Canadian hockey fans will be receiving the all-star treatment this season, as the NHL on Sportsnet today unveiled its big-name broadcast team – including 39 hosts, play-by-play announcers, analysts and reporters – who will bring fans the biggest plays, analysis, stories and highlights from both the rink and the studio throughout the 2014/15 NHL season.
Highlighted by both new additions and familiar faces, the robust roster will deliver more than 500 regular season games across nine networks, including CBC, City, Sportsnet (East, Ontario, West, and Pacific), Sportsnet ONE, Sportsnet 360 and FX Canada.
“Canadian hockey fans deserve a broadcast team that is just as passionate about the game as they are,” said Gord Cutler, Senior Vice President of NHL Production, Rogers. “It was important that we assemble a crew of experienced, knowledgeable, entertaining and accomplished broadcasters with diverse backgrounds and experience, to create a fresh, new viewing experience that will resonate with fans of all ages.”
New Additions
Glenn Healy, Analyst – A seasoned veteran with 30 years of NHL experience as a player, broadcaster and executive with the NHLPA, will work as both a game analyst and a studio analyst
Kelly Hrudey, Analyst – The popular Gemini Award winning broadcaster and former NHL goalie will serve as a game analyst for Flames regional games, as well as a studio analyst for NHL national games
Craig Simpson, Analyst – The two-time Stanley Cup champion and former Edmonton Oilers assistant coach brings more than 15 years of NHL broadcast experience to his role as analyst.
Simpson will work alongside play-by-play man Jim Hughson to call NHL national games; he’ll also work alongside sister Christine Simpson, marking the first time two siblings will work together on a Canadian NHL national broadcast team
Mike Johnson, Analyst – Joins the NHL on Sportsnet team as both a studio analyst and game analyst; the former NHL player has more than five years of experience as an NHL broadcaster
Darren Pang, Analyst – The former NHL goalie began his broadcast career in 1990, and brings 15 years of NHL broadcast experience from both sides of the border, including with ESPN and Fox, to his role as a game analyst and a studio analyst
Cassie Campbell-Pascall, Reporter – One of Canada’s most popular and accomplished female hockey players with more than 20 years of on-ice experience, Campbell-Pascall is also known for her work off the ice, in front of the camera. The nine-year hockey broadcast veteran will report from rinkside, and will also work as a commentator for Rogers Hometown Hockey and Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada
Leah Hextall, Host – Hextall joins the NHL on Sportsnet from NESN, one of the top regional sports networks in the US, where she worked for the past two years as an anchor/reporter, gaining significant experience covering the Boston Bruins, as well as other sports. The cousin of former NHL goalie and Philadelphia Flyers GM Ron Hextall brings more than 10 years of broadcast experience from both sides of the border to her role as host
Rick Ball, Play-by-Play Announcer (Calgary Flames broadcasts) – The 20-year veteran broadcaster hits the broadcast booth in Calgary to call Flames games alongside Hrudey. In addition to working with CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada the last three seasons, Ball has also been the radio voice for the Vancouver Canucks for six years, and was the first play-by-play voice of the Kelowna Rockets
Drew Remenda, Game Analyst (Edmonton Oilers broadcasts) –The five-time Northern California Emmy Award winner was part of the San Jose Sharks broadcast team for more than 14 years, and also served as an analyst on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada. He will work alongside play-by-play man Kevin Quinn as an analyst for Edmonton Oilers games
P.J. Stock, Analyst – The former NHL player brings more than seven years of broadcast experience as a studio analyst for CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada to his new role with the NHL on Sportsnet as a studio analyst
Garry Galley, Game Analyst – A former defenseman who played 17 years in the NHL, Galley joins the NHL on Sportsnet bringing 10 years of experiences as a game analyst with Sportsnet and CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada
Familiar Faces
Rounding out the NHL on Sportsnet team are many familiar and popular faces from Sportsnet’s experienced stable of hockey commentators including Nick Kypreos, Billy Jaffe, Chris Johnston, Doug MacLean, Scott Morrison, John Shannon, Christine Simpson and Mark Spector.
The full NHL on Sportsnet broadcast team is as follows:
Hosts
George Stroumboulopoulos (Hockey Night in Canada, NHL on Sportsnet)
Ron MacLean (Rogers Hometown Hockey, NHL on Sportsnet)
Leah Hextall
Jeff Marek
Daren Millard
Play-by-Play Announcers
National
Bob Cole
Jim Hughson
Dave Randorf
Paul Romanuk
Regional
Rick Ball (Calgary)
Kevin Quinn (Edmonton)
Paul Romanuk / Dave Randorf (Toronto)
John Shorthouse (Vancouver)
Game Analysts
National:
Gary Galley
Glenn Healy
Mike Johnson
Craig Simpson
Regional:
John Garrett (Vancouver Canucks)
Kelly Hrudey (Calgary Flames)
Greg Millen (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Drew Remenda (Edmonton Oilers)
Studio Analysts and Insiders
Don Cherry (Coach’s Corner)
Damien Cox
Elliotte Friedman
Glenn Healy
Kelly Hrudey
Billy Jaffe
Mike Johnson
Chris Johnston
Nick Kypreos
Doug MacLean
Scott Morrison
Darren Pang
John Shannon
Mark Spector
P.J. Stock
Rinkside Reporters
Cassie Campbell-Pascall
Arash Madani
Roger Millions
Dan Murphy
Scott Oake
Gene Principe
Christine Simpson
