The NHL on OLN: Year 1 Teams & Games

Stevedude530

Registered User
Dec 21, 2005
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Here's something I did out of boredom, if anyone wants to put it on Wikipedia, go ahead. Just to provide a history for 10 years from now, when the NHL on OLN will be looked back as a novelty and hockey is back on ESPN.

NHL On OLN 2005-06

10/5, NYR vs. PHI - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: John Davidson
10/10, PIT vs. BUF - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: Brian Engblom
10/11, PHX vs. DAL - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: John Davidson
10/17, FLA vs. NYR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
10/18, BOS vs. MTL - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: Brian Engblom
10/24, DET vs. CLB - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
10/25, FLA vs. PIT - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: Brian Engblom
10/31, MTL vs. NYR - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: John Davidson
11/1, CHI vs. DET - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: Neil Smith
11/7, PIT vs. NYR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
11/8, BOS vs. PHI - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: Brian Engblom
11/15, TB vs. WSH - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Brian Engblom
11/16, PIT vs. PHI - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
11/22, TB vs. PHI - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Brian Engblom
11/29, BOS vs. NJ - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
12/5, MIN vs. NYR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
12/6, NYI vs. STL - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: Brian Engblom
12/6, ATL vs. SJ - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
12/12, PIT vs. DET - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
12/13, PIT vs. STL - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
12/19: DAL vs. MIN - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
12/20: COL vs. NSH - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Darren Eliot
12/26: DAL vs. STL - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Andy Brickley
12/27: BOS vs. WSH - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
1/2: TB vs. NYI - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
1/2: DAL vs. LA - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
1/3: MIN vs. DET - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Andy Brickley
1/9: STL vs. COL - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: John Davidson
1/10: DET vs. CAR - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Brian Engblom
1/16: TB vs. SJ - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Darren Eliot
1/17: NJ vs. STL - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
1/23: BOS vs. WSH - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
1/23: ANA vs. LA - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
1/24: PHX vs. MIN - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Ed Olczyk
1/30: PHI vs. NYR - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: John Davidson
1/31: MIN vs. COL - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Brian Engblom
2/6: NSH vs. DAL - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
2/6: CGY vs. SJ - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
2/7: CHI vs. PHX - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: Neil Smith
2/12: COL vs. DET - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: Ed Olczyk
2/28: MIN vs. COL - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: Darren Eliot
3/6: MTL vs. PHI - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: Neil Smith
3/7: COL vs. STL - PBP: Sam Rosen, Color: John Davidson
3/13: VAN vs. DAL - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: Ed Olczyk
3/14: BUF vs. WSH - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
3/14: PHX vs. LA - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: Neil Smith
3/20: BOS vs. NYR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
3/21: PIT vs. OTT - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: Darren Eliot
3/27: DET vs. STL - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: Ed Olczyk
3/27: LA vs. VAN - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
3/28: ANA vs. COL - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Billy Jaffe
4/3: CHI vs. COL - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: Pierre McGuire
4/4: PHI vs. NYR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
4/10: WSH vs. BOS - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
4/11: PIT vs. PHI - PBP: Jim Jackson, Color: PJ Stock
4/17: DAL vs. DET - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
4/17: LA vs. SJ - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
4/18: BUF vs. CAR - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot

