List of American Stanley Cup Finals television announcers
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 | 1987–1988; 1995–1999; 2006–2020 | ESPN |
Fox | ||
OLN/Versus
| ||
NBC/NBCSN | ||
Jim Gordon | 1967–1968, 1979 | CBS |
NHL Network/WOR-TV | ||
Dan Kelly | 1969–1972; 1977–1980; 1982–1985 | CBS |
NHL Network | ||
USA Network | ||
Jiggs McDonald | 1989–1992 | SportsChannel America |
Sean McDonough | 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 | ABC |
Sam Rosen | 1986 | ESPN |
Tim Ryan | 1973–1975; 1980 | NBC[2] |
CBS | ||
Gary Thorne | 1993–2004 | 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
2003 was the only year that ABC broadcast both the
CBC feeds (1978-1981)
Announcer | Years | Network(s) |
---|---|---|
Bob Cole | 1980–1981 | Hughes |
USA Network | ||
Danny Gallivan | 1978 | NHL Network |
Dan Kelly | 1978–1980 | NHL Network |
Hughes | ||
Jim Robson | 1980 | Hughes |
Color commentators
Announcer | Years | Network(s) |
---|---|---|
Don Awrey | 1977 | NHL Network |
Curt Bennett | 1976 | |
Brian Boucher | 2020–2021; 2025, 2027 | NBC/NBCSN |
TNT | ||
Bill Chadwick | 1979 | NHL Network/WOR-TV |
Bill Clement | 1986–2004 | ESPN[26]/ABC |
SportsChannel America | ||
John Davidson | 1995–1999; 2003–2004; 2006 | Fox |
ABC | ||
OLN/NBC
| ||
Phil Esposito | 1971 | CBS |
Ray Ferraro | 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 | ABC |
Emile Francis | 1966 | RKO General |
Jim Gordon | 1971–1972 | CBS |
Gary Green | 1982–1985 | USA Network |
Harry Howell | 1972 | CBS |
Keith Jones | 2023 | TNT |
Ted Lindsay | 1973–1975 | NBC |
Mike Liut | 1985 | USA Network |
Bill Mazer | 1969–1970 | CBS |
Pierre McGuire | 2006–2019, 2021 | NBC/NBCSN |
Stan Mikita | 1976 | NHL Network |
Stu Nahan | 1967–1968 | CBS |
Lou Nanne | 1980 | CBS |
Eddie Olczyk | 2007–2021; 2023, 2025, 2027 | Versus
|
NBC/NBCSN | ||
TNT | ||
Mickey Redmond | 1986, 1988 | ESPN |
Chico Resch | 1976, 1978 | NHL Network |
Garry Unger |
CBC feeds (1978–1981)
Announcer | Years | Network(s) |
---|---|---|
Gary Dornhoefer | 1979–1981 | NHL Network |
Hughes | ||
USA Network | ||
Dick Irvin Jr. | 1978–1980 | 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 | 2020–2021; 2025, 2027 | NBC/NBCSN |
TNT | ||
Herb Brooks | 1989 | SportsChannel America |
John Davidson | 1990–1992 | SportsChannel America |
Brian Engblom | 1996–2003 | ESPN/ABC |
Ray Ferraro | 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 | ABC |
Bob Harwood | 2006–2010 | OLN/Versus
|
Emily Kaplan | 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 | ABC |
Jim Kelly | 1986 | ESPN |
Steve Levy | 1994–1999; 2001–2004 | ESPN/ABC |
Pierre McGuire | 2006–2021 | NBC/NBCSN |
OLN/Versus
| ||
Joe Micheletti | 1995-1999 | Fox |
Tom Mees | 1987–1988; 1993 | ESPN |
Al Morganti | 1993–2002 | 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 | 2003–2004 | ESPN/ABC |
Christine Simpson | 1997; 2006–2009 | 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 | 1995–1998 | Fox |
Bill Clement | 2006–2007 | OLN/Versus
|
NBC | ||
Bill Cullen | 1966 | NBC |
Mike Emrick | 1989–1992 | SportsChannel America[27][28][29] |
Jim Gordon | 1971–1972 | CBS |
Suzy Kolber | 1999 | Fox |
Steve Levy | 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 | ABC |
Bill Mazer | 1969–1970 | CBS |
Brian McFarlane | 1973–1975 | NBC |
Liam McHugh | 2011–2019; 2021 2023, 2025, 2027 |
NBC/NBCSN |
TNT | ||
Tom Mees | 1986–1988 | ESPN[30] |
Al Michaels | 2000–2002 | ABC |
Bob Neumeier | 2008 | NBC |
Darren Pang | 2009 | NBC |
Bill Patrick | 2008–2011 | Versus
|
Dan Patrick | 2010–2011 | NBC |
Tim Ryan | 1980 | CBS |
John Saunders | 1993–2004 | ESPN/ABC |
Jim Simpson | 1966 | NBC |
Kathryn Tappen | 2016–2021 | NBC/NBCSN |
Mike Tirico | 2018–2019 | NBC |
Al Trautwig | 1982–1985 | 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 | 1978–1981 (all locations except Montréal) | NHL Network |
Hughes | ||
USA Network | ||
Dick Irvin Jr. | 1978–1979 (in Montréal only) | NHL Network |
Hughes |
Studio analysts
Announcer | Years | Network(s) |
---|---|---|
Paul Bissonnette | 2023, 2025, 2027 | TNT |
Brian Boucher | 2016–2019; 2022 | NBC/NBCSN |
ABC | ||
Herb Brooks | 1989 | SportsChannel America |
Anson Carter | 2015–2021 2023, 2025, 2027 |
NBC/NBCSN |
TNT | ||
Chris Chelios | 2022 | ABC |
Terry Crisp | 1998–1999 | Fox |
John Davidson | 1990–1993; 2000–2002 | SportsChannel America |
ESPN/ABC | ||
Brian Engblom | 2006–2010 | OLN/Versus
|
Ray Ferraro | 2006–2007 | NBC |
Wayne Gretzky | 2023, 2025, 2027 | TNT |
Brett Hull | 2007 | NBC |
Keith Jones | 2006–2021 | OLN/Versus
|
NBC/NBCSN | ||
Mike Liut | 1985–1986 | USA Network |
ESPN | ||
Henrik Lundqvist | 2023, 2025, 2027 | TNT |
Barry Melrose | 1995–2004 | ESPN/ABC |
Mark Messier | 2006–2008; 2022, 2024, 2026, 2028 | OLN/Versus
|
ABC | ||
Mike Milbury | 1995 | ESPN |
2008–2019 | Versus
| |
NBC/NBCSN | ||
Dave Maloney | 1995–1998 | 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; 2014–2019 | NBC/NBCSN |
Jim Schoenfeld | 1993 | ESPN |
Patrick Sharp | 2019–2021 | 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
During the
In
Mainly influenced by the
FOX split coverage of the
Before the
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
- TNT (2023, 2025, 2027)
- ESPN (1986-1988; 1993-2004)
- NBCSN (2012-2021)
- )
- SportsChannel America (1989-1992)
- USA (1981-1985)
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
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
Syndication
- Hughes (1980)
- NHL Network (1976-1979)
- RKO General (1966)
In the United States, the clinching game of the
-affiliated station did clear the broadcast at the last minute.The
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
- ESPN
- NBCSN
- OLN/Versus
- SportsChannel America
- TNT
- USA
Syndication
- Hughes
- NHL Network
- RKO General
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