Love ‘Em or Hate ‘Em: Hockey Announcers That Make the Sport What It Is

Love ’em or hate ’em, there are a small core of hockey announcers that make the sport what it is today. They offer a fresh break from the monotonous broadcasting we may find in football, basketball and baseball and add so much more than what appears on the surface to the game of hockey.

Here is a short list of announcers that I have had the privilege of listening to that had me saying “this is what hockey is all about.”

Mike Lange – Pittsburgh Penguins
Mike Lange has become a staple in the NHL broadcasting world and his nonsensical “Langeisms” have listeners wondering what he’s going to spout out next. GET IN THE FAST LANE GRANDMA, THE BINGO GAME IS READY TO ROLL:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIHPd3vERUw

Rick Jeanneret – Buffalo Sabres
Growing up in Buffalo, I have to admit that I have been somewhat spoiled when it comes to watching hockey. It’s difficult for people outside of Buffalo to understand what kind of impact Rick Jeanneret has on the game of hockey, especially for Sabres fans, but believe me when I tell you that listening to him call a game heightens the experience tenfold:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEfbyrKnKc0

Randy Moller – Florida Panthers
Fact: Nobody has as much fun in the press box as Randy Moller. His pop culture rhetoric for goal celebrations has got to be one of the most unique approaches to broadcasting in all of sports. You’re not human if you don’t laugh at any of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3b_7S-sGBo

Peter Maher/Jim Hughson – Calgary Flames/Vancouver Canucks
I’m not calling Peter Maher or Jim Hughson the best announcers; they aren’t the flashiest announcers; they won’t wow you with funny noises or silly sayings. What I’m saying is if I want to watch a hockey game and don’t want the run around, I want Maher or Hughson calling the shots. Rock solid commentary from both guys with voices that are easy to get accustomed to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EcLQRdfK1vo

Gary Thorne – ESPN/ABC Hockey
Here’s a throwback to one of the most exciting announcers hockey has ever seen from a major network. Those announcers from the Outdoor Life Netw…..errrr….Versus could learn a thing or two from Gary Thorne.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9uCtaSngEA

Dave Mishkin – Tampa Bay Lightning
Yeah, I’m going to go there. Now, in no way, shape or form am I calling Dave Mishkin the greatest thing that happened to the sport of hockey. To be frank, I find him to be a bit over the top at times, HOWEVER, nowhere else in the world can you find an announcer of this magnitude. He is truly a NHL announcer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCuUsuj5hWo

Honorable Mentions:
Doc Emrick, Joe Bowen, Ralph Strangis