Very excited for Gary Thorne

[O-townClown]

Bio from the Prep45 website:

Born in Bangor, Maine, Gary graduated from Maine, the University of Maine School of Law and Georgetown Law School. During a broadcasting career that spans nearly 50 years, he has covered high school and university sports in Maine, MLB with the Mets, White Sox and Orioles and 22 years of sports coverage with ESPN. This year marks his 29th season of play-by-play coverage of MLB and his eighth on Orioles MASN broadcasts. Thorne has broadcast 11 World Series, 16 All-Star Games and three World Baseball Classics for MLB International TV and 12 NHL seasons, including Stanley Cup playoffs and finals for ABC/ESPN. He started his NHL play-by-play career with The New Jersey Devils on Sportschannel from 1987 through 1993. In 2002 NBC enlisted Thorne to call the hockey games during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, his third Olympics.

Lou as usual, who'll sound good as ever and is part of what makes the tournament great.

I recall Chris Cuthbert http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cuthbert coming down in the mid- to late-80s.

What other national broadcast talent has been brought in to work the tournament over the years?

[HappyHockeyFan]

Bio from the Prep45 website:

Born in Bangor, Maine, Gary graduated from Maine, the University of Maine School of Law and Georgetown Law School. During a broadcasting career that spans nearly 50 years, he has covered high school and university sports in Maine, MLB with the Mets, White Sox and Orioles and 22 years of sports coverage with ESPN. This year marks his 29th season of play-by-play coverage of MLB and his eighth on Orioles MASN broadcasts. Thorne has broadcast 11 World Series, 16 All-Star Games and three World Baseball Classics for MLB International TV and 12 NHL seasons, including Stanley Cup playoffs and finals for ABC/ESPN. He started his NHL play-by-play career with The New Jersey Devils on Sportschannel from 1987 through 1993. In 2002 NBC enlisted Thorne to call the hockey games during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, his third Olympics.

Lou as usual, who'll sound good as ever and is part of what makes the tournament great.

I recall Chris Cuthbert http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cuthbert coming down in the mid- to late-80s.

What other national broadcast talent has been brought in to work the tournament over the years?

I think Howard Cosell did a time or two in the 70's.

[wbmd]

Bio from the Prep45 website:

Born in Bangor, Maine, Gary graduated from Maine, the University of Maine School of Law and Georgetown Law School. During a broadcasting career that spans nearly 50 years, he has covered high school and university sports in Maine, MLB with the Mets, White Sox and Orioles and 22 years of sports coverage with ESPN. This year marks his 29th season of play-by-play coverage of MLB and his eighth on Orioles MASN broadcasts. Thorne has broadcast 11 World Series, 16 All-Star Games and three World Baseball Classics for MLB International TV and 12 NHL seasons, including Stanley Cup playoffs and finals for ABC/ESPN. He started his NHL play-by-play career with The New Jersey Devils on Sportschannel from 1987 through 1993. In 2002 NBC enlisted Thorne to call the hockey games during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, his third Olympics.

Lou as usual, who'll sound good as ever and is part of what makes the tournament great.

I recall Chris Cuthbert http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Cuthbert coming down in the mid- to late-80s.

What other national broadcast talent has been brought in to work the tournament over the years?

I think Howard Cosell did a time or two in the 70's.

Yes - Howard Cosell did do some coverage of the tournament. I think it was in 1982, but not positive.

[MNHockeyFan]

Wondering how much experience Gary Thorne has announcing hockey games?

[ZachHalverson]

Don't get too excited. He didn't do his prep work in 2012 and pronounced Don Lucia's name Don Loo-see-ah.

He's one of the best hockey announcers ever, but he hasn't done any research for any hockey games that he has done in recent years. He isn't coming to St. Paul until Wednesday night, and my sources say he's having another 45 TV analyst do all the prep work for him.

Sure the game call might be OK, but be prepared for a lot of mispronounced names and a lot of generic talk between the whistles. Hopefully Lou and Ben help him out a little bit.

[karl(east)]

In case anyone needs help getting in the mood:

http://ciskie.blogspot.com/2009/06/gary ... voice.html

Or, if you want Minnesotans winning things:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XqjBvwU5rs

[MNHockeyFan]

Should have googled him before I asked my dumb question above! When I played the first highlight that was linked to Karl's post above, I recognized the voice right away - just didn't put his name and voice together. And hearing it gets me doubly excited for the tourney (although I will be attending all of Thursday's games in person, and will have to wait until Friday evening to watch Channel 45's broadcast and hear him and Lou together).

It's also good to know that hockey is apparently Thorne's favorite sport to announce, so coming here to do the tourney should be a fun experience for him as well.

[Sats81]

Don't get too excited. He didn't do his prep work in 2012 and pronounced Don Lucia's name Don Loo-see-ah.

He's one of the best hockey announcers ever, but he hasn't done any research for any hockey games that he has done in recent years. He isn't coming to St. Paul until Wednesday night, and my sources say he's having another 45 TV analyst do all the prep work for him.

Sure the game call might be OK, but be prepared for a lot of mispronounced names and a lot of generic talk between the whistles. Hopefully Lou and Ben help him out a little bit.

