List of Stanley Cup Finals broadcasters
{{Short description|none}}
The following is a list of national American and Canadian television, and radio networks and announcers that have broadcast Stanley Cup Finals games over the years.
American television
{{further|List of American Stanley Cup Finals television announcers|NHL on NBC commentators|List of NHL on ESPN personalities|Stanley Cup Finals television ratings}}
=National television=
==2020s==
=== Notes ===
- 2020 - The NHL initially had plans to produce broadcasts for each game using a skeleton crew on-site, such as cameramen and producers, and then each media partner's commentators on both TV and radio were to call the games remotely.{{cite web|title=NHL media remain in flux while awaiting finalized coverage plans ahead of restart|url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-playoffs-media-coverage-1.5627840|last=Morris|first=Jim|website=CBC|date=June 26, 2020|access-date=June 29, 2020|archive-date=June 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200628180538/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/nhl/nhl-playoffs-media-coverage-1.5627840|url-status=live}} The league then allowed both Sportsnet and NBC commentators into the hubs.{{Cite web|title=Return to Play FAQ|url=https://media.nhl.com/public/news/14036|date=July 28, 2020|access-date=August 2, 2020|website=NHL.com|publisher=NHL Enterprises, L. P.|archive-date=July 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714171949/https://media.nhl.com/public/news/14036|url-status=live}} As he had been doing throughout the playoffs, 74-year-old NBC lead play-by-play commentator Mike Emrick called the Cup Finals off of monitors from his home studio in Metro Detroit, citing his advanced age as a potential risk for severe illness from COVID-19. These were the final games that Emrick called; he announced his retirement on October 19, 2020.
- On March 10, 2021, the National Hockey League and ESPN confirmed{{cite news |last=Pederson |first=Eric |date=March 10, 2021 |title=NHL & ESPN/ABC Confirm Seven-Year TV Deal Including 1,000-Plus Streamed Games Per Season |url=https://deadline.com/2021/03/nhl-espn-tv-deal-abc-disney-1234711444/ |access-date=February 17, 2025 |work=Deadline |location= |archive-date=December 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226105404/https://deadline.com/2021/03/nhl-espn-tv-deal-abc-disney-1234711444/ |url-status=live }} a 7-year television deal that will include games not only on ESPN,{{cite news |last=Spiegel |first=Jackie |date=March 10, 2021 |title=NHL games returning to ESPN for 2021-22 season after 16 years apart |url=https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nhl/news/espn-nhl-seven-year-deal/10zt071gixjsp1dub5gdtzp3iz |access-date=February 17, 2025 |work=The Sporting News |location=}} but also ABC, ESPN+, and Hulu beginning in the 2021–22 season. ABC will also broadcast four{{cite news |last=Dewberry |first=Sarah |date=March 10, 2021 |title=It's official: NHL reaches 7-year agreement with ESPN |url=https://www.fox47news.com/sports/ap-sources-nhl-reaches-7-year-agreement-with-espn |access-date=February 17, 2025 |work=Fox 47 News |location= |archive-date=February 25, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225193757/https://www.fox47news.com/sports/ap-sources-nhl-reaches-7-year-agreement-with-espn |url-status=live }} Stanley Cup Finals over the life of the contract.
