ESPN Touts New Female NHL Commentator, But There's One Major Problem: Many Fans Can't Stand Her By Grant Atkinson May 12, 2022 at 2:20pm This season, ESPN acquired the rights to broadcast NHL games for the first time in 16 years. Be prepared to feel as gutted as I still do when you watch the video below. (Screen grab) Hockey Maharashtra and Hockey Madhya Pradesh reached the final of the 13th Hockey India Senior Women National Championship 2023 in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh after picking up victories in their respective Semi-Final clash. Barb Underhill is a consultant with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Tracy Tutton has a similar role with the Colorado Avalanche, and Carrie Keil has helped shape some of the best young American stars through her work with USA Hockeys development teams. This is huge for several reasons. Thats empowering. Rod Black - CFL on TSN, Women's World Hockey Championships and Figure Skating play-by-play Brendan Connor - SportsCentre anchor Dave Hodge - The Reporters host Mark Jones - SportsCentre anchor Steve Kouleas That's Hockey 2Nite host Terry Leibel - SportsDesk anchor Dan O'Toole - SC with Jay and Dan co-host Dan Pollard - SportsCentre anchor HILARY KNIGHT KNOWS how to make a statement. [7] During that period, Hextall called games on the side, generally for free, including for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Alexa is 25 years old. LINDSAY ARTKIN | NHL COACHES ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT Today, girls hockey is one of the fastest-growing sports in North America and women are hitting the ice at NHL All-Star Weekend. In terms of having a female presence Thats the ultimate, right? However, it took Hextall being laid off and pivoting to a career in politics before she reinvented herself and began her pursuit to become a professional play-by-play commentator. Saying something like "and there weren't even women there to distract them" is insane. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. In August 2018, Noelle Needham, co-founder of Legend Hockey, became the first female full-time amateur scout in the NHL when she was hired by the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leah Hextall is a play-by-play commentator for NHL coverage on ESPN. Under her guidance and financial backing, the NWHLs Buffalo Beauts were considered a model franchise. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. Leah Hextall, Cassie Campbell-Pascall and Linda Cohn made history as ESPN's first all-female NHL broadcast team for the Arizona Coyotes and Montreal Canadiens game at Gila River Arena on Monday.. The team, which was part of the CWHL and is now being subsidized by the Chinese government in an effort to grow the game, is the lone Chinese club in an eight-team league based in Russia, the Zhenskaya Khokkeinaya Liga or Womens Hockey League (WHL). The former has the primary TV deal while the latter has a secondary one. Now, her mission as leader on one side of hockeys most intense rivalry is to propel Canada back atop the podium. Sometimes we forget this, so its worth the reminder: Hockey is fun. Granato is leading the way and opening doors for others to follow suit. Hockey really needs women at every level, says Messier. Sophia entered the sports industry back in 2007 and has worked for various sports broadcasting companies in Canada including theScore, Rogers Sportsnet, CBC News Network, and Hockey Night in Canada. In 2018, Marie-Philip Poulin joined that list as the next Captain Canada, another strong leader in a sport with a rich history of them. Based in the Golden Horseshoe community of Burlington, Ontario, it allowed founder Jana Harrigan, a . There are plenty of them out there, most notably A.J. That a 32-year-old woman from Tampa Bay built a league from scratch and has kept it afloat for five years is an incredible display of power in hockey. Hextall joined the ESPN broadcast team in 2021, where she serves as a commentator for select NHL games. This list is meant as a celebration, a way to highlight the incredible achievements women are making in hockey right now, in all parts of the sport. Kingsbury was hand-picked by legendary long-time coach and general manager Melody Davidson to take over the program. Her efforts include helping develop and promote a line of womens protective gear and making sure sponsored female athletes get equal billing to their male counterparts in promotional materials. Arianna Stassinopoulos Huffington (born July 15, 1950) is a Greek-American author, syndicated columnist, and businesswoman. In 2014, Hextall joined Sportsnet as the studio host and reporter for Hockey Night in Canada. This veteran group of announcers, analysts and reporters bring a wealth of on-ice experience and achievements to Turner Sports' NHL coverage including eight Stanley Cups, four Olympic medals, 11 World Championship medals, more than 5,200 pro hockey regular season games played, and more than 5,400 regular season career points. (All while balancing her medical school obligations, too.) International Women's Day is bringing wins for female hockey broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada, but the top women's players have lost the opportunity to skate in their biggest event of the year . ESPN, Inc. CASSIE CAMPBELL. Now, one of the greatest womens hockey players ever is hoping that, despite that setback, her post-playing legacy can be even greater. First is a word often associated with Leah Hextall, who is blazing a trail for women in sports and beyond. My personal opinion is that shes the best player to ever play for Canada, for sure Shes just the complete package. Erin Andrews grew up watching sports with her [] When she speaks, we listen. Its just something that is not even possible, to have multiple women in the room at almost every other NHL franchise, talking about NHL players, helping a team make decisions. (Its worth noting that the NHL has not explicitly stated that a womens league would be in the works either way.). The group is led by veteran play-by-play