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Brendan Burke (sportscaster)

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Brendan Burke (born July 8, 1984) is an American sportscaster for MSG Networks, the New York Islanders, and NBC 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]

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.[9] Since 2017, even if the Islanders missed the playoffs, Burke was hired to broadcast the playoffs for the NHL on NBC channels.[10][11]

In the summer of 2019 he was named the inaugural voice of the Premier Lacrosse League on NBC Sports.

References

  1. ^ a b Eminian, Dave (6 October 2008). "Voices new and old for Peoria". Journal Star. Peoria, Illinois. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  2. ^ a b Rine, Shawn (2 January 2008). "Talking a Good Game". The Intelligencer. Wheeling, West Virginia. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ Chelesnik, Jon (29 January 2014). "Top 30 Sportscasters Under 30". Sportscasters Talent Agency of America. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  8. ^ theahl. "Comets' Burke wins Ellery Award for 2014-15". theahl.com.
  9. ^ "Brendan Burke". MSGNetworks.com.
  10. ^ "Isles announcer gets the call for playoffs". Newsday.
  11. ^ "Isles play-by-play announcer Brendan Burke stays busy with six NHL playoff games in seven nights". Newsday.
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