- On April 26, 2021, Sports Business Journal reported{{cite news|last=Ourand, Burns|first=John, Mark J.|date=April 26, 2021|title=NBC pulls out of bidding for remaining NHL rights package|url=https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2021/04/26/Media/NBC-NHL.aspx|work=Sports Business Journal|location=|archive-date=April 26, 2021|access-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426161101/https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2021/04/26/Media/NBC-NHL.aspx|url-status=live}} that NBC had officially pulled out{{cite news|last=Rigdon|first=Jay|date=April 26, 2021|title=Turner reportedly "likely" to land remaining NHL rights as NBC withdraws from the bidding|url=https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/turner-reportedly-likely-to-land-remaining-nhl-rights-as-nbc-withdraws-from-the-bidding.html|work=Awful Announcing|location=|archive-date=April 26, 2021|access-date=April 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426205423/https://awfulannouncing.com/nbc/turner-reportedly-likely-to-land-remaining-nhl-rights-as-nbc-withdraws-from-the-bidding.html|url-status=live}} of bidding for future NHL rights,{{cite news |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=April 26, 2021 |title=WarnerMedia Poised to Pick Up NHL Package as NBC Exits Hockey Rights |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/warnermedia-nhl-rights-nbc-hockey-1234960828/ |access-date=February 17, 2025 |work=Variety |location= |archive-date=April 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427000926/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/warnermedia-nhl-rights-nbc-hockey-1234960828/ |url-status=live }} meaning that NBC will not televise NHL games for the first time since the 2004–05 NHL lockout.{{cite news |last=Reedy |first=Joe |date=April 26, 2021 |title=AP sources: Turner Sports gets rights to second NHL package |url=https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-nhl-business-hockey-sports-b87bead00d8403c725b7edb802c93b4c |access-date=February 17, 2025 |work=AP News |location= |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426235519/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-nhl-business-hockey-sports-b87bead00d8403c725b7edb802c93b4c |url-status=live }} The next day, Turner Sports announced that they have agreed to a seven-year deal with the NHL to broadcast at least 72 games nationally on TNT and TBS{{cite news |last=Daniels |first=Tim |date=April 27, 2021 |title=NHL, Turner Sports Reveal 7-Year Contract Featuring Stanley Cup, Winter Classic |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2941415-nhl-turner-sports-reveal-7-year-contract-featuring-stanley-cup-winter-classic |access-date=February 17, 2025 |work=Bleacher Report |location= |archive-date=December 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203185847/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2941415-nhl-turner-sports-reveal-7-year-contract-featuring-stanley-cup-winter-classic |url-status=live }} (while also giving HBO Max the live streaming and simulcast rights to these games) beginning with the 2021–22 NHL season, which will include three Stanley Cup Finals, the other half of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Winter Classic.{{Cite web |date=2021-04-27 |title=The NHL Comes to Turner |url=https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/nhl-comes-turner |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Pressroom |language=en |archive-date=2024-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208223143/https://press.wbd.com/us/media-release/nhl-comes-turner |url-status=live }}
- 2021 - NBC lead color commentator Eddie Olczyk missed Game 2 due to a personal matter, so ice-level analyst Brian Boucher moved to the booth with Kenny Albert, and Pierre McGuire took over for Boucher between the benches.{{cite press release|url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2021/06/30/2021-stanley-cup-final-game-2-montreal-canadiens-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-tonight-at-8-p-m-et-on-nbcsn-and-peacock/|title=2021 Stanley Cup Final Game 2: Montreal Canadiens vs. Tampa Bay Lightning Tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBCSN and Peacock|publisher=NBC Universal|date=June 30, 2021|access-date=June 30, 2021|archive-date=July 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210711104007/https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2021/06/30/2021-stanley-cup-final-game-2-montreal-canadiens-vs-tampa-bay-lightning-tonight-at-8-p-m-et-on-nbcsn-and-peacock/|url-status=live}} McGuire also fill-in for Boucher in Game 3 for the same reason.
- 2022 - ABC's coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals marked the first time the entire Stanley Cup Finals series would be carried exclusively on American broadcast television.
- 2023 - TNT's coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals marked the first time since 1994 that the entire series would be carried on a cable network since ESPN last did it 29 years before (1994), and the first time that it would exclusively be on cable. All of TNT's games in the Stanley Cup Finals were simulcast on sister networks TruTV, and on most games, TBS due to Major League Baseball coverage every Tuesday night.
==2010s==
=== Notes ===
- In 2014, NBCSN broadcast Games 3 and 4, while NBC televised the remaining games. NBC Sports originally planned to repeat its coverage pattern from the last few seasons: NBCSN would televise Games 2 and 3, while NBC would broadcast Game 1, and then Games 4 through 7 so that all potential Cup clinchers are shown over-the-air.{{cite press release |title=2014 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs coverage |url=https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2014/04/02/2014-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-one-goal/ |date=April 2, 2014 |quote=NBC will broadcast game one, game four, and Games 5–7 (if necessary), with NBCSN televising Games 2–3 |access-date=June 7, 2014 |archive-date=December 2, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202235941/https://nbcsportsgrouppressbox.com/2014/04/02/2014-nhl-stanley-cup-playoffs-one-goal/ |url-status=live }} After the League scheduled Game 2 on the day of the Belmont Stakes, coverage of games two and four were switched so NBC's telecast of the horse race would serve as lead-in programming to Game 2. Due to the death of a family member, NBC lead play-by-play announcer Mike Emrick missed Game 1. Kenny Albert, who was also the New York Rangers radio announcer for WEPN and announced several national games (including the Western Conference Finals) for NBC/NBCSN, filled in for Emrick in the first game.{{cite news|last1=Khatchaturian|first1=Andre|title=Doc Emrick To Miss Game 1 Of Stanley Cup|url=http://nesn.com/2014/06/doc-emrick-to-miss-game-1-of-stanley-cup-final-due-to-death-in-family/|access-date=February 19, 2017|work=NESN|date=June 4, 2014|archive-date=February 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220095036/http://nesn.com/2014/06/doc-emrick-to-miss-game-1-of-stanley-cup-final-due-to-death-in-family/|url-status=live}}
- It was originally announced that Games 2 and 3 of the 2015 Finals were to be broadcast by NBCSN, with the remainder on NBC. Game 2 was moved to NBC to serve as a lead-out for its coverage of the 2015 Belmont Stakes in favor of Game 4 on NBCSN. As Eddie Olczyk was also a contributor to NBC's Belmont coverage, he was absent for Game 2, as a result, studio analyst Mike Milbury filled in for Olczyk in the color commentator role.