PLAYOFFS
4/21: EDM vs. DET - PBP: Jack Edwards, Color: Andy Brickley
4/22: PHI vs. BUF - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
4/23: OTT vs. TB - PBP: Dave Strader, Color: Andy Brickley
4/24: NYR vs. NJ - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
4/24: COL vs. DAL - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
4/25: OTT vs. TB - PBP: Dave Strader, Color: Andy Brickley
4/26: NJ vs. NYR - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
4/26: DAL vs. COL - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
4/27: OTT vs. TB - PBP: Dave Strader, Color: Andy Brickley
4/28: BUF vs. PHI - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
4/28: DAL vs. COL - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
4/29: TB vs. OTT - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Andy Brickley
4/30: SJ vs. NSH - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
5/1: CGY vs. ANA - PBP: Jack Edwards, Color: Andy Brickley
5/2: BUF vs. PHI - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
5/5: BUF vs. OTT - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
5/5: COL vs. ANA - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
5/7: EDM vs. SJ - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
5/8: NJ vs. CAR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
5/8: EDM vs. SJ - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
5/9: ANA vs. COL - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
5/10 CAR vs. NJ - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
5/11 OTT vs. BUF - PBP: Joe Beninaiti, Color: Darren Eliot
5/11 ANA vs. COL - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
5/13 BUF vs. OTT - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Darren Eliot
5/14 NJ vs. CAR - PBP: Kenny Albert, Color: John Davidson
5/14 EDM vs. SJ - PBP: John Kelly, Color: Neil Smith
5/19 EDM vs. ANA - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
5/21 EDM vs. ANA - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
5/22 BUF vs. CAR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
5/23 ANA vs. EDM - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
5/24 CAR vs. BUF - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson
5/25 ANA vs. EDM - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
5/26 CAR vs. BUF - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: Ed Olczyk
5/27 EDM vs. ANA - PBP: Joe Beninati, Color: Neil Smith
5/28 BUF vs. CAR - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: Ed Olczyk
5/30 CAR vs. BUF - PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: ?????


Eastern Conference Finals: PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson/Ed Olczyk
Western Conference Finals: PBP: Joe Beninati Color: Neil Smith
Stanley Cup Finals: PBP: Mike Emrick, Color: John Davidson

Games Called:
PBP
Beninati - 29
Emrick - 25
Jackson - 10
Albert - 10
Rosen - 9
Kelly - 8
Strader - 3
Edwards - 2



Color
Davidson - 25
Eliot - 20
Smith - 18
Engblom - 9
Brickley - 8
Olczyk - 7
McGuire - 1
Stock - 1
Jaffe - 1


Add 6 NBC games and Olympics, and Emrick and Davidson have called over 250 Hockey Games in an 8 month span.
 
Last edited:

polako

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Mar 21, 2004
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i really enjoy listening to emrick and JD...just separately. Sam & JD call NYR games beautifully and Emrick makes any game sound exciting.
 

Stevedude530

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Dec 21, 2005
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Why seprately? Just curious.

I feel they have less chemistry than many think.

That brings up the question, do you think Doc could do it on his own?
 

Spydey629

Registered User
Jan 28, 2005
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Carlisle, PA
Stevedude530 said:
Why seprately? Just curious.

I feel they have less chemistry than many think.

That brings up the question, do you think Doc could do it on his own?

Wow... there's a thought. Doc Emerick doing his best Vin Scully impersonation. I'm amazed that in this day age, that man still works alone.
 

Stevedude530

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Dec 21, 2005
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That's who I was thinking of.

I think Doc could do it alone, just keep PMc between the glass to say MONSTER everyonce in a while.
 

polako

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Mar 21, 2004
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stevedude,

i say separately b/c i think sam & JD are excellent together. sam, for the most part, sticks to play by play and lets JD do all the cc. OTOH, Doc is capable of doing both. When he does games w/ JD, i feel that JD is offering less input than usual. i definitely feel that Doc could do a good job in a single man booth, but IDK, i always like it when more than one person calls a game. i actually like when there is a 3 man booth, like MNF used to have, but that wouldn't work in hockey when the action is faster and continuous...not enough time to coordinate comments/analysis.
 

AdmiralPred

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Jun 9, 2005
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I've prefered the Doc/JD games and the Sam/JD games. I'm not real big on Beninati at this time and Engblom seems better when not paired with him when paired, it just isn't that up-tempo of a broadcast.
 