Clymer is PAINFUL to listen to. Really bad at gopher games too.

[nahc]

Will absolutely NOT have the sound on with these gentlemen announcing the games....... Thorne/Clement were horrible when they did the NHL for ESPN........

[ZachHalverson]

I would just like to clarify that I do think Gary Thorne is an excellent play-by-play announcer and I thought he was fantastic on the NHL on ESPN. I just worry that he's not going to do his prep work. That's all.

[Sats81]

I would just like to clarify that I do think Gary Thorne is an excellent play-by-play announcer and I thought he was fantastic on the NHL on ESPN. I just worry that he's not going to do his prep work. That's all.

Agreed. I think best all time combo was Wally and Lou.

[ZachHalverson]

If this was Doc, I wouldn't worry. Heck, Emrick would know where many of the players played their Squirt hockey, who their coach was, and how many goals they scored that year.

That wasn't the case with Gary when he did the Frozen Four broadcasts, and it was a big reason why I favored the switch to John Buccigross, who not only does his prep work, but also follows the sport on a consistent basis.

I could be wrong and Gary could be great Thursday-Saturday, but I have a feeling he's gonna receive some complaints. At least Class A is covered well, Jim Erickson is awesome.

[Sats81]

If this was Doc, I wouldn't worry. Heck, Emrick would know where many of the players played their Squirt hockey, who their coach was, and how many goals they scored that year.

That wasn't the case with Gary when he did the Frozen Four broadcasts, and it was a big reason why I favored the switch to John Buccigross, who not only does his prep work, but also follows the sport on a consistent basis.

I could be wrong and Gary could be great Thursday-Saturday, but I have a feeling he's gonna receive some complaints. At least Class A is covered well, Jim Erickson is awesome.

Jim Erickson is great. Thank God no Housley this year. Worst ever.

[alcloseshaver]

If this was Doc, I wouldn't worry. Heck, Emrick would know where many of the players played their Squirt hockey, who their coach was, and how many goals they scored that year.

That wasn't the case with Gary when he did the Frozen Four broadcasts, and it was a big reason why I favored the switch to John Buccigross, who not only does his prep work, but also follows the sport on a consistent basis.

I could be wrong and Gary could be great Thursday-Saturday, but I have a feeling he's gonna receive some complaints. At least Class A is covered well, Jim Erickson is awesome.

Jim Erickson is great. Thank God no Housley this year. Worst ever.

Agree on Erickson, he does a ton of games on BOB and knows his stuff.

[puckbreath]

Will absolutely NOT have the sound on with these gentlemen announcing the games....... Thorne/Clement were horrible when they did the NHL for ESPN........

I'll take Thorne any day over Nanne.

[east hockey]

If this was Doc, I wouldn't worry. Heck, Emrick would know where many of the players played their Squirt hockey, who their coach was, and how many goals they scored that year.

That wasn't the case with Gary when he did the Frozen Four broadcasts, and it was a big reason why I favored the switch to John Buccigross, who not only does his prep work, but also follows the sport on a consistent basis.

I could be wrong and Gary could be great Thursday-Saturday, but I have a feeling he's gonna receive some complaints. At least Class A is covered well, Jim Erickson is awesome.

Jim Erickson is great. Thank God no Housley this year. Worst ever.

Agree on Erickson, he does a ton of games on BOB and knows his stuff.

Was he one of the two guys broadcasting the Andover-Elk River 7AA semifinal? If so, very good choice. Those two were fun to listen to and knew their stuff.

Lee

[ZachHalverson]

Jim Erickson is great. Thank God no Housley this year. Worst ever.

Agree on Erickson, he does a ton of games on BOB and knows his stuff.

Was he one of the two guys broadcasting the Andover-Elk River 7AA semifinal? If so, very good choice. Those two were fun to listen to and knew their stuff.

Lee

Nope, that was Ryan Phelps. Jim did the Class A tournament last year for 45. You've probably heard one of his broadcasts before, you can check out his archives at http://www.meridix.com/directory/contro ... imerickson

[GTTN]

I agree I can't wait to hear Gary!

I grew up listening to him call the biggest games. Now he is calling the biggest games this state has to offer.

I can't see this being anything but good!

THANK YOU GARY

[Doc Holliday]

Will absolutely NOT have the sound on with these gentlemen announcing the games....... Thorne/Clement were horrible when they did the NHL for ESPN........

[nahc]

Thorne and Nannie are terrible.......... sound off, listening to MSBN feed on line......... TONS better

[Bleed Maroon and Gold]

Thorne and Nannie are terrible.......... sound off, listening to MSBN feed on line......... TONS better

I think your in the minority of not liking Thorne.

[Slammer]

Thorne and Nanne are killing it. Loving it so far.

[Roy01]

I think Thorne and Nanne are doing well, but we haven't even seen Edina yet so we must wait to see the TRUE genius of Lou

[alcloseshaver]

Thorne is doing fine, must have been doing his homework, he is spewing stats like crazy. Lou just call Menne " Coach Meanie"

[Tigers33]

Lou and Thorne are awesome. Louie is great like always. You would be a fool to not think that Lou had something to do with getting Thorne. Best hockey mind mn has!