- On May 27, 2016, NBC Sports announced that if the Finals was tied at 1–1 entering Game 3, then it would have aired on NBC and Game 4 televised on NBCSN. However, if one team led 2–0 (as this eventually happened; Penguins led 2–0), Game 3 would be moved to NBCSN and then Game 4 on NBC.
- 2018 - P. K. Subban served as a studio analyst for NBC's coverage of Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals due to Mike Milbury attending his son's high school graduation.{{Cite web |last=Allen |first=Kevin |date=June 7, 2018 |title=Lindsey Vonn, P.K. Subban are sports' newest power couple |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2018/06/07/lindsey-vonn-pk-subban-dating/680527002/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=USA TODAY |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024201958/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nhl/2018/06/07/lindsey-vonn-pk-subban-dating/680527002/ |url-status=live }}
==2000s==
=== Notes ===
- Following the 2003–04 season, ESPN was only willing to renew its contract for two additional years at $60 million per year.{{cite news|title=NHL announces TV deal with NBC|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/nhl/2004-05-19-martzke-nbc_x.htm|author=Rudy Martzke|newspaper=USA Today|date=May 19, 2004|access-date=July 2, 2012}} ABC refused to televise the Stanley Cup Finals in prime time, suggesting that the Finals games it would telecast be played on weekend afternoons (including a potential Game 7). Disney executives later conceded that they overpaid for the 1999–2004 deal, so the company's offer to renew the television rights was lower in 2004.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/4_thurs/news1thursday.html|title=Sports TV get pricier and pricier. Here's why|author=Kevin Downey|magazine=Media Life Magazine|date=April 12, 2001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013043902/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/news2001/apr01/apr09/4_thurs/news1thursday.html|archive-date=13 October 2008|df=dmy-all}}
- 2003 was the only year that ABC broadcast both the NBA and the Stanley Cup Finals that involved teams from one city in the same year, as both the New Jersey Nets and the New Jersey Devils were in their respective league's finals. During ABC's broadcast of game three between the San Antonio Spurs and the Nets in New Jersey on June 8, Brad Nessler said that ABC was in a unique situation getting ready for both that game and Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals between the Devils and the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim the following night, also at Continental Airlines Arena. Gary Thorne mentioned this the following night, and thanked Nessler for promoting ABC's broadcast of game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.
==1990s==
===Notes===
- Fox split coverage of the Stanley Cup Finals with ESPN. Game 1 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals was the first Finals game shown on network television since 1980 and the first in prime time since 1973. Games 1, 5, and 7 were usually scheduled to be televised by Fox; and Games 2, 3, 4, and 6 were set to air on ESPN. However, from 1995 to 1998, the Finals matches were all four game sweeps; the 1999 Finals ended in six games. The consequence was that – except for 1995 when Fox did televise Game 4 – the decisive Game 7 was never shown on network television. Perhaps in recognition of this, Games 3 through 7 were always televised by ABC in the succeeding broadcast agreement between the NHL and ABC Sports/ESPN.
- KTVU, the Fox affiliate in the San Francisco Bay Area, dropped Game 4 of the 1995 Stanley Cup Finals (June 24) for a San Francisco Giants game. The game between the Giants and Florida Marlins in Miami had a long rain delay. This allowed KTVU to broadcast the hockey game after all. However, the baseball game finally started before the hockey game ended. KTVU got a lot of complaints, so they re-aired the end of the hockey game next Saturday (July 1).
