Keep your head up!

One of my pet peeves is when a announcer overrates a players' action or supposed skill level. For example, the Dallas play-by-play man (I forget his name) practically drools over himself whenever Ribeiro scores using a dirty dangle or a creative shootout move. Except, he commentary is so stupid and arrogant it makes me want to puke. It's like they forgot the standards of professionalism when they hired him.

I don't find the NY Rangers guy particularly partisan but his calls are so BORING. Literally, he says the same things over and over again, i.e. 'IT'S A POWERPLAYH GOAHL'. He's the least creative commentator I've ever heard. Same criticism goes towards Peter Loubardias, who's voice I also find annoying sometimes.

My favourite announcer has to be Rick Jeanneret because he injects the viewer with his own passion and reverence for hockey; it really reflects how much he loves the game. Plus, it's amazing how many calls he's managed to completely improvise into something magical (i.e. 'May Day' or 'Vapour Trail') It's hard not to jump out of your seat when he's commentating, sometimes I have to remind myself I'm not a Sabres fan. I am a RJ fan, for sure. I'll be very sad the day he retires.

Bob Cole is a mixed bag for me; he has some very famous and well thought out calls but often he's behind the play; I was not dissapointed when CBC replaced him with Hughson for the SC Finals. I do respect him though for the many years he has spent serving the game and the fans.

I like ours quite a lot, (except when Garrett gets over-excited) and also Hughson. I really dislike the one who always craps stuff like *where mama hides the cookies* tho' I don't remember who he works with (I'm sure he's on East). The flames guy is a pet peeve of mine, since every time he talks it seems he's pooping, has a haemorrhoid and needs laxatives.

Vancouver has seen some fantastic announcers in its day. Jim Robson was an idol, and started a wave of talented guys. Jim Hughson followed who was fantastic, and then now John Shorthouse and John Garrett.

Shorthouse is good, but without Tom Larshcheid he's not as good to listen to. He doesn't really pick it up when something exciting happens, he just calls it how it is. Tommy was a true fan that's why it was fun to listen to him. He got you pumped easier than when you got your first BJ. He is the best colour guy I've heard.

John Garrett is okay, but has an orgasm every time Luongo makes a save. Then talks about his positioning for 3 minutes on a meaningless play. Not to mention every time the game comes down to a minute left and Luongo's still got the shutout going, he says it out loud, on the air. What are you doing? No one is supposed to say that word...and what happens, they always let a goal in with 12 seconds left and ruin his shutout.

It's too bad the Canucks kicked out Tommy because he was a legend.

I heard they game last night. And besides the butchering of Bieksa's name, I really didn't have a problem with them. They were not homeristic and not against the Canucks in the way they talked.

Growing up with the sounds of Jim Robson, I was spoiled with knowing how a announcer should sound.

The biggest bunch of idiots is the Colorado Av's play by play guys. I have an XM Radio and are forced to listen to them on occasion. They are simply the worst in making a simple shot on net for the Av's seem like a 3 on 0 breakaway. Plus they complain on every call against the Av's and play "What I would do if I was the Ref". Brutal.

So The Islander Play by Play guys are All-Stars compared to the Av's voice.

Vancouver has seen some fantastic announcers in its day. Jim Robson was an idol, and started a wave of talented guys. Jim Hughson followed who was fantastic, and then now John Shorthouse and John Garrett.

Shorthouse is good, but without Tom Larshcheid he's not as good to listen to. He doesn't really pick it up when something exciting happens, he just calls it how it is. Tommy was a true fan that's why it was fun to listen to him. He got you pumped easier than when you got your first BJ. He is the best colour guy I've heard.

John Garrett is okay, but has an orgasm every time Luongo makes a save. Then talks about his positioning for 3 minutes on a meaningless play. Not to mention every time the game comes down to a minute left and Luongo's still got the shutout going, he says it out loud, on the air. What are you doing? No one is supposed to say that word...and what happens, they always let a goal in with 12 seconds left and ruin his shutout.

It's too bad the Canucks kicked out Tommy because he was a legend.