broadcasters Sean McDonough and Steve Levy along with former players like NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier and U.S. Olympic gold-medalist Hillary Knight. There have been other women to do single games, such as Sherry Ross, who became the first woman to do a full NHL game in 2009. Leah did an outstanding job handling multiple assignments during the tournament. She was great to work with and had a great work ethic. Pegula also has the power to shape womens hockey in Buffalo. Ice danced! The future is bright. Since 2007, Sophia. Take NHL expansion, for example. There are many female sports announcers who are really good. Shes now a consultant with the Calgary Flames and continues coaching some of the best prospects and pros during the off-season. Bob Duff Manon Rheaume, the only woman to play in an NHL game, will be part of the Red Wings broadcasts this season on Bally Sports Detroit. She knows that in order to lead, you must listen and thats exactly what shes doing with NHL Power Players, a recently created program that enlists the help of 13- to 17-year-olds from all areas and backgrounds in North America to spark ideas for how the league can best serve an audience that increasingly follows individual athletes instead of teams. AJ is 47 years old. Last season, Leah Hextall became the first woman to call NHL play-by-play full-time for a national network. She was recently named one of 10 finalists for the Kazmaier again this year as a junior, joined by fellow Canuck standouts Sophie Shirley and Sarah Fillier, and budding U.S. star Abby Roque. It was important for me to make sure that Marie-Philip was able to live the life of a pro So for us, it was about getting sponsors to be aware of that, and they answered the call.. I was unsure how our audience would react, but I trusted her words would resonate with them. "They looked at . Todd Romero. She is living proof of what can happen when you give an elite athlete the stage she deserves. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER. How the dominos fell for one of the best Blue Jays off-seasons ever. Since 2007, Sophia has worked with various sports-broadcasting companies, including . In March 2020, she became the first woman to call play-by-play for a nationally televised NHL game as part of Sportsnets first all-female broadcast team. She made another leap in January when she served as an assistant with the senior womens national team for the final three games of the Canada-USA Rivalry Series. Thats just one of the many questions Kim Davis asks when she looks around the NHL. You may have created an account with another Rogers Media account that can be used to sign in here. She grew up in Toronto, Canada and has loved sports all her life. One year earlier in San Jose, Coyne Schofield became the first woman to compete in the NHL All-Star Skills Competition, completing the Fastest Lap event in a blazing-fast 14.346 seconds. In what has been an incredibly divisive year for womens hockey, Jillian Dempsey has helped unite a team thats about as dominant as you can find in pro hockey right now. #EqualSweat | @EmmySadler pic.twitter.com/8HkzhzjouC, Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 27, 2020. Saturday night's #RivalrySeries attendance of 13,320 at @HondaCenter, the largest crowd ever for a U.S. Women's National Team hockey game in the United States, resonated with @KendallCoyne. The PWHPA is one of the key drivers of the conversation around the state of the womens game, and Coyne Schofield is the president of its players board. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images). Her poise under pressure and ability to deliver in the biggest situations makes her an all-time great at just 28. Fellow former Olympians A.J. Broadcasters include Kenny Albert, Brian Boucher, and Anson Carter. China hasnt qualified for the Olympics since 2010 but with an automatic host-entry in 2022, their journey to the biggest international stage is an intriguing one to keep an eye on. But I think also there was always a sense of optimism that things were going to be better because of it In many ways, as difficult as it was, it really created this window of opportunity to do something., Team Canada forward and PWHPA member Sarah Nurse on Jayna Hefford Maharashtra players celebrate after entering final. Shes also done work with the CWHL and the WHL too. Leah Hextall will be getting the most notable one, as shes set to be hired by ESPN as one of their lead play-by-play announcers. The 21-year-old is having a breakout season earning 44 points (20 goals, 24 assists . It's 2020 and hockey fans are diversifying. The first woman to call play by play for a nationally televised NHL game, Hextall did so as part of Sportsnet's first all-female broadcast team in March 2020. Taryn has spent the last three years as sports anchor at Hawaii News Now, and while that may sound like a dream of its own, her real . Ever.Shes also the first woman to call play-by-play for a nationally televised NHL game, the first to call an NCAA Mens Ice Hockey Championship game, and the first to do play-by-play for the Mens NCAA Division I Hockey Tournament.Hextall is a trailblazer and when the ESPN commentator speaks, well, she always has something important to say.That was especially the case when she spoke as one of the headliners at TCS Live, hockeys premiere coaching conference, this past June at the University of Michigan.What Hextall had to say is raw, emotional and shocking, but sadly not surprising. Saying a woman is powerful in the game of hockey today can mean so many different things. Specifically, the presence of Black and female representation in the group of broadcasters having more prominent roles. We've sent an email with instructions to create a new password. She won gold at the 2019 womens world championship with the most dominant American squad weve ever seen, now the Goliath of womens hockey to Canadas David. And they need women in all the different business leadership positions to bring a different perspective to the business and continue to drive to