==1980s==
=== Notes ===
- 1980 - Games 1–5 on Hughes used CBC's feed. For CBS' coverage of Game 6 (which served as a special edition of the CBS Sports Spectacular anthology series), Dan Kelly{{cite news|title=NHL announcer Kelly has fans on both sides of mike|author=Rachel Shuster|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C|date=February 8, 1989}} did play-by-play for 1st and 3rd periods as well as overtime. Meanwhile, Tim Ryan did play-by-play for the second period. Minnesota North Stars' general manager Lou Nanne provided color commentary for the entire game. This was the last time that a National Hockey League game was broadcast on American network television for 10 years (until the 1990 NHL All-Star Game aired on NBC{{cite news|title=Around the NHL|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 29, 1989}}{{cite news|title='American Sportsman' makes strong comeback|author=Rachel Shuster|newspaper=USA Today|page=3C|date=March 29, 1989}}), and the Stanley Cup Finals game on broadcast-network television until 1995.{{cite news |last=Daniel|first=Al|date=May 17, 2020|title=NHL on Fox established hockey's lasting U.S. network presence|url=https://fansided.com/2020/05/17/nhl-on-fox-established-hockeys-lasting-us-network-presence/|work=Fansided|location= }}
- CBS was mainly influenced by the United States men's Olympic hockey team's surprise gold medal victory (dubbed "The Miracle on Ice") in Lake Placid several months prior. CBS agreed to pay $37 million to broadcast the sixth game. In return, the NHL happily moved the starting time from prime time to the afternoon.{{cite news |date=May 22, 1980|title=The Nati League's golden opportunity to showcase Ms Stanley Cup final game on network television might be canceled because one team is too good.|url=https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/45975174/|newspaper=The Gettysburg Times}} The Saturday afternoon game was the first full American network telecast of an NHL game since Game 5 of the 1975 Stanley Cup Finals aired on NBC. Game 6 pulled a 4.4 rating on CBS.{{cite news |last=Armour|first=Terry|date=January 19, 1990|title=HOCKEY RETURNS TO NETWORK TV WITH ALL-STAR GAME|url=https://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-xpm-19900119-1990-01-19-9001180311-story.html|work=Daily Press|access-date=February 9, 2016}} After the game ended, except for its owned-and-operated stations in New York City and Philadelphia, CBS discontinued the telecast and went to a previously scheduled golf telecast. New York and Philadelphia viewers saw a post-game show before the network joined the very end of the golf broadcast. Given that the game went into overtime, CBS cut away from hockey during the intermission between the end of regulation and the start of overtime to present ten minutes of live golf coverage, with the golf announcers repeatedly mentioning that the network would return to hockey in time for the start of sudden-death.
- USA Network simulcast the CBC feed for the 1981 Stanley Cup Finals instead of producing their own coverage.
- In the {{NHL Year|1981}} season,{{YouTube|title=John Tonelli Recaps His Playoff OT Goal (Apr. 13, 1982)|id=B-b6TwAHhSY}} Al Trautwig{{YouTube|title=1984 USA promo NHL coverage|id=tIMONRTibNI}} took over as studio host for USA Network. Dan Kelly did play-by-play with either Gary Green{{cite web|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/page.htm?id=59765|title=Gary Green|work=NHL.com|access-date=2010-07-17}} or Rod Gilbert on color commentary. For the playoffs, Dick Carlson and Al Albert{{cite web |last=Saunders |first=Dusty |date=2010-05-23 |title=Longtime Nuggets voice Al Albert back in Denver, his "true home" |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2010/05/23/longtime-nuggets-voice-al-albert-back-in-denver-his-true-home/ |access-date=2023-11-05 |website=The Denver Post |language=en-US}} were added as play-by-play voices of some games. Meanwhile, Jim Van Horne hosted Stanley Cup Finals games played in Vancouver. Things pretty much remained the same for USA during the {{NHL Year|1982}} season. Dan Kelly and Gary Green called most games, while Al Albert did play-by-play or hosted several playoff{{cite news|title=Black Hawks have to heal fast|date=April 22, 1983|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=D1|first=Neil|last=Milbert}} games, including two Stanley Cup Finals games from Nassau Coliseum.{{YouTube|title=1983 Stanley Cup Celebration All 3 TV Feeds Islanders Sweep Oilers|id=WArldHhQGZw}}{{YouTube|title=Gordie Howe Interview at Nassau Coliseum 1983|id=xZfH2vHbzPI}}
==1970s==
=== Note ===
- {{Cnote|*|ABC was contracted to televise Game 7. Since the 1979 Finals ended in five games, the contract was void. Had there been a seventh game, then Al Michaels would have called play-by-play alongside Jim McKay (between-periods host), Bobby Clarke (color commentator), and Frank Gifford (reporter, who would have been in the winning team's dressing room to interview players and coaches as well as hand the phone to the winning team's coach that would have allowed him to talk to both President Jimmy Carter and Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau). This would've given Michaels the honor of being the first to provide the play-by-play in all four major sports, having called the Super Bowl, the World Series, and NBA Finals. The game would have started at 5:10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on a Saturday, replacing Wide World of Sports and local news shows that typically followed it on ABC stations in the Eastern and Central time zones.}}
==1960s==
=== Notes ===
- NBC aired Games 1 and 4{{cite news|title=Abel's 'switcheroo' works|author=Bob Gates|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|page=7|date=April 29, 1966}} of the 1966 Stanley Cup Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings. Win Elliot served as the play-by-play man while Bill Mazer served as the color commentator for the games.
