Matt McConnell

Matt McConnell is an American sports broadcaster and is currently the play-by-play announcer for Utah Mammoth.

Early life

McConnell was born in Gary, Indiana.[1] While he spent most of his childhood in Indiana, his father's job with U.S. Steel resulted in the family relocating to Minnesota and Pittsburgh.[2] McConnell graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1981[2] and earned his Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications at Michigan State University.[1] While living in Pittsburgh, McConnell became a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and especially idolised Mike Lange.[3]

Announcing career

NHL

McConnell got his start in the NHL as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a position which he held from 1993 to 1996.

At the end of 1996, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as their radio play-by-play announcer.[4]

In 1999, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers as the team's first-ever TV play-by-play announcer,[5] a position which he held from 1999 to 2003, and returned to from 2009 to 2011.

From 2004 to 2006 he served as the Minnesota Wild TV play-by-play announcer. McConnell has also covered the NHL playoffs for NHL Radio and Westwood One.

In 2011 he was named the play-by-play announcer for the Arizona Coyotes. In 2013, he was named "Arizona Sports Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Sports Media Association.[6] In 2020 and 2021, he was named a finalist for the same award. At the conclusion of the 2024 NHL season the Arizona Coyotes suspended operations.

In September 2024 McConnell was named the play-by-play announcer for the Utah Mammoth,[7] the newest team in the NHL, consisting of the assets of the former Arizona Coyotes.

College sports

McConnell also has served as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS College Sports Network college hockey broadcasts. He also covered college basketball, college football and college lacrosse.[1]

World Juniors

McConnell served as the play-by-play announcer for NHL Network coverage of the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b c "CBS Bios". Archived from the original on September 18, 2012.
  2. ^ a b Finder, Chuck (August 15, 1996). "McConnell on broadcast team". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Finder, Chuck (August 15, 1996). "Penguins add voice". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Penguins Hire McConnell As Announcer". Latrobe Bulletin. August 16, 1996. Retrieved April 22, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Finder, Chuck (June 21, 1999). "Penguins voice changing his tune". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 22, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Bao, Robert (June 2, 2014). "Matt McConnell: Sportscaster of the Year". Michigan State University. Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  7. ^ Miller, Ryan. "Here's who will be calling Utah Hockey Club games". www.ksl.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  8. ^ "USA Hockey". Archived from the original on January 11, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011.
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