With professional hockey returning to ESPN for the first time since the last World Cup of Hockey in 2004. And if you’re a broadcasting/announcer geek like I am, you know who is calling the games can make the television experience more or less enjoyable. If you’ve watched hockey on ESPN currently or in the past, you’ll be familiar with many names assigned to the booth and studio for the tournament.
One notable missing name is John Saunders, who unfortunately passed away last month. Due to his death, ESPN had to move some pieces of the puzzle around. Working in the studio are Linda Cohn and Adnan Virk during the group stage, with John Buccigross being added to the fold when the semifinal round starts. Joining them in the studio for additional analysis are Hall Of Fame members Chris Chelios and Brett Hull.
Buccigross will call six games during the tournament. Five of them he’s paired with Kevin Weekes and Darren Pang for the other. Pang, who’s a longtime analyst with ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC, will work between the benches during the group stage when the duo of Steve Levy and Barry Melrose is in the booth. Levy and Melrose will call every United States game as well as a few others.
Once the semifinal and final rounds arrive, it will be the crew of Levy, Melrose, and Weeks. They’ll work one group stage game together- September 21 when Europe faces Canada.
Serving as rinkside reporter for every game is Leah Hextall, who has covered hockey CTV Winnipeg and NESN.
The full World Cup broadcast schedule can be seen below.