- For the 1968 playoffs, Jim Gordon worked play-by-play, and Stu Nahan worked color commentator and intermission interviews for CBS. During the regular season, the pair{{cite news|title=Oakland Meets Minnesota on Ice|newspaper=Hartford Courant|page=5G|date=February 4, 1968}} alternated roles each week. For instance, Gordon worked play-by-play on December 30 while Nahan did the same the next week. In {{NHL Year|1968}},{{cite news|title=Hawks, Canadiens Meet in TV Special|author=Ted Damata|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=D1|date=January 4, 1969}} Dan Kelly did play-by-play while Bill Mazer did color and intermission interviews.{{cite news|title=Sporting A Whole Lot Of Sport|url=https://www.si.com/vault/1981/04/20/825564/sporting-a-whole-lot-of-sport|author=Mike DelNagro|magazine=Sports Illustrated|date=April 20, 1981}}{{cite news|title=Sportslook|author=Don Page|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|page=A2|date=January 25, 1969}} While Kelly once again handled all the play-by-play work in 1971, Gordon replaced Mazer{{cite news|title=Sport of 'Kowtowing to Television'|author=Gary Deeb|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|page=B1|date=March 28, 1976}} in {{NHL Year|1970}}. For the CBS' Stanley Cup Finals coverage during this period, a third voice was added to the booth (Phil Esposito in 1971 and Harry Howell in 1972).
= Local television (United States) =
{{further|Historical NHL over-the-air television broadcasters}}
==1990s==
=== Notes ===
- Games four and five of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals in the New York City area on its secondary MSG 2 channel, due to conflicts with the Yankees schedule.{{cite news|title=No Champagne Thoughts Yet Rangers looking to stay focused on one period at a time in their possible clincher against Canucks|first1=Jim|last1=Smith|last2=Zipay|first2=Steve|newspaper=Newsday|date=June 9, 1994|page=A90|quote=Game (5)...will be on MSGII...Yankees-Blue Jays game...airs...on MSG.}}{{cite news|title=Today's Radio/TV|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 7, 1994|page=B8}}{{cite news|title=Today's Radio/TV|newspaper=The New York Times|date=June 9, 1994|page=B18}} 1994 was also the last time that local broadcasting of playoff games past the first two rounds was allowed.
==1980s==
==1970s==
==1960s==
Canadian television (English)
{{further|List of Canadian Stanley Cup Finals television announcers|List of Hockey Night in Canada commentators}}
= 2020s =
= 2010s =
= 2000s =
= 1990s =
== Note ==
- 1997 – Don Cherry missed the entire series due to family illness. On Sunday, June 1, his wife, Pennsylvania native Rose, died from liver cancer. Consequently, Ron MacLean did not host Games 2 and 3 as he was attending Don Cherry's wife, Rose's funeral. Scott Russell sat in for him as host, and Chris Cuthbert took over Russell's reporting role.
= 1980s =
== Notes ==
- In 1980, Bob Cole, Dan Kelly and Jim Robson shared play-by-play duties for CBC's coverage. Cole did play-by-play for the first half of Games 1, and 2. Meanwhile, Kelly did play-by-play for the rest of Games 1–4 and the first half of Game 5 (Kelly also did call the overtime period of Game 1). Finally, Robson did play-by-play for the first half of Games 3–4, the rest of Game 5, and Game 6 entirely. In essence, this meant that Cole or Robson would do play-by-play for the first period and the first half of the second period. Therefore, at the closest stoppage of play near the 10-minute mark of the second period, Cole or Robson handed off the call to Kelly for the rest of the game.
