With NHL training camps now just hours from officially getting underway while news and rumours are in full swing, the start of the 2023–24 season is so close you can practically taste it.
For fans of the Calgary Flames, this mostly should be a time for excitement with a clean slate ready to be used by a team that remained relatively the same between seasons, but some are approaching the season with slight caution. Last year was tough—but so is every season being a Flames fan.
There were some changes on the ice, and in the hockey operations department, but also in the Flames broadcast crew with the departure of Peter Loubardias who actually joined the front office as a reserve list scout.
Who is joining the team in his place and what will the broadcast team look like this year? Luckily today Sportsnet answered those questions for us.
The Sportsnet Flames broadcast crew
When it comes to the television broadcasts, fans will be happy to see a trio of returning faces on TV:
Rick Ball and Kelly Hrudey will continue to be the play-by-play and analyst respectively, with Ryan Leslie continuing as the show’s host. A welcome return for one of hockey’s biggest bromances.
Ball continues to be one of the league’s best play-by-play announcers, and it’s a crime that he doesn’t get more national recognition. Luckily for Flames fans, we get to enjoy his smooth voice all season long.
The Sportsnet Flames radio crew
Up in the radio booth, the team looks slightly different than it has been over the last number of seasons.
Pat Steinberg will continue to be the host of the show, while Derek Wills remains as the voice of the Calgary Flames on Sportsnet 960 The Fan. Joining them this year is Meaghan Mikkelson who you may recognize as a familiar face on the TV broadcasts of the last few seasons.
Mikkelson herself is a decorated Canadian women’s hockey player who won gold medals in both the 2010 and 2014 Olympics, in addition to two World Championships with Team Canada in 2012 and 2022. A huge win for the 960 crew to be able to add a player of Mikkelson’s calibre to the booth to provide insight alongside Wills.
The Sportsnet Flames broadcast schedule
The biggest question most fans will be asking is just where exactly each game will be broadcasted this season. Nothing is worse than flipping through channels and asking yourself: “What channel is the game on tonight?”
Thankfully, all 82 Flames games will be on Sportsnet, with 60 being regional and 22 being national. In addition to that, if you’re on the road, you can always catch all 82 games on Sportsnet 960 The Fan.
Congrats to all and looking forward to a new season!
