I would have loved to play hockey. Just about everyone reading this probably would have. But I didn’t find the Coolest Game on Ice until the 1980 USA Olympic team won the Gold Medal. So for the rest of my life, I could only do the next best thing — sit on my lazy ass and watch others play. So I’ve watched literally thousands of games on TV, and therefore consider myself an expert on NHL TV Broadcasters.
Needless to say, the day I signed up for NHL Center Ice was a blessed moment in the Bollmeier household… ok, really just for me. If you don’t have Center Ice, you’re missing out not only a lot of great hockey action, but a lot of good, informative and entertaining hockey talk. While all (most?) of the national broadcasters are excellent, eight pairs of local guys stand above the rest:
Ralph Strangis and Daryl Reaugh, Dallas Stars - Without question the wittiest duo of the bunch. Wacky descriptions such as a “Crazy Ivan” enhance the fact that they’re always well-informed.
Dean Brown and Garry Galley, Ottawa Senators - Always an interesting listen, as Deano has perhaps the driest wit in the NHL, He can also be gloriously silly at opportune moments. One of the more impartial local guys you’ll find.
Jim Hughson and John Garret, Vancouver Canucks - Once you get past the fact that you aren’t listening to one of EA’s NHL games, a rich smooth delivery every night.
Rick Jeanneret and Jim Lorentz, Buffalo Sabres - Yeah, RJ is a homer. I don’t care. He defines passion and enthusiasm. “Straight-man” Lorentz always tells you why a goal happened, not just how.
Curt Keilback and Darren Pang, Phoenix Coyotes - Kielback could be described as an acquired taste with his unique delivery, but it’s old-time hockey all the way. Pang’s enthusiasm is sometimes uncontrolled, and that’s a good thing.
Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti, New York Rangers - Joe Micheletti may be the finest color man in the NHL. Always well-spoken, and often will go back 10 seconds to show you WHY the goal happened.
Dale Arnold and Andy Brickley, Boston Bruins - Dale Arnold does things differently. He often is happy to simply tell you who has the puck, which is fine. You can see what he’s doing with it. Bricky is also quite low-key and very smart.
Pete Weber and Terry Crisp, Nashville Predators - Terry Crisp has been in hockey forever and a day, and it shows with the vast amount of humorous anecdotes he has. He and Weber were charged with educating Nashville about Hockey in an entertaining way, and they do it to perfection.
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