- For the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, CTV aired regular season games on Friday nights (and some Sunday afternoons) as well as partial coverage of the playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals. While Molson continued to present Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday nights on CBC, rival brewery Carling O'Keefe began airing Friday Night Hockey on CTV. This marked the first time since beginning broadcasting in 1952 that CBC was not the lone over-the-air network broadcaster of the Stanley Cup Finals in Canada. From 1967 through 1975, both CBC and CTV aired NHL games, but it was from a Molson-led Hockey Night in Canada package that was split. CBC got the Saturday games and the playoffs; Wednesday-night regular-season games appeared on CTV.
- In {{scfy|1985}}, CBC televised Games 1 and 2 nationally while Games 3, 4, and 5 were televised in Edmonton only. CTV televised Games 3, 4, and 5 nationally while games were blacked out in Edmonton. Had the series gone to a Game 7, then both CBC and CTV would have televised it while using their own production facilities and crews. Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games on CTV.
- For Games 1 and 2 of the 1986 Finals, CBC only had the rights to air them locally in Montreal and Calgary,{{cite news|last=McKee|first=Ken|date=May 16, 1986|title=Networks split TV coverage of Stanley Cup|page=D4|newspaper=Toronto Star}} while CTV broadcast it to the rest of the country. CBC would then have the exclusive rights to televise Games 3, 4, and 5 nationally. Had the series gone to a seventh game, then both CBC and CTV would have simultaneously televised it while using their own production facilities and crews. Like the year prior, Dan Kelly and Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games for CTV.
- Even though CTV decided to pull the plug on their two-year-old (lasting from 1984 to 1985 through 1985–86) NHL broadcasting venture with the Carling O'Keefe brewing company (citing low ratings and an inability to clear other programming for both regular season and playoff telecasts), Carling O'Keefe retained their rights. This soon led to them syndicating 1987 and 1988 playoff telecasts on a chain of channels that would one day become the Global Television Network. The Global Television Network broadcasts were aired under the names Stanley Cup '87 and Stanley Cup '88 before a merger between Carling O'Keefe and Molson (the presenters of Hockey Night in Canada on CBC) put an end to the competition. Unlike the split CTV/CBC coverage of {{NHL Year|1984}} and {{NHL Year|1985}}, the Canwest-Global telecasts from {{NHL Year|1986}}-{{NHL Year|1987}} were network exclusive, except for Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals if they were necessary. When CBC and Global televised Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals,{{YouTube|title=1987 Stanley Cup Final post-game (part 1) from Global|id=NADk2pQDiBo&t=23s}}{{YouTube|title=1987 Stanley Cup Final post-game (part 2) from Global|id=-b6YOKLpZEM}} they used separate production facilities and separate on-air talent.
- Game 4 (May 24) of the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals is well known for the fog that interfered with the game and a power outage that caused its cancellation before a faceoff. The game ended with the Edmonton Oilers and Boston Bruins tied at 3–3. CBC televised the first Game 4 as well as Game 5 (on May 26), for which the Oilers won 6–3.
- In 1988, Canwest-Global had the rights to Games 6 and 7 of the Finals, which ultimately, were not necessary.
= 1970s =
== Notes ==
- The most commonly seen video clip of Bobby Orr's famous overtime goal ("The Flight") in Game 4 of the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals is the American version broadcast on CBS as called by Dan Kelly. This archival clip can be considered a rarity, since about 98% of the time, any surviving kinescopes or videotapes of the actual telecasts of hockey games from this era usually emanate from CBC's coverage. According to Dick Irvin, Jr.'s book My 26 Stanley Cups (Irvin was in the CBC booth with Danny Gallivan during the 1970 Stanley Cup Finals), he was always curious why even the CBC prototypically uses the CBS replay of the Bobby Orr goal (with Dan Kelly's commentary) instead of Gallivan's call. The explanation that Irvin received was that the CBC's master tape of the game (along with others) was thrown away in order clear shelf space at the network.
- In {{scfy|1972}}, Hockey Night in Canada moved all playoff coverage from CBC to CTV to avoid conflict with the lengthy NABET strike against the CBC. Eventually, MacLaren Advertising, in conjunction with Molson Breweries and Imperial Oil/Esso, who actually owned the rights to Hockey Night in Canada (not CBC) decided to give the playoff telecast rights to CTV. Initially, it was on a game-by-game basis in the quarterfinals (Game 1 of the Boston-Toronto series was seen on CFTO Toronto in full while other CTV affiliates, but not all joined the game in progress. Game 1 of the New York Rangers–Montreal series was seen only on CFCF Montreal while Game 4 not televised due to a lockout of technicians at the Montreal Forum), and then the full semifinals and Stanley Cup Finals. Because CTV did not have 100% penetration in Canada at this time, they asked CBC (who ultimately refused) to allow whatever one of their affiliates was the sole network in that market to show the playoffs. As a result, the 1972 Stanley Cup playoffs were not seen in some of the smaller Canadian markets unless said markets were close enough to the United States border to pick up the signal of a CBS affiliate that carried Games, 1, 4, or 6 (Games 2, 3, and 5 were not nationally broadcast in the United States).