Gnashville

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Jan 7, 2003
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Stevedude530 said:
when the NHL on OLN will be looked back as a novelty and hockey is back on ESPN.
NOOOOOOOOO ESPN ever again!!!!! Not 86 or 87 Red Wings games a year. Please some people like to see all the teams, and have all the Non Red Wing players' names pronounced correctly.
 

Stevedude530

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Dec 21, 2005
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I think after next season, ESPN and OLN will share rights. With OLN keeping Monday & Tuesday plus the Eastern Conference playoffs, and ESPN getting Thursdays and the West.
 

sabresrat

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Jan 30, 2006
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Stevedude530 said:
I think after next season, ESPN and OLN will share rights. With OLN keeping Monday & Tuesday plus the Eastern Conference playoffs, and ESPN getting Thursdays and the West.

I think ESPN gets the East (more desirable ratings) and OLN gets the West, but other than that it makes sense.
 

Stevedude530

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Dec 21, 2005
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I think ESPN has a mancrush on the west, same for OLN with the East.

One season, ESPN broadcasted well over 15 Phoenix games.
 

Stevedude530

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Dec 21, 2005
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I think another reason the schedule is so diversified is because every telecast is exclusive, so you have to show the best games you possibly can.

Doesn't explain Blues-Pens, but still, it's better than any ESPN schedule. Ever.
 

frozenpondscum

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Jul 12, 2005
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Gnashville said:
NOOOOOOOOO ESPN ever again!!!!! Not 86 or 87 Red Wings games a year. Please some people like to see all the teams, and have all the Non Red Wing players' names pronounced correctly.

I'm fine with OLN's coverage and attention to hockey, but they have 2 huge downsides compared to ESPN: HighDef, and availability in hotel rooms.

Yes, OLN had some high-def feeds, and spotty HD availability on cable and DBS. But ESPN (and increasingly, ESPN2), have full-time dedicated slots on cable and DBS.

I got OLN in maybe 1 out of 15 hotel rooms I stayed in this past season....and that was in a small town where the hotel simply used the full local cable feed. I know it's a chicken and egg thing with carriage in hotels (and on cable systems for that matter), where OLN hopes the NHL contract will boost demand. But I don't want to wait years for that. It may never happen. Hell, it hasn't happened yet for FSN, even after all these years. The lack of availability in hotel rooms is FSN's biggest weakness from the standpoint of frequent travelers. Not only can't you get an OLN game in the hotel room, you can't get the local team, either. I had to listen to the overtime of Sharks/Oilers game 3 on radio, in my hotel room, IN SAN JOSE!
 

TonySCV

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Mar 2, 2004
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Los Angeles, CA
Stevedude530 said:
I think after next season, ESPN and OLN will share rights. With OLN keeping Monday & Tuesday plus the Eastern Conference playoffs, and ESPN getting Thursdays and the West.

Is this just an uninformed opinion or are you aware of formal discussions with ESPN on the subject of this? (Genuinely curious - I think it'd be great to see some games back on ESPN.)
 

jkrdevil

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Apr 24, 2006
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Miami
I would doubt the NHL would go back to ESPN. The NHL was very displeased with the treatment it got from ESPN. This from Stan Fischler's coulmn from New England Hockey Journal.

HOW IS THE OLN–NHL DEAL GOING SO FAR?

When the work stoppage ended last June, the NHL had to scramble mightily to get back on track – in every department.

One of the league’s biggest challenges was finding a network TV carrier to replace ESPN, which for years had shabbily treated the NHL.

In an amazing stroke of good fortune, Gary Bettman not only secured a deal with Outdoor Life Network that netted $65 million this year but also delivered an outfit which actually adores hockey.

That the league was able to secure OLN so quickly was amazing. That the network was able to launch its coverage so well with so little time ranks as just short of miraculous.

Naturally, there have been debits, the most egregious being that OLN currently lacks ESPN’s vast audience. For example, ESPN 2 reaches 90.3 million homes as opposed to 69 million for OLN. The viewership problem surfaced in areas like Orange County where Ducks fans complained they were unable to locate playoff games or were unwilling to pay extra to get OLN. Yet, OLN is an-up-and-coming outfit with the backing of mighty Comcast.

