Brendan Burke (sportscaster)
Brendan Burke | |
---|---|
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | July 8, 1984
Sports commentary career | |
Genre(s) | Play-by-play |
Sports | Ice hockey, College football, College basketball, Lacrosse |
Brendan Burke (born July 8, 1984) is an American sportscaster for MSG Networks, the New York Islanders, NBC Sports and Turner Sports.
Early life[]
Burke was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, while his father, Don, (sportswriter) covered the then-IHL Milwaukee Admirals, Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers.[1] In 1990, Burke moved to Fair Lawn, New Jersey, and later attended Paramus Catholic High School.[2]
Broadcasting career[]
Burke's broadcasting career began during his undergraduate tenure at Ithaca College, where he served as the sports director for both of the campus radio stations.[3] Following graduation, he broadcast minor league baseball for the Batavia Muckdogs (NYPL) and the Lakewood BlueClaws (SAL).[3] At 22 , he was hired by the Wheeling Nailers and became the youngest broadcaster in the ECHL.[1] During his time with Nailers, he was honored as the 2008 ECHL Broadcaster of the Year,[4] and was selected to broadcast the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game.[2]
Burke spent five seasons as the voice of the American Hockey League's Peoria Rivermen, who were purchased by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks and moved to Utica in 2013.[5] During the 2011-12 NHL season, he filled in for select games as the play-by-play broadcaster for the NHL's St. Louis Blues on KMOX radio.[6] In July 2013, he was hired by the Utica Comets as the play-by-play broadcaster and head of public relations.[3]
Since 2012, Burke has called the outdoor high school games as part of Hockey Day Minnesota for Fox Sports North. Burke handles play-by-play for college football broadcasts on Fox Sports Net along with analyst Ben Leber. He has also called college hockey for the Big Ten Network.[5]
Burke was named to the "Top 30 Sportscasters Under 30" list released in 2014 by the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America.[7]
On July 30, 2015, he received the James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the 2014-15 season. The award is presented annually in recognition of outstanding media coverage of the American Hockey League.[8] He has also been part of the broadcast teams for four AHL All-Star Classics (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019).[9][10][11][12]
On August 11, 2016, Brendan was named as play-by-play announcer for the New York Islanders, replacing Howie Rose who stepped down earlier that year.[13] Since 2017, even if the Islanders missed the playoffs, Burke was hired to broadcast the playoffs for the NHL on NBC channels.[14][15]
In the summer of 2019, he was named one of the inaugural voices of the Premier Lacrosse League on NBC Sports.[16]
In the summer of 2021, Burke was paired alongside Lindsay Shoop for rowing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Burke is one of two full-time play-by-play announcers for TNT's NHL coverage.
References[]
- ^ a b Eminian, Dave (6 October 2008). "Voices new and old for Peoria". Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ a b Rine, Shawn (2 January 2008). "Talking a Good Game". The Intelligencer. Wheeling, West Virginia. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ a b c "Brendan Burke - Broadcaster/Head of Public Relations". Utica Comets Official Website. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "Billy Higgins Named 2013-14 Reebok ECHL Equipment Manager of the Year". Wheeling Nailers. Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ a b Davidson, Spencer (29 January 2014). "Comets' broadcaster Brendan Burke receives special honor". WKTV. Utica, New York. Archived from the original on 10 September 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ Caesar, Dan (23 December 2011). "Media views: Blues fill-in broadcaster has whirlwind week". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ Chelesnik, Jon (29 January 2014). "Top 30 Sportscasters Under 30". Sportscasters Talent Agency of America. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ theahl. "Comets' Burke wins Ellery Award for 2014-15". theahl.com.
- ^ "All-Star Classic to reach 100 million homes". 2015-01-13.
- ^ "Extensive coverage set for 2017 AHL All-Star Classic". 2017-01-25.
- ^ "Extensive All-Star Classic coverage on tap". 2018-01-25.
- ^ "AHL All-Star Classic coming to NHL Network, Sportsnet". 2019-01-15.
- ^ "Brendan Burke". MSGNetworks.com.
- ^ "Isles announcer gets the call for playoffs". Newsday.
- ^ "Isles play-by-play announcer Brendan Burke stays busy with six NHL playoff games in seven nights". Newsday.
- ^ "PAUL BURMEISTER, BRENDAN BURKE AND RYAN BOYLE TO DEBUT AS NBC SPORTS' INAUGURAL PREMIER LACROSSE LEAGUE COMMENTATORS". NBC Sports Pressbox. 2019-05-07. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
- Living people
- People from Fair Lawn, New Jersey
- Ithaca College alumni
- College football announcers
- College hockey announcers in the United States
- American radio sports announcers
- American Hockey League broadcasters
- National Hockey League broadcasters
- St. Louis Blues announcers
- People from Milwaukee
- 1984 births
- Paramus Catholic High School alumni