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John Kelly (sportscaster)

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Kelly in 2010

John Kelly (born July 25, 1960, in Ottawa, Ontario) is a hockey play-by-play announcer for the St. Louis Blues. He is the son of the late Dan Kelly.[1] Kelly joined his father in the broadcast booth, for a Blues game against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 17, 1988, in which his Blues team defeated the Flyers for the first time in Philadelphia since January 6, 1972 before his dad died on February 10, 1989.[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] He joined the Blues' broadcast team for the 1989–90 NHL season[11] and remained on the job until summer 1992, when he joined the then-fledgling Tampa Bay Lightning.[12][13]

Three years later, he joined the Colorado Avalanche, who were moving from Quebec City,[12][14] where they had spent 23 seasons as the Nordiques. He documented two Stanley Cup Championships in Denver, in 1995–96 and again in 2000–01. He became well known in Denver for his proclamation, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!" after a big score by the Avs and, "SAVE BY ROY!" after a good save from former Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy. He left the Avalanche after the 2003–04 season to rejoin the Blues on their telecasts after the 2004–05 NHL lockout[15][16] and finally called the 2019 Stanley Cup Finals on local radio in the second period of every game.[17]

On January 13, 2000, he was confronted by Pittsburgh Penguins coach Herb Brooks for suggesting that Matthew Barnaby faked an injury after being hit by Alexei Gusarov with 27 seconds left.[18] Brooks was suspended two games for that confrontation on January 18,[19][20][21][22] having been suspended indefinitely since January 15.[23][24][25][21][26] Gusarov was suspended two games for the hit the day before.[27][21]

His younger brother Dan P. Kelly was the Blues' radio announcer from 1997 to 2000, before spending the next four seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets.[12]

In addition to the Blues, he also worked the 2006 NHL playoffs on Outdoor Life Network (now NBCSN). During the mid-1990s, he worked on select regional telecasts for the NHL on Fox. In the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, he substituted for Mike Haynes, the broadcaster who took over his play-by-play role for the Avalanche, on Altitude Sports and Entertainment, due to Haynes' health problems before he returned next season.[28][29][30]

Kelly, whose minor league hockey assignments included the St. Catharines Saints and three years with the Adirondack Red Wings,[12] obtained his realtor license during the 2004–05 NHL lockout. He also subbed for Marv Albert on Rangers broadcasts during the late 1980s.

References

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  1. ^ Fallstorm, R.B. (1990-03-10). "Kelly continues Inflections as Blues Hockey Announcer". The Press-Courier. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  2. ^ Korac, Louie (November 6, 2016). "Blues broadcaster keeps father in thoughts". NHL.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  3. ^ Caesar, Dan (2014-02-14). "Media Views: How Dan Kelly put the Blues on the map". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  4. ^ Horrigan, Kevin (February 10, 2024) [February 9, 2023]. "Remembering broadcasting legend Dan Kelly, 'a friend for life'". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  5. ^ Whitworth, Steve. "Broadcaster Dan Kelly, the voice of the St. Louis... - UPI Archives". UPI. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  6. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (1989-02-10). "Hockey Announcer Dan Kelly Dies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  7. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (1989-02-11). "Dan Kelly, Longtime Broadcaster of Hockey Games, Dies of Cancer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  8. ^ Sarni, Jim (1989-02-11). "VOICE OF BLUES IS STILLED". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  9. ^ "Dan Kelly Was Hockey's Voice". The New York Times. 1989-02-26. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  10. ^ "Dan Kelly, Hockey Announcer, 52". The New York Times. 1989-02-11. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
  11. ^ "DAN KELLY`S SON TO BE BLUES` VOICE". Chicago Tribune. 1989-07-14. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  12. ^ a b c d "John Kelly Television Play-by-Play". Blues.NHL.com. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  13. ^ Harris, John. "Lightning names Kelly for play-by-play on TV, radio". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  14. ^ Baugh, Peter. "John Kelly Q&A: Blues announcer on his days with the Avalanche, 'Quoteless Joe' Sakic, the Cup runs and more". The Athletic. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  15. ^ "Longtime Blues' Announcer Ken Wilson Fired". STLPR. 2004-05-06. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
  16. ^ "John Kelly replaces Ken Wilson as Blues' TV play-by-play broadcaster". Dispatch Argus. 2004-05-07. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  17. ^ Pinkert, Chris. "Kelly follows in father's footsteps, will call first Stanley Cup Final". NHL.com. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  18. ^ "DenverPost.com - Terry Frei". extras.denverpost.com. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  19. ^ "ESPN.com - NHL - Brooks has a game left to serve". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  20. ^ Martin, Susan. "BROOKS' SUSPENSION TO END AFTER TONIGHT'S GAME VS. BLUES". The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  21. ^ a b c Elliott, Helene (2000-01-18). "Solving Sabres' Problems Starts From the Inside Out". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  22. ^ "N.H.L.: PITTSBURGH; Brooks's Suspension Extended a Game". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2000-01-19. pp. D7. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  23. ^ "Herb Brooks suspended by NHL". UPI. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  24. ^ "ESPN.com - NHL - Barnaby grateful that coach defended him". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  25. ^ "ESPN.com - NHL - Brooks suspended indefinitely by league". www.espn.com. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  26. ^ "N.H.L.: ROUNDUP; Brooks Suspended For Tirade". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2000-01-16. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
  27. ^ "NHL suspends Alexei Gusarov". UPI. Retrieved 2021-07-21.
  28. ^ Frei, Terry (2008-04-08). "Avs announcer to miss playoffs". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  29. ^ "Avalanche announcer to miss playoffs because of surgery". The Denver Post. Associated Press. 2008-04-08. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
  30. ^ Groke, Nick (2008-05-21). "Avs' announcer Haynes to return". The Denver Post. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
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