John Forslund | |
|---|---|
 Forslund in February 2012 | |
| Born | February 14, 1962 |
| Education | BA, Springfield College MA, Athletic Management, Adelphi University |
| Occupation | Broadcaster |
| Spouse | Natalie |
| Children | 3 |
John Forslund is an American sports announcer who is the television play-by-play announcer of the Seattle Kraken. He had previously filled the same role for the Carolina Hurricanes and was with the team since 1991 (when the team was the Hartford Whalers) and called games from 1995 to 2020.
John was born on February 14, 1962, and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, Forslund decided at an early age that he wanted to be a hockey play-by-play announcer. “I started doing the games off the television, from age 12 to 17,” he says. “My dad was my color man. We would turn the sound down and we would do any game that came on. His friends would come over and watch the Bruins play at night, and little Johnny would sit on the floor and call the game.” [1] Forslund attended Cathedral High School before enrolling at Springfield College. Following this, Forslund earned his master's degree in athletic management from Adelphi University. [2]
After graduating, Forslund handled the television and radio broadcasts for the American Hockey League's Springfield Indians from 1984 until 1991. In 1989, he won the Ken McKenzie Award, an award given to the AHL's top publicist and/or announcer. Following this, he joined the Hartford Whalers organization in 1991 as public relations director. [3] In 1995, he replaced Rick Peckham on the Whalers television broadcasts, then on SportsChannel New England. Forslund served as the radio analyst alongside Chuck Kaiton during non-televised games. [2] When Peter Karmanos Jr. moved the Whalers to Carolina in 1997, Forslund said the team's final game was very emotional. "It was a very emotional game and everyone was in tears from the camera man to the producer. The final game, which didn't have any playoff implications, was played against the Tampa Bay Lightning....For a game that is meaningless, this means everything!" [4]
During his time with the Hurricanes, Forslund served as a play-by-play announcer for ESPN National Hockey Night , NHL on Versus , NBCSN, NBC Sports, and has called ACC and SEC basketball for Fox Sports Net. On June 27, 2002, Ken Lehner announced that Forslund signed a two-year contract extension with the Hurricanes to remain as their television play-by-play broadcaster. [5] As a result of his broadcasting achievements, Forslund was the recipient of the 2018 and 2019 North Carolina Sportscaster of the Year by the National Sports Media Association. [6] [7]
Forslund's contract with the Hurricanes expired at the end of the 2020 regular season and was unresolved at the start of the Stanley Cup playoffs qualifying round. [8] As a result, Forslund called games for NBC Sports in the Toronto hub through the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. On January 26, 2021, Forslund announced he had accepted the job as television play-by-play broadcaster on Root Sports Northwest for the Seattle Kraken ahead of their inaugural NHL season in fall 2021. [9] Forslund joined the NHL on TNT crew as an occasional play by play broadcaster in 2022.
Forslund and his wife Natalie have three children together, two daughters and one son. [6] His son Matthew plays ice hockey with Brad McCrimmon's son, who worked with Forslund as a Springfield Indians announcer. [10]
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Hurricanes compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as part of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference, and play their home games at PNC Arena.
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut. The club played in the World Hockey Association (WHA) from 1972 until 1979, and in the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1979 to 1997. Originally based in Boston, the team joined the WHA in the league's inaugural season, and was known as the New England Whalers throughout its time in the WHA. The Whalers moved 100 miles (160 km), to Hartford, in 1974 and joined the NHL in the NHL–WHA merger of 1979.
Ronald Michael Francis Jr. is a Canadian ice hockey sports executive and former player. He currently serves as the general manager of the Seattle Kraken. He spent most of his career as either a player or executive for the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes organization, 23 years in total.
Edward Walter Olczyk Jr. is an American former center in the National Hockey League for 16 seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Winnipeg Jets, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, and Pittsburgh Penguins. He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in 1994. Olczyk was also the head coach of the Pittsburgh Penguins from June 2003 to December 2005.
Jeffrey O'Neill is a Canadian broadcaster and former professional ice hockey player in the National Hockey League (NHL). He played 12 seasons with the Hartford Whalers, Carolina Hurricanes and the Toronto Maple Leafs. He has earned accolades for his offensive contributions on the ice and represented Canada internationally in various tournaments.
The 1979–80 NHL season was the 63rd season of the National Hockey League. This season saw the addition of four teams from the disbanded World Hockey Association as expansion franchises. The Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, New England Whalers, and Quebec Nordiques joined the NHL, bringing the total to 21 teams. The other two WHA teams were paid to fold.
Charles "Chuck" Kaiton is the former radio play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. He was with the team since the 1979–80 season, their first in the NHL while they were still the Hartford Whalers. He never missed a game in the team's NHL history; the franchise came over from the World Hockey Association in the same year Kaiton became their announcer.
Robert Kron is a Czech former professional ice hockey centre and currently the director of amateur scouting for the Seattle Kraken. He was formerly director of European scouting for the Carolina Hurricanes.
Emmet E. "Tripp" Tracy III is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender and the current television and radio color commentator for the Carolina Hurricanes.
From 2006 to 2008, NBC's studio show was originally broadcast out of the rink at New York's Rockefeller Center, at the foot of NBC's offices during January and February. This allowed the on-air talent, including commentators for NHL on NBC, and their guests to demonstrate plays and hockey skills. From April onwards, and during inclement weather, the studio show moved to Studio 8G inside the GE Building, where NBC produces its Football Night in America program. For the Stanley Cup Finals, the show was usually broadcast on location.
Root Sports Northwest, sometimes branded simply as Root Sports, is an American regional sports network owned by the Seattle Mariners. Headquartered near Seattle in the city of Bellevue, Washington, the channel broadcasts regional coverage of sports events throughout the Pacific Northwest, with a focus on professional sports teams based in Seattle and Portland. It is available on cable providers throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska and nationwide on satellite via DirecTV.
Haydn Fleury is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). Fleury was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
Alexander Nedeljkovic is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nedeljkovic was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division in the Western Conference and began play during the league's 2021–22 season. They play their home games at Climate Pledge Arena.
The 2021–22 NHL season was the 105th season of operation of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league expanded to 32 teams with the addition of the Seattle Kraken. The league had an October-to-April regular season scheduling and a full 82-game regular season for the first time since the 2018–19 NHL season as the previous two NHL seasons were shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The season began on October 12.
Everett "Fitz" Fitzhugh is an American sportscaster who is the radio play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League.
The NHL on TNT is an American presentation of National Hockey League (NHL) games produced by TNT Sports, and televised on TNT and streamed on Max in the United States.
NBC Sports's deal with the National Hockey League for U.S. television rights ran through the 2020–21 season, and was replaced in 2021–22 by seven-year agreements with ESPN and TNT to split coverage.
The 2021–22 Carolina Hurricanes season was the 43rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise, established in June 1979, and the 24th season since the franchise relocated from the Hartford Whalers to start the 1997–98 NHL season. On April 9, 2022, the Hurricanes clinched a playoff berth after a 5–3 win against the Buffalo Sabres.