elevate and advance all levels not just womens [hockey] but across the board.. Its really about having proper medical care, about having proper health insurance, about not having to practice at 10:30 at night. Now, the star netminder is helping grow the game in China, too. In September, referees Katie Guay and Kelly Cooke, and linesmen Kendall Hanley and Kirsten Welsh served as on-ice officials during NHL prospect tournaments the first time women have ever called an NHL-affiliated event. Alexa's height is 5 ft 8 in ( approx. Earlier in the day, head coach Greg Gard had told reporters that Hepburn's status was unclear for the game and that he was hopeful that the sophomore guard would be able to practice on Tuesday. Katy Winge. Looking for Canadas next offensive powerhouse? https://t.co/DpewPTOKqJ, Kendall Coyne Schofield (@KendallCoyne) February 17, 2020. The NHLCA is the go-to source for coaches on all things that arent hockey related, from help with pensions and health insurance to tips on mental health resources and sponsorship information. While I was flattered that Leah chose our stage to share her story, I was also aware of the scrutiny she was likely bringing upon herself. She's still considered the GOAT when it comes to women's hockey in the U.S., and now @CammiGranato is lending her expertise to a new area of the game: as a pro scout with @NHLSeattle_. Colorado Avalanche Analyst. She shone the brightest at the leagues recent All-Star weekend, hosted by the Pride, and is growing her star power on a weekly basis with an incredible 17 goals and 40 points in 24 games this season. Presented by @SecretDeodorant. Playing career [ edit] Mleczko attended New Canaan Country School and is a graduate of The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut. As the nation works towards that ambitious goal, itll lean heavily on two players in particular to lead the way on the ice: long-time Chinese national team captain Yu Baiwei, who goes by Berry, and top forward Fang Xin, a.k.a. NBC Sports announced its hockey broadcast roster for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. I feel like Ive won [personally], but the war is never over in terms of where are not only women accepted but where are they wanted, she says. That something is the PWHPA, and empowered by its members, Hefford is the face of the Association. She worked for CTV Winnipeg from 2005 to 2012 and for NESN as host of NESN Today from 2012-14. Islanders Analysts A Part of First All-Female NHL Broadcast Islanders Analysts A Part of First All-Female NHL Broadcast AJ Mleczko and Jennifer Botterill part of all-female crew producing. [6] Her television debut calling play-by-play was a four-game set of Canadian Women's Hockey League (CWHL) games in January 2018. Graeme Clarke was recalled from the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League on Feb. 28. Encouraged by legendary NHL broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick and the first female colour commentator on Hockey Night in Canada, Cassie Campbell-Pascall, both of whom she had worked with while in previous hosting roles, she began refining her announcing skills. Stathletes Co-Founder Meghan Chayka on Kim Pegula [5] In 2014, she joined Sportsnet as the studio host for regional Calgary Flames game broadcasts. In Memory of Peter McNab. The advocacy roles in particular arent ones she necessarily anticipated a year ago, but Nurse has embraced them. It was 2017, and the league had just announced it was going to be forced to slash salaries, a development that caught players by surprise and severely damaged their trust in league brass. CANADAS FIRST (and currently only) female NHLPA-certified player agent holds the keys to two of the most notable players in the nation right now: Team Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin and 2020s top NHL Draft prospect Alexis Lafrenire. The following is a list of current (entering 2022-23 NHL season) National Hockey League broadcasters.With 25 teams in the U.S. and 7 in Canada, the NHL is the only one of the four major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada that maintains separate national broadcasters in each country, each producing separate telecasts of a slate of regular season games, playoff games . Considering her strong social media following (93,500 followers on Twitter, 150,000 on Instagram, and a YouTube channel dedicated to giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a hockey player) and long list of sponsors, she might just be womens hockeys ultimate influencer. Hextalls hockey heritage is noteworthy, beginning with her grandfather, Bryan Hextall, who is a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. A native of Brandon, Manitoba, Hextall graduated from the Columbia Academy of Radio, Television and Recording Arts in Vancouver in 2003. Actor turned ITV presenter Charles Foster has died.. Charles, who previously featured in both Coronation Street and Emmerdale, was the face of Granada TV from the 1970s through to the 1990s. First of all, ESPN continues to grab up talent. Her name is Noora Rty. A four-time Olympic gold medalist and member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, @wick_22 is one of the games greatest ambassadors, and she continues to blaze trails on the ice and inspire young hockey players everywhere. Its Heidi Brownings job to not just keep up, but set the pace when it comes to how we watch, discuss, and relate to the NHL and its players. A male reporter asked coaches Bep Guidolin and Fred Shero as a joke if they would let women in the room. The content on this site is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Unlike her U.S. counterpart, Million, Kingsburys had a bit of a bumpy start. Take Taylor Hall, for example, whose work with Braid contributed to him elevating his game to Hart Trophy heights in 201718; or John Tavares, who sought out skating sessions with Braid en route to being the No. Need Photos? Natalie Spooner is everywhere, and the game is all the better for it. 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