Tirico Adds NHL to Extensive List of Career Play-by-Play Assignments Including NFL, NBA, Golf, Tennis, College Football, and College Basketball
Tirico to Call Original Six Matchup Between Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN
STAMFORD, Conn. – Feb. 7, 2019 – For the first time in his career, Mike Tirico will call play-by-play for an NHL game, when the Detroit Red Wings host the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday Night Hockey, on Wednesday, February 20, at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN.
During an illustrious broadcasting career spanning three decades, Tirico has served in lead play-by-play roles for coverage of the NFL, NBA, tennis, golf, college football, college basketball, and college lacrosse, but NBCSN’s Wednesday Night Hockey telecast will be his first NHL play-by-play assignment.
Tirico, who is synonymous with NBC Sports’ biggest events, is the host for NBC’s primetime Olympics coverage, as well as Football Night in America – the most-watched studio show in sports. He also hosts NBC Sports Group’s Triple Crown and Breeders’ Cup coverage, marquee PGA TOUR events and The Open, and serves as the play-by-play voice for Notre Dame Football and select NFL games.
Since joining NBC Sports Group, Tirico has been a part of several NHL events, hosting NBC Sports’ coverage of the 2019 NHL All-Star Game, the 2019 NHL Winter Classic, as well as Games 1 and 4 of the 2018 Stanley Cup Final.
Tirico will be joined in the booth by U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame member and analyst Eddie Olczyk, and ‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst Brian Boucher.
“I’m thrilled to be calling my first NHL game,” said Tirico. “Growing up in New York, and now living in Metro Detroit, I’ve always loved the sport of hockey as a fan, attending as many games as possible each season. So the chance to call a game is a bucket list item for me. Covering the Stanley Cup Final, Winter Classic, and NHL All-Star Game has given me the chance to work with our great NHL on NBC team, and I know I’m in good hands working with Edzo and Brian in Detroit.”
“Mike is one of the best play-by-play voices in the business, so after 30 years of calling every major sport on grass, turf, clay, and hardwood, we thought it was about time we got him above the ice,” said Sam Flood, Executive Producer and President of Production, NBC Sports. “Mike has been a great linemate as host of our broadcasts of the Stanley Cup, Winter Classic and NHL All-Star Weekend, and we’re excited to have him stick handle our coverage in the booth of this Original Six match-up between two historic NHL rivals.”
“There is not much pre-game advice you can give a person as talented as Mike,” said Mike “Doc” Emrick, lead play-by-play commentator for NHL on NBC. “His passion for sports and his delivery of the action on the playing field are world-class. So much so, Mike has been a regular on broadcast row recently to watch the Red Wings and others play, even while his NFL and numerous other broadcasting commitments were ongoing. I’m looking forward to watching Mike call the game, and I’m confident the viewers at home will enjoy it.”
“Working at NBC has allowed me to continue to be teamed up with some of the best linemates in the business, and Mike is yet another All Star,” said Eddie Olczyk, lead game analyst for NHL on NBC. “I’ve enjoyed getting to work with Mike on our Triple Crown coverage, and was happy to hear he’s following my lead of working on the two greatest sports, hockey and horses.”
Listed below are some of the major sports and events Tirico has hosted or provided play-by-play coverage for during his 30-year broadcasting career with NBC Sports and ESPN.
Play-by-Play
- NFL
- NBA
- NCAA Football
- NCAA Basketball
- PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour
- Lacrosse
Host
- Olympics
- FIFA World Cup
- NFL
- NBA
- Golf (Masters, U.S. Open, British Open)
- Tennis (Wimbledon and U.S. Open)
- Stanley Cup Final
- Triple Crown horse racing
- NASCAR
- College Basketball
Tirico joined NBC Sports Group in 2016, and a year later was named NBC’s primetime Olympic host, with his first assignment coming at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. Tirico, who was named studio host for Football Night in America in August 2018, is in his 23rd season in which he has served as either an NFL primetime studio host or play-by-play voice. Click here for Tirico’s complete bio.
–NBC SPORTS GROUP–
ESPN will have daylong, in-depth coverage of the National Hockey League’s Trade Deadline Day on Monday, Feb. 26, including a simulcast of Canadian network TSN’s signature broadcast event TradeCentre. ESPN NHL experts, including writers Emily Kaplan and Greg Wyshynski, will also offer in-depth analysis on ESPN.com.