List of Stanley Cup Broadcasters

The Stanley Cup is the oldest championship trophy awarded annually to the NHL playoff champion. Commissioned in 1892 as the Dominion Hockey Challenge Cup, it's named after Lord Stanley of Preston, Governor General of Canada, who donated it to Canada's top-ranking amateur ice hockey club.

Initially awarded in 1893, winners were determined by challenge games and league play. However, in 1915, an agreement between the NHA and PCHA established it as the de facto championship trophy of the NHL in 1926 and the de jure NHL championship prize in 1947. Since 1914–15, the Cup has been won 103 times by 20 current NHL teams and five extinct teams. Notably, the championship was not awarded in 1919 due to the Spanish flu and in 2005 due to the NHL lockout.

The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup a record 24 times, and the Detroit Red Wings hold the most victories among the U.S.-based teams, winning it 11 times. The Vegas Golden Knights are the current holders after their 2023 victory. Over 3,000 names, including 1,300 players, have been engraved on it by 2017.

Stanley Cup Broadcasters List History -

The following is a list of national American and Canadian television and radio networks and announcers that have broadcasted Stanley Cup Finals games over the years.

National Television

In 2020, the NHL altered its broadcast plans due to COVID-19, with remote commentary and home studio setups. NBC's lead commentator, Mike "Doc" Emrick, called the Cup Finals off monitors from his home studio and retired that year. In 2021, a new 7-year TV deal was signed with ESPN, ABC, ESPN+, and Hulu.

NBC withdrew from future NHL rights bidding, and Turner Sports secured a 7-year deal to broadcast games on TNT and TBS starting the 2021–22 season. In 2022, ABC exclusively aired the Stanley Cup Finals, and in 2023, TNT exclusively aired the entire Finals series on cable, simulcast on TruTV and TBS due to MLB coverage.

Historically, in 2014, NBCSN and NBC covered Stanley Cup Finals games, with scheduling changes due to the Belmont Stakes. In 2015, NBCSN and NBC covered games, but due to Belmont Stakes coverage, Game 2 moved to NBC. In 2016, NBC Sports announced potential channel switches based on series standings.

After the 2003–04 season, ESPN renewed a two-year contract at $60 million per year, but ABC declined to air the Stanley Cup Finals in prime time. Fox and ESPN shared coverage in 1995, with ABC taking over in later years. In 1980, CBS used CBC's feed for some games, and in 1981–82, USA Network featured Al Trautwig as the studio host, with Dan Kelly, Gary Green, and Rod Gilbert in various roles. The setup continued in the 1982–83 season.

2020s

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

Local Television (United States)

Due to scheduling conflicts with the Yankees, MSG aired Games four and five of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals on its secondary channel, MSG 2, in the New York City area. This also marked the final instance of local broadcasting of playoff games beyond the first two rounds in 1994.

1990s

1980s

1970s

1960s

Canadian Television (English)

In 1997, Don Cherry missed the series due to family illness as his wife passed away. Ron MacLean also missed hosting Games 2 and 3 due to attending Cherry's wife's funeral. In 1980, CBC's coverage had Bob Cole, Dan Kelly, and Jim Robson sharing play-by-play duties. Cole or Robson would handle the first period and half of the second, then hand off to Kelly.

For the 1984–85 and 1985–86 seasons, CTV aired Friday Night Hockey, challenging CBC's Saturday monopoly. In 1985, CBC televised Games 1 and 2 nationally, while CTV covered Games 3, 4, and 5. In 1986, CBC had local rights for Games 1 and 2, while CTV broadcasted them nationally. CTV then exclusively covered Games 3, 4, and 5, with CBC having the rights if a Game 7 occurred.

CTV withdrew from its NHL broadcasting venture in 1986, leading to syndicated 1987 and 1988 playoff telecasts on what would become the Global Television Network. CBC and Global televised Game 7 of the 1987 Stanley Cup Finals separately.

The infamous Game 4 of the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals, affected by fog and a power outage, ended tied at 3–3. CBC televised Game 4, and Game 5, which the Oilers won 6–3. Canwest-Global had rights to Games 6 and 7 in 1988, which were not necessary.

2020s

2010s

2000s

1990s

1980s

Local television (Canada)

As noted earlier, in 1985, CBC exclusively broadcasted Games 3–5 in Edmonton, while CTV aired these games nationally with blackout restrictions in Edmonton. In the event of a Game 7, both CBC and CTV would have covered it independently, utilizing their production facilities and crews.

Similarly, in 1986, CBC limited its coverage to Games 1 and 2 in Montreal and Calgary, with CTV broadcasting these games across the rest of Canada. If the series had extended to a Game 7, both CBC and CTV would have independently televised it using their production resources. Dan Kelly, Ron Reusch, and Brad Park provided commentary for CTV, as they did in the preceding year.

1980s