A new contender for worst broadcaster of all time (Leah Hextall)

[Fallschirmyager]

Try listening to Al Kokin call a game for the CAPS. That guy has excellent extortion material on someone. I'm not sure which ESPN+ crew called a game a few games back but I had to mute the sound and listen to the radio broadcast. It's a pain because it's not sync'd up but it was better than listening to either of the other options.

 

[BurntToast]

Is Weeks always her partner in crime? I wasn’t a fan of his ether, maybe it’s just chemistry.

 

[Megaterio Llamas]

Everything sucks hard today; hockey broadcasting is just part of the trend.

 

[Flair Hay]

I used to think Gord Miller sucked after the first year when MHL on TSN returned post 2005 lockout. But he got a lot better after a couple years and became one of the best in Canada.

Leah has been in sports in media for probably 20 years with a Dad as an NHLer I believe? She will be fine just give her time.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

Is Weeks always her partner in crime? I wasn’t a fan of his ether, maybe it’s just chemistry.

It has usually been Boucher in the games I've watched.

 

[Bruce Granville]

I just can't understand what it is she actually said after Getzlaf.

"ShakfkoejdbakwoekSCORES!"

What are you complaining?
You absolutely nailed it.

 

[TheRarestDangles]

I used to think Gord Miller sucked after the first year when MHL on TSN returned post 2005 lockout. But he got a lot better after a couple years and became one of the best in Canada.

Leah has been in sports in media for probably 20 years with a Dad as an NHLer I believe? She will be fine just give her time.

Her voice will dramatically change in time?

 

[Flair Hay]

Her voice will dramatically change in time?

If you're not going to be open minded about it I wont bother. Just dont watch.

 

[TheRarestDangles]

If you're not going to be open minded about it I wont bother. Just dont watch.

Would I be more 'open minded' if I liked her commentating? I don't like her voice (especially during goal calls) and it's that simple. Oh and many people concur and they aren't all sexists. Get over it my friend and enjoy the WNBA.

 

[Rob Brown]

I just can't understand what it is she actually said after Getzlaf.

"ShakfkoejdbakwoekSCORES!"

You nailed it.

 

[Baaaaaaaaaaaaah]

I hate any announcer that isn’t Bob Cole

 

[Rob Brown]

I'm convinced every one bitching about the "pitch" of Hextall's voice is using shitty speakers

Yes...everyone in here, on Twitter etc. just has shitty speakers.

 

[bsu]

I will never listen to her call a game again. 100% muting anything moving forward. Not being sexist at all, Doris Burke is one of my favorites but this chick sucks plain and simple.

 

[Flair Hay]

Would I be more 'open minded' if I liked her commentating? I don't like her voice (especially during goal calls) and it's that simple. Oh and many people concur and they aren't all sexists. Get over it my friend and enjoy the WNBA.

I think you're projecting a lot here man. A lot.

I'm just saying her goal calls can improve. Give her 1000 hours of play by play and I bet she will be twice as good and the goal call a lot more natural. Play by play is a very hard thing to nail down.

 

[TheRarestDangles]

I think you're projecting a lot here man. A lot.

I'm just saying her goal calls can improve. Give her 1000 hours of play by play and I bet she will be twice as good and the goal call a lot more natural. Play by play is a very hard thing to nail down.

You said I wasn't open minded. It really hurt when you said that. I admire you a lot. I promise I'm not a sexist.

 

[Barry Tallackson]

She was brutal last night, was mixing up opposing goalies names into the second period. Hard to imagine someone didn’t pull her aside during a commercial break to correct her

 

[Artorius Horus T]

Jamie Hirsch is the best female ice hockey journalist, studio host, etc. etc. in the world
she has worked for long time for NHL Network.

She has learned so much just while working for the Network, obviously knew about hockey before, her voice is beautiful, its not annoying, also, how she uses her voice is great, its balanced + her personality is awesome...and yeah she is really pretty too
+ knows how to say the players names correctly

If there was one woman, who should call games in mens games, it should be Hirsch. She def has earned a promotion.

One more thing; she is mom of 3, which is a huge job as it is, has had years a job in mens sport, super woman really.

 

[Flair Hay]

You said I wasn't open minded. It really hurt when you said that. I admire you a lot. I promise I'm not a sexist.

Open minded about her improving her goal calls. Not about being a woman in general...

 

[SmokeyDuck]

Her voice is 100 percent a thing. Need to de-ess that or something. Its borderline un-listenable.

 

[Oddbob]

If you're not going to be open minded about it I wont bother. Just dont watch.

Where do we sign up for this? She can't get much worse, she sounds like she is reading a boring book and is horrible at actually calling the game. It is ok to not like someone even if they are female you know? If they want women to call the game, how about pick a good one and not someone who isn't.

 

[Oddbob]

Yes...everyone in here, on Twitter etc. just has shitty speakers.

You know, nowadays you need to spend $42000 to get good speakers so must of us just have really bad ones, so maybe they are right. Too bad TVs and speakers weren't attainable for most!

 

[Dr Black]

No way she’s worse than Cassie Campbell. And I say this not as a sexist but someone who likes good play by play and color commentary, that’s it!

The term "sexist" is mostly used as a slur to silence people who question a certain agenda. Cassie Campbell and Lea Hextall are both examples of some "woke" individuals trying to force a square peg in a round hole. I wish they would stop with this nonsense and just hire based on merit!!

 

[Dr Beinfest]

The term "sexist" is mostly used as a slur to silence people who question a certain agenda. Cassie Campbell and Lea Hextall are both examples of some "woke" individuals trying to force a square peg in a round hole. I wish they would stop with this nonsense and just hire based on merit!!

You quite quickly contradict yourself with this post. It’s totally okay to say they’re really bad at broadcasting… but you just might be sexist if you feel the need to identify them as ‘“woke” individuals trying to force a square peg in a round hole.’

 

[Howboutthempanthers]

I got used to listening to hockey games on mute because Denis Potvin was our color analyst. So it's no big deal to me. ha

 

[ninetyeight]

I'm never for hiring people just because they are different gender, race or what ever minority in that field. That actually goes against the whole equality, when you don't view everyone the same and focus on the talent itself.

That said I really don't mind her that much. Her goal calls definitely need to change, she can't just high pitch freak out like that. But other than that she offers something different and I found her voice soothing.

Being an european I've always wondered why people in the American entertainment industry can't act normal, but instead put up a performance and have a "work voice". Whether that's your radio-, stripbar dj guy or the pbp guy for sports. Everything is generic and everyone thinks they have to do the voice since everyone else is doing it. You can sometimes hear it when games cut to commercials and guys return to their natural voices.

I feel Leah offers something different to this. She seemed pretty knowledgable in the one game I watched, knew all the Devils players and their numbers, pronounced correctly and even could tell some back story about them. When you listen to some homer announcers, some of them sound like they have no idea who the other team is icing.