= 1960s =
== Notes ==
- The 1961 Stanley Cup Finals were almost not televised in Canada at all. At that time, the CBC only had rights to the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs' games; home games only during the season and all games in the playoffs. However, with both the Canadiens and Maple Leafs eliminated in the semi-finals, the CBC's worst nightmare became reality. The CBC had to conceive a way to carry the Finals between the Chicago Black Hawks and Detroit Red Wings or face a public revolt. According to lore, the CBC found a way to link their Windsor viewers as having a vested interest in the Finals with the across the river Red Wings. Thus, CBC was able to carry the series after inking special contracts with the Red Wings and Black Hawks as a service to the Windsor market. From Windsor, CBC linked the signal to Toronto and they relayed the coverage Dominion-wide. From there, Canadians were able to see the Finals with nary a glitch in the coverage.
- To accommodate the American TV coverage on NBC (1966 marked the first time that a Stanley Cup Finals game was to be nationally broadcast on American network television), Game 1 of the 1966 Stanley Cup Finals was shifted to a Sunday afternoon. This in return, was the first time ever that a National Hockey League game was played on a Sunday afternoon in Montreal. While Games 1 and 4 of the NBC broadcasts were televised in color, CBC carried these games and all other games in black and white.
= 1950s =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Network(s) !Studio host |
| 1959
|CBC |Danny Gallivan{{YouTube|title=1959 Stanley cup final - clinching game 5 highlights|id=np9swQgdIOw}}{{YouTube|title=NHL Maple Leafs @ Canadiens, Finals Gm. 5, Apr. 18, 1959|id=_2jwuH0RNXI}} (in Montreal) |Frank Selke Jr. (in Montreal) |Tom Foley (in Montreal) |
| 1958
|CBC |Wes McKnight and Tom Foley |
| 1957
|CBC |
| 1956
|CBC |
| 1955
|CBC |
| 1954
|CBC |
| 1953
|CBC |
== Note ==
- CBC's coverage of Games 3–5 of the 1954 Stanley Cup Finals were joined in progress at 9:30 p.m. ET (approximately one hour after start time). Meanwhile, CBC joined Game 6 in at 10 p.m. ET (again, one hour after start time). Game 7 was carried Dominion wide (nationwide) from opening the face-off at 9 p.m. ET. Since Game 7 was played on Good Friday night, there were no commercials (Imperial Oil was the sponsor for the entire broadcast).
= Local television (Canada) =
== 1980s ==
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Network !Studio host !Studio analyst(s) |
| 1986
|CBMT (Montreal) and CBRT (Calgary) (Games 1–2) |Howie Meeker and Don Cherry |
| 1985
|CBXT (in Edmonton){{YouTube|I3wGNt9zdBw|title=1985 Oilers win Stanley Cup}} |
=== Notes ===
- As previously mentioned in {{scfy|1985}}, CBC televised Games 3–5 in Edmonton only. CTV televised Games 3–5 nationally while games were blacked out in Edmonton. Had the series gone to a Game 7, then both CBC and CTV would have televised it while using their own production facilities and crews.
- As previously mentioned in {{scfy|1986}}, CBC only televised Games 1 and 2 in Montreal and Calgary while CTV air both games to the rest of Canada. Had the series gone to a Game 7, then both CBC and CTV would have televised it while using their own production facilities and crews. Like the year prior, Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park called the games for CTV.