Nobody sums it up better than Flyers’ boss Ed Snider, who knows Comcast as well as anyone.

“Comcast never does anything half-way,†says Snider. “OLN may not be a smash coming right out of the box, but it will evolve smartly and will be one more growth area for us. It will only get bigger and better.â€

The fact is that it took ESPN three years to get where it wanted to be after it re-acquired the NHL in 1993. One top TV executive tells us that it was ESPN, which made the mistake of not re-acquiring the NHL this season.

“Because of that,†the TV executive says, “the NHL had no choice but to go to OLN.â€

Without OLN, there would be no nightly playoff telecasts in the States; an important point. Another cogent thought is added by OLN analyst Bill Clement.

“We’re still an expansion team,†Clement asserts. “The network got the deal six weeks before the season, and we’re extremely proud of the product we’ve put up from October until now.â€

Even Sports Illustrated‘s Allan Muir is complementary of OLN’s telecasts.

“The quality of the (game) calls has been as good as any ever offered in the States,†opines Muir. “What really impresses is that OLN’s commitment hasn’t been limited to wall-to-wall coverage of the playoffs. The value of the hours of bumper programming designed to sell the game itself can’t be underestimated.â€

Lets not beat around the bush, ESPN treated the NHL like dirt and the majority of NHL executives resented that. One put it to us very bluntly: “ESPN pissed me off. The NHL was the eighth banana on its bunch.

“OLN is giving us beautiful coverage. As far as losing ESPN, we should stop beating ourselves, get over it and get on with the new relationship.â€

http://www.hockeyjournal.com/nhl/Fischler%20Report/20060530Fischler.htm

ESPN never respected the NHL or tried to promote it. They never talked about the games they were going to show and when ever the topic of the NHL came up it was with yawning and people fake reading the paper. What made it even worse that the company that owned ESPN (Disney) also owned an NHL team at the time (The Ducks). What a great way to promote your product. :shakehead
 

Stevedude530

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Dec 21, 2005
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TonySCV said:
Is this just an uninformed opinion or are you aware of formal discussions with ESPN on the subject of this? (Genuinely curious - I think it'd be great to see some games back on ESPN.)

Uninformed guess, but it's a good idea.

Hell, try TNT, FX, USA. All (Except TNT) have current relationships with the NHL in some order (Local games on FSN which owns FX, NBC owns USA) and share it with OLN.
 

frozenpondscum

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Jul 12, 2005
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Atlanta
No question OLN has "treated" the NHL better overall than ESPN did. But they did lag the ESPN tenure in one aspect of coverage...no highlight show like ESPN2 had with NHL2Night. Next year, OLN ought to do a 30 minute highlight show at least 4-5 nights a week, or at a bare minimum, pick up "On the Fly" like they've been doing in the post season.
 

TonySCV

Golden
Mar 2, 2004
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Los Angeles, CA
frozenpondscum said:
No question OLN has "treated" the NHL better overall than ESPN did. But they did lag the ESPN tenure in one aspect of coverage...no highlight show like ESPN2 had with NHL2Night. Next year, OLN ought to do a 30 minute highlight show at least 4-5 nights a week, or at a bare minimum, pick up "On the Fly" like they've been doing in the post season.

Picking up On the Fly would wash the sins away of not having their own NHL2Night in a heartbeat.

- T
 

Tokala

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Aug 9, 2005
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Correction

The game scheduled on 1/2/06 between the Lightning and the Islanders was pulled. OLN broadcast a different game that night. They're "last minute" programming change left the Lightning and Sun Sports to pick the game up for local broadcast.
 

Stevedude530

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Dec 21, 2005
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No, that's a different Lightning-Isles game that was scheduled for later in the year.

Bolts-Isles did air on OLN on 1/2/06.
 

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