Brendan Burke (sportscaster)
Brendan Burke (born July 8, 1984) is an American sportscaster for MSG Networks, the New York Islanders, NBC Sports and TNT Sports.
Brendan Burke | |
|---|---|
Burke (right) in 2015 | |
| Born | July 8, 1984 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Ithaca College |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Genre(s) | Play-by-play |
| Sports | Ice hockey, College football, College basketball, Lacrosse, Baseball |
Early life edit
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 edit
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]
Burke is the secondary full-time play-by-play announcers for the NHL on TNT, pairing with Jennifer Botterill and Darren Pang on the #2 team.[17]
On July 2 and 3, 2022, Burke filled in for John Sterling on the New York Yankees' radio broadcasts for a series against the Cleveland Guardians. Burke also called following Yankees' series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, and Los Angeles Angels.[18] He also filled in on WCBS' broadcasts of New York Mets games.
In 2023, Burke returned to NBC and replaced Jason Benetti as the lead play-by-play announcer for MLB Sunday Leadoff package.[19] Burke will also call Big Ten football games for NBC and Peacock in the fall.
References edit
- ^ a b Eminian, Dave (October 6, 2008). "Voices new and old for Peoria". Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ a b Rine, Shawn (January 2, 2008). "Talking a Good Game". The Intelligencer. Wheeling, West Virginia. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ a b c . Utica Comets Official Website. Archived from the original on July 16, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ . Wheeling Nailers. Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ a b Davidson, Spencer (January 29, 2014). "Comets' broadcaster Brendan Burke receives special honor". WKTV. Utica, New York. Archived from the original on September 10, 2014. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ Caesar, Dan (December 23, 2011). "Media views: Blues fill-in broadcaster has whirlwind week". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. St. Louis, Missouri. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ Chelesnik, Jon (January 29, 2014). "Top 30 Sportscasters Under 30". Sportscasters Talent Agency of America. Retrieved July 22, 2014.
- ^ "Comets' Burke wins Ellery Award for 2014-15". The American Hockey League. July 30, 2015.
- ^ "All-Star Classic to reach 100 million homes". The American Hockey League. January 13, 2015.
- ^ "Extensive coverage set for 2017 AHL All-Star Classic". The American Hockey League. January 25, 2017.
- ^ "Extensive All-Star Classic coverage on tap". The American Hockey League. January 25, 2018.
- ^ "AHL All-Star Classic coming to NHL Network, Sportsnet". The American Hockey League. January 15, 2019.
- ^ "Brendan Burke". MSGNetworks.com.
- ^ Best, Neil (April 10, 2018). "Isles announcer gets the call for playoffs". Newsday.
- ^ Best, Neil (April 11, 2019). "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. May 7, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
- ^ Best, Neil (September 14, 2021). "Brendan Burke joining Turner Sports' new NHL roster". Newsday. Retrieved September 18, 2021.
- ^ Arnold, Christian (June 16, 2022). "Yankees radio fill-ins: Brendan Burke latest to be named". AM New York. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- ^ Chavkin, Daniel (April 3, 2023). "NBC to Hire Brendan Burke to Broadcast 'MLB Sunday Leadoff,' per Report". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved April 4, 2023.