French Canadian television
{{further|List of Canadian Stanley Cup Finals television announcers|3=La_Soirée_du_hockey#List_of_commentators|4=LNH_à_RDS#Commentators}}
= 2020s =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Network |
| 2024
|Félix Séguin |
| 2023
|Félix Séguin |
| 2022
|Félix Séguin |Alexandre R. Picard (Games 1–2) |
| 2021
|Félix Séguin |
| 2020
|Félix Séguin |
= 2010s =
== Notes ==
- Since 2015, under a sub-license agreement with Rogers, TVA{{cite news|date=26 November 2013|title=NHL signs 12-year TV, Internet deal with Rogers; CBC keeps 'Hockey Night in Canada'|work=Toronto Star|url=https://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/2013/11/26/nhl_signs_12year_broadcast_deal_with_rogers_cbc_keeps_hockey_night_in_canada.html|access-date=26 November 2013}}{{cite news|date=27 November 2013|title=Rogers reaches 12-year broadcast deal with NHL worth $5.2-billion|work=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rogers-reaches-12-year-broadcast-deal-with-nhl-worth-52-billion/article15600412/|access-date=26 November 2013}}{{cite news|date=26 November 2013|title=What the new NHL broadcast deal means for hockey fans|work=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/what-does-the-new-rogers-deal-mean-for-hockey-fans/article15600779/|access-date=26 November 2013}}{{cite news|last=Cousineau|first=Sophie|date=2013-11-28|title=TVA to pay Rogers $120-million a year to be NHL's French-language broadcaster|work=The Globe and Mail|location=Toronto|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/hockeys-french-connection/article15642270/|access-date=2013-12-20}}{{cite web|title=RDS, Canadiens announce 12-year regional rights deal|url=https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=439497|access-date=22 December 2013|work=TSN.ca}}{{cite web|title=Hickey on Hockey notebook: Habs fail to earn day off|url=https://montrealgazette.com/sports/Hickey+Hockey+notebook+Habs+fail+earn/9284960/story.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107004234/http://www.montrealgazette.com/sports/Hickey+Hockey+notebook+Habs+fail+earn/9284960/story.html|archive-date=7 January 2014|access-date=27 September 2014|website=Montreal Gazette}}{{cite web|date=2014-08-05|title=TVA SPORTS DÉVOILE SON CALENDRIER|url=http://tvasports.ca/hockey/lnh/tva-sports-devoile-son-calendrier-5082014|access-date=2014-09-20|work=TVASports.ca|publisher=Groupe TVA}}{{cite web|title=NHL, TVA Sports launch French-language agreement|url=http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=729553|access-date=21 September 2014|website=NHL.com}} has been the exclusive home of French-language broadcasts in Canada.
= 2000s =
== Notes ==
- In the 2002–03 season, RDS secured exclusive French language rights to the NHL. The deal, reached with the Canadiens and not directly with the league, was meant to ensure a consistent home for all Canadiens games; as a general-interest network, Radio-Canada cannot give up so much airtime to Canadiens games. The announcement drew the ire of, among others, then-Heritage Minister Sheila Copps, who suggested that the network would somehow be violating its conditions of licence by not airing La Soirée du hockey. In fact, there is no specific mention in the CBC's licence from the CRTC (or any other legal document governing the CBC) that the CBC's networks carry coverage of NHL games, nor that there be parity between the two networks' carriage of such games. Also, Radio-Canada soon reached an agreement to produce the Saturday night games, to remain branded La Soirée du hockey, to be simulcast on both SRC and RDS. However, for reasons that are unclear, that agreement was terminated after the 2004 playoffs.[https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=86384&hubname= TSN : NHL - Canada's Sports Leader] The RDS-produced replacement, Le Hockey du samedi soir, was simulcast on SRC outside Quebec, where RDS has limited distribution, through 2006.
= 1990s =
= 1980s =
= 1970s =
= 1960s =
| class="wikitable"
!Year !Network |
| 1969
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1965
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1965
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1965
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1965
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1964
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1963
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1962
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1961
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
| 1960
|SRC |Jean-Maurice Bailly |
= 1950s =
== Notes ==
- French-language broadcasts in Canada also began in 1953, with play-by-play commentator René Lecavalier and colour commentator Jean-Maurice Bailly on CBC's Télévision de Radio-Canada (SRC) division.
American radio
{{main|National Hockey League on the radio}}
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{Stanley Cup Finals}}
{{National Hockey League on national television}}
{{Hockey Night in Canada}}
{{NHL on ABC}}
{{NHL on ESPN}}
{{NHL on CBS}}
{{NHL on Fox}}
{{NHL on NBC}}
{{NHL on SportsChannel America}}
{{NHL on USA}}
{{NHL on Versus}}
{{The NHL Network (1975–79)}}
{{NHL on Sportsnet}}
{{NHL on RDS}}
{{NHL on CTV}}
{{NHL on TNT}}
{{North American major sports championship broadcasters}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanley Cup Finals broadcasters}}
Category:Lists of National Hockey League broadcasters
Category:Fox Sports announcers
Category:Hughes Television Network
Category:National Hockey League on the radio