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ESPN's Substandard Coverage

John J. MacInnes

John J. MacInnes

Coach Emeritus
They've been bad before, but this year is a new low.

Clay Matvick is the only competent voice they have. Buccigross and Cohen are condescending know-it-alls who don't know anything. Jason Ross? This kid is so lost it's sad. And Roxy Bernstine might be even worse than Leah Hextall was. This clown spent his whole first game confused by high stick calls on pucks, and then had no idea about a review that was about a completely different play. He also missed two scoring opportunities while he forced in an aside about how he saw someone play for the Junior Sharks in northern California. It was like listening to someone cold reading the game notes live hunting for something interesting to say.

ESPN misspelled names all over the MSU-WMU game, including the first goal scorer for Western and Sharks GM Mike Grier. Their lead camera op lost the puck more than a dozen times. And we get that your crew and producer know zero about the sport, especially when your go-to shot is Tom Izzo.

I have no idea how this guy in the studio supposedly worked for the Toronto Marlies and the Brampton Battalion. He sounds genuinely confused by every highlight package he reads.

It's all so frustrating and embarrassing for the sport.
 
I was mildly amused when Bucci got Jerry York's name wrong.

Were you expecting better? Just because the commercials are better than the old farmersonlydotcom ads doesn't mean anyone in Bristol cares. College hockey gets worse ratings than 3am poker replays. The only reason they televise the games is because the NCAA makes them.
 
You’re not going to find a lot of announcers and TV crews with availability in March.

I got emails about working the Sioux Falls regional, but I’m booked, plus I haven’t shot college hockey in more than a year, and the time prior to that game was years.

I’ve found it more difficult to shoot hockey in smaller arenas because you’re not up high and it’s easier to lose the puck along the near board. You’re also looking through a 7-inch monitor, not a 60-inch TV.
 
thebrain said:
You’re not going to find a lot of announcers and TV crews with availability in March.

I got emails about working the Sioux Falls regional, but I’m booked, plus I haven’t shot college hockey in more than a year, and the time prior to that game was years.

I’ve found it more difficult to shoot hockey in smaller arenas because you’re not up high and it’s easier to lose the puck along the near board. You’re also looking through a 7-inch monitor, not a 60-inch TV.
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The announce crews were booked months ago. I know one in particular who was part of coverage in the past who was told in January he was not going to be a part of it, because they had already filled all the spots. I also worked games with Ross this year, and he knew in January that he was booked. Availability is not an excuse.

And I've shot college hockey for over 30 years in buildings smaller than that - and did tight follow sometimes in just the eyepiece and not some 7" monitor. You have one job as the lead, and that's to never lose the puck. If you can't do that at this level, give it up.
 
I said it the BC thread but Colby Cohen embarrassed himself in the BC vs Tech game. He couldn’t pronounce at least 4 BC players names and was completely making stuff up about their style of play during the year. It got so bad, Razor was sending in color during the game twice to Cohen and Bucci so they had stuff to talk about. Cohen is a “hockey east” guy and doesn’t know how to pronounce Minnetian, Bengtsson, Hreschuk or Gustafson’s names. It was wild how under prepped they were, they probably spent the previous night out drinking on federal hill instead of getting ready for the games
 
David Carle had an awesome quote on the tournament format and issues he saw with it. Thought he made a great point about if they lost to Omaha in the NCHC finals, UMass wouldn’t have made the tourney and they would’ve played closer to Denver. In many other sports, we’ve seen teams purposely lose matches like that to ensure a better scenario for themselves like soccer and football

https://x.com/king_tylerb/status/177...Q39ollo3Xkd3Lg
 
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I'm thankful all the games are available. It wasn't that long ago they were not. Low volume is key.

Do we miss Barry Melrose? Does ESPN pay the announcers for preparation time or is it like flight attendants who are on the clock only after the door is closed? Is ESPN using announcers who are already under contract? The NESN team of Tyler Murray and Jim Connelly would be an upgrade. Even Dave Starman.
 
I have to say that despite the shortcomings of some of the announcers, I am very pleased with ESPN mainly due to their even making the games available to stream out here in the PNW. It is such a treat for a lifelong college hockey fan to be able to see every game. 11am is a little tough for the first games cause its too early to start drinking beer but somehow I survived! And BTW that slashing penalty against Cornell was a horrible call. Growing up going to RPI games, I have no love for the Big Red...........but that's a call you have to let go in that situation
 
Some technical issues too. At the very end of the QU-Wisc game they showed an on-screen graphic with the score QU 2 - Wisconsin 3. Only appeared for about a second then disappeared.
 
The broadcasters not noticing until the 2nd period that Maine's goalie was Victor Ostman and not Albin Boija was something else, too.

Second the Tyler Murray / Jim Connolly suggestion.
 
formertroylet said:
I have to say that despite the shortcomings of some of the announcers, I am very pleased with ESPN mainly due to their even making the games available to stream out here in the PNW. It is such a treat for a lifelong college hockey fan to be able to see every game. 11am is a little tough for the first games cause its too early to start drinking beer but somehow I survived! And BTW that slashing penalty against Cornell was a horrible call. Growing up going to RPI games, I have no love for the Big Red...........but that's a call you have to let go in that situation
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I'm with you. Simply being able to watch every game is such a treat compared to the old days. And I find the announcers easy to ignore.
 
GreenBear said:
The broadcasters not noticing until the 2nd period that Maine's goalie was Victor Ostman and not Albin Boija was something else, too.

Second the Tyler Murray / Jim Connolly suggestion.
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This confused the hell out of me. Divver tweeted out before the game Ostman would be starting but then they kept talking about Boija and even had a graphic up about him. I couldn’t see his number but I kept thinking, I’m pretty sure that’s Ostman in net. Then I saw his jersey and thought that is Ostman, what the heck are these guys talking about, how did they screw this up. It was bizarre
 
Sad that merely having the games televised is seen as a win.

Hopefully ESPN+ follows through and has an "ambient" feed for the Frozen Four. This is a regular broadcast but with no announcers, just the sounds on the ice and from the stands. They've done this the last few years as well as for the college football championship and El Clasico.
 
Leonidas said:
I do miss Bob Norton.
Even if he did tell you where every kid east of the Mississippi prepped and who his coach was.
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Bob Norton clearly loved broadcasting, and he did small things like the "Mini One-on-One" shown during Bruins intermissions and he even was color commentary for NESN on an Amherst-Williams football game that I played in. Reactions to broadcast talent can be subjective, but I liked his style.

I also remember him on color commentary on ESPN for the classic '93 Maine/Lake State final with Tom Mees.
 
ticapnews said:
Were you expecting better? Just because the commercials are better than the old farmersonlydotcom ads doesn't mean anyone in Bristol cares. College hockey gets worse ratings than 3am poker replays. The only reason they televise the games is because the NCAA makes them.
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I agree there's an element of prioritizing here. ESPN also has the women's basketball tournament going on, which is a ratings bonanza this year. Might have been better to rely on the better local broadcasting teams they lean on for the regular season packages on ESPN+. At least you get people that have the inside knowledge, and might know enough to pick up on the surprise pre-game news, such as the Maine goaltending switch.
 
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