I definitely agree that the Canucks announcers are fantastic. Back when I didn't have cable, I would listen to the games on TEAM 1040... I actually preferred listening to them rather than watching the game on CBC's online stream. I absolutely loved Tom and Shorty's commentary; it embodied passion, respect, and professionalism. I agree that Tommy is a legend. I think that Shorty knows this, and since Tom left he just hasn't been the same.

I also listen to some Canuck games on XM radio some times just the first period and watch the other two periods on PVR.I dont remember exactly what announcers are the worst but most are exactly the same way.Some times I watch it after listening and its almost a different games.Ive heard announcers call fights and say how bad the Canuck player was beaten then see the exact opposite on tv.One of the worst called games was actually the Edmonton radio crew whoever they are,they were constantly frustrated with the Refs and it was non stop whining that the Oilers were not playing well.

I dont mind a tad bias its expected but if they listen to themselves they might be embarassed.

Double post for some reason?

TSn sux they are always pro other team. They interview the other team. They praise the other team. They get really excited when the other team scores. I could go on, but they always cheer for the other team!

Canucks broadcasters seem to be just as bad....it's not valpatti when it's spelled VOL - PATTI !Don't seem to know the difference of an "O" vs an "A" ???

the best for me is (was) jim hughson who is always a delight to listen to. the cbc got ahold of him and if you want to listen to his great call you have to watch toronto play (yuck). john shorthouse does a great job especially with john garrette by his side they work well together. the tsn guy always sounds like he's yelling while taking a crap.the games i hate the most are when mike lee and kevin weekes are calling the game they are defiantly coilers and f LAMES fans and tend to have that mentality when callig games where vancouver is involved.you think weekes would be a little less biased being an excanuck and all but i guess that can be expected since he didn't work out here.tom larshchied is a homer and i love him his emotion is raw and to the bone he tells it how he feels it. bob cole sucks they dont want him in TO or ottawa so he's relegated to do the English call for canadians games to bad i like the habs.

The Av's announcer always call Kesler "Kezler".

The Av's announcer always call Kesler "Kezler".

Hehe, I think this is more of an accent than anything, but yes, you're definitely right on that one.

I feel your pain CanucksAtHome! I saw the same feed and the commentators were really bad! The pronunciation was hard to listen to, so I just muted it at some point. What I thought was really, however, was they kept calling MacDonald on the Islanders an all-star and seemed to imply the Islanders got the short side of the stick in every call since they are one of the last place teams.

The MSG guys all sound drunk to me.

Despite many who would argue with me, I actually like Chris Cuthbert on TSN (a couple of people seem to be referencing him). Liked him back when he was on CBC as well. It's more the unique sound of his voice than anything, but the quality of his calls aren't bad compared to some other play by play guys in the league (re: the duo doing the Av's games). Also a big fan of Shorthouse (who is by no means bad now, but definitely not the same since Tom got the boot on the radio). Hughson's calls are always great, and I also enjoy listening to Gord Miller. These 4 at least have the stones to correct themselves on the air when they make an obvious mistake like mis-pronouncing a players name.

Above all else, they all show either the same, or only slightly less enthusiasm when calling a goal for a team opposing Vancouver (slightly less being Hughson when he was primarily doing Canucks games, and Shorty as well since he still does only Canucks games). I get the opportunity to listen to Rick Jeanneret once in a blue moon, but can definitely tell he has a real passion for the game, and it really doesn't matter who is playing. Always a treat listening to him call games.

This post hit on so many things that annoy me about some of the announcers calling NHL games though... well said. I know being in Vancouver has spoiled me in terms of announcers, but listening to some of the other ones around the league keeping in mind the points raised in the post... some of them just annoy me to no end.

Despite the Canucks narrow (and sloppy) win over the Isles,

What game were you watching ??? We played great the Isles played great it was a fast paced exciting game.

If you really want to get picky Hamhuise is actually pronounces "hum haise"

However you guys say it is an "Americanised" version of it.

MMMAAARRRTTTIINNN SSSTTTT LLLOOUUUSSSSSSS