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How bad is Phil Housley?

This guy is an absolute trainwreck. It's difficult to take what he says seriously! He constantly mixes up names, mispronounces names, stumbles, stutters, and makes statements about things you already know. (althouh the latter is typical for all announcers)

As an example, he kept calling the Hilltoppers "Duluth". He incorrectly called Dano Jacques David Jock (sp?)

I am honestly embarrassed for him when he's announcing. Has he been hit in the head a few times or what's the deal? I wasn't around for the old Phil.

DM shenanigans wrote:This guy is an absolute trainwreck. It's difficult to take what he says seriously! He constantly mixes up names, mispronounces names, stumbles, stutters, and makes statements about things you already know. (althouh the latter is typical for all announcers)

As an example, he kept calling the Hilltoppers "Duluth". He incorrectly called Dano Jacques David Jock (sp?)

I am honestly embarrassed for him when he's announcing. Has he been hit in the head a few times or what's the deal? I wasn't around for the old Phil.

Hockey falls into the same trap as other sports, they assume great players make great coaches or announcers. There's a little more to it than just having played. Phil obviously loves the game and the history, and he is at the top when it comes to state hockey bragging rights, but that shouldn't have gotten him a commentating job.
Maybe Spehar has been practicing somewhere and is ready to make a triumphant return to the booth?
There has to be some better guys out there. Keep giving tryouts, because Phil is failing his.

yeah I think he was just talking about Nick Larson going to the U of M next year and said he had a good state tourney last year with a hat trick in the GR vs. HM game but I thought that was a 3-2 game with Hill losing, thats pretty impressive to get a hat trick in a game where your team only got 2 goals, my guess is he was talking about the minnetonka game he had a hat trick in, but thats just an example of him mixing up his facts.

IMO he should just hang it up with coaching and announcing because the only reason he announces the games is cause he isn't a good enough coach to actually get his team there. Great pro career though.

wildhckyfan14 wrote:yeah I think he was just talking about Nick Larson going to the U of M next year and said he had a good state tourney last year with a hat trick in the GR vs. HM game but I thought that was a 3-2 game with Hill losing, thats pretty impressive to get a hat trick in a game where your team only got 2 goals, my guess is he was talking about the minnetonka game he had a hat trick in, but thats just an example of him mixing up his facts.

IMO he should just hang it up with coaching and announcing because the only reason he announces the games is cause he isn't a good enough coach to actually get his team there. Great pro career though.

He said Larson had a hat-trick in the quarter final game, which would of been Minnetonka

[quote="wildhckyfan14"]yeah I think he was just talking about Nick Larson going to the U of M next year and said he had a good state tourney last year with a hat trick in the GR vs. HM game but I thought that was a 3-2 game with Hill losing, thats pretty impressive to get a hat trick in a game where your team only got 2 goals, my guess is he was talking about the minnetonka game he had a hat trick in, but thats just an example of him mixing up his facts.

IMO he should just hang it up with coaching and announcing because the only reason he announces the games is cause he isn't a good enough coach to actually get his team there. Great pro career though.[/quote]


I agree that he is not the greatest announcer, but to call out his coaching ability? He is a great coach and has turrned the program around in Stillwater. His team gave White Bear all they could handle in the section quarterfinals. He knows the game well and announcing is a totally different thing.

He's a great coach, but he's just not the type of guy who has that "anouncer voice". he just isnt intereting, his voice is so dull

Bring in the GOV, Jesse. That will bring in some ratings.

Here's an idea Why not have some of the regular season announcers, from around the state, do some of the tournament games. Divvy up the contests--have some fun with it.

not a bad idea, joey. That could be pretty good. Phil is a pretty bad color guy...makes me want to listen on the radio...

I tried the radio gig, no only was there a big delay...but the commentator said..."(players name here) had the entire top corner wide open. After the shot, it looked like he wanted to go back to the locker room using a walking stick."

Not an exact quote but close from the Crystal Clear Folks...

Give Phil a break he is from South St Paul

his skills on the mike are the same as his skills behind the bench

I can cut anyone some slack if they can go from high school to the NHL.

sniper1675 wrote:How bad is Phil Housley?

He's better than Lou Nanne.

He's better than Lou Nanne.

Jeeethusss Chrisssthh...how could you thay that. Thuffering thuckatashes

Housley is awful. I know he knows hockey but I think there has to be someone out there that can be an improvement. Even his comments were difficult to understand not to mention void of any relevance. Channel 45 can do better. Anyone but Housley, please. Nanne is awesome I would listen to him anytime !

I'd rather listen to Housely than Kevin Gorg of FSN.

wbmd wrote:

sniper1675 wrote:How bad is Phil Housley?

He's better than Lou Nanne.

Maybe they should try get some real talent like Jack Swanson from Roseau. He left Roseau for Madison to be the "Voice of the Badgers" in hockey and football. Then he came back to Roseau and does announcing off and on. He is one of the best announcers and always does his homework. Top notch.

He definitely was not the player Housley was/is, but I understand he is an excellent tennis coach.

what is with all the critics out there? Yes, everyone knows that the announcing is not top of the line, really all the people on 45 struggle, everyone from lou to the guys between periods, it is a train wreck, but cmon these guys get to do this once a year, and for god sakes, i know we all love this, btu it si only high school it is not like this is the stanley cup, you are not going to get the best announcers sorry

I would much rather have Housley, Lou, Bonin and the like instead of some polished speaker that has no idea how the game is played.

While I don't think Housley is great by any stretch of the imagination, the other people on the poll are some of the best at what they do all time.

As far as his coaching, I don't think that should even enter into the discussion. He may not be the best coach in the state but I'm sure a lot of programs would love to have him.

I think that the broadcasters need to be given some sort of slack for this tournament. I've been doing color commentary for Dartmouth hockey this year and it's tough to not say the obvious. Having been around the game for many years it's possible to make some very insightful comments and analyze the game for folks at home, but it is far from easy. What makes it tough for these broadcasters is they don't have the material to fill pauses that professional commentators do. The guys who do college and up seem to be always interacting with players and coaches from the teams, they have stories and anecdotes to tell if there is a break, for the state tournament they have to ad-lib a lot more than usual, it's not like they've been around these kids an entire season, they don't know very much about these teams besides the media guide and stats they are give. I think some slack would be justifiable here.

Dave Esse should do color com. at the state tourney. He usually as free time this time of year.











Great coach just joking lol.

wbmd wrote:

sniper1675 wrote:How bad is Phil Housley?

He's better than Lou Nanne.

Word!