originally planned to repeat its coverage pattern from the last few seasons: NBCSN would televise Games 2 and 3, while NBC would broadcast Game 1, and then Games 4 through 7.[63] After the League scheduled Game 2 on the day of the Belmont Stakes, coverage of games two and four were switched so NBC's telecast of the horse race would serve as lead-in programming to Game 2. Due to the death of a family member, NBC lead play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick missed Game 1. Kenny Albert, who was also the New York Rangers radio announcer for WEPN and announced several national games (including the Western Conference Finals) for NBC/NBCSN, filled in for Emrick in the first game.[64]

It was originally announced that Games 2 and 3 of the 2015 Finals were to be broadcast by NBCSN, with the remainder on NBC. Game 2 was moved to NBC to serve as a lead-out for its coverage of the 2015 Belmont Stakes in favor of Game 4 on NBCSN. As Eddie Olczyk was also a contributor to NBC's Belmont coverage, he missed Game 2.[65][66][67]

On May 27, 2016, NBC Sports announced that if the Finals was tied at 1-1 entering Game 3, then it would have aired on NBC and Game 4 televised on NBCSN. However, if one team led 2-0 (as this eventually happened; Penguins led 2–0), Game 3 would be moved to NBCSN and then Game 4 on NBC.[68]

Pursuant to the announcement of Turner Sports (now

TNT will air three Stanley Cup Finals in 2023, 2025 and 2027. In the 2023 Finals, TNT's coverage was simulcast on sister networks TruTV and TBS, the latter unavailable on Tuesdays due to Major League Baseball coverage
.

Syndication

In the United States, the clinching game of the

WNAC-TV in Boston would not carry the game,[69] the then-ABC
-affiliated station did clear the broadcast at the last minute.

The

simulcasting many games with Hockey Night in Canada. In these games, Dan Kelly
, who was the NHL Network's lead play-by-play broadcaster, was assigned to do play-by-play along with HNIC color commentators.

The entire 1979 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and New York Rangers was simulcast as well.[72] However, had that final gone to Game 7, then that game would have been broadcast on ABC.[73]

Hughes televised Games 1-5 of the 1980 Stanley Cup Finals[74] (the final game, Game 6, was broadcast by CBS). Hughes technically, used CBC's Hockey Night in Canada feeds for the American coverage of the first five games of the Stanley Cup Finals.

See also

Announcers by network

Cable

Syndication

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