Let me start by saying that broadcasters are rewarded when
their teams win.
(Johnny Most- Courtesy Boston Globe)
Johnny Most, probably the greatest broadcaster in Boston
sports history called games for the team from 1953-1990, all the while watching
sixteen banners be hung from the rafters of the old Boston Garden.
(Fred Cusack- Courtesy Boston Herald)
Fred Cusack
the long time Bruins play-by-play man who called games for the black and gold
from 1971-1997 watched the bruins win seventeen division championships and go
to nine conference finals.
In Boston’s recent success the broadcaster who has benefited
the most is probably Gil Santos. The former Patriot and current radio
play-by-play announcer has called five super bowls in the past eleven years.
However, following the Bruins recent dramatic run through the playoffs last
season Jack Edwards has gained a number of fans for his high volume
play-by-play work. I decided to focus in on a recent bruins game between Boston
and the re-born Winnipeg Jets. Here’s my break down of Jack Edwards
performance.
(Jack Edwards- Courtesy Twitter)
Pre Game- Edwards calls Winnipeg’s MTS center the craziest
little building in the National Hockey league.
“High above the ice – I’m Jack Edwards” – This is an homage
to Johnny Most who started every game with “High above court-side – I’m Johnny
Most”
Puck Drops
19:50 first period – “Bruins win the draw and the jets are
on there second game in two nights and on the season there -0-9 in back to
backs” – Edwards does a great job of mixing stats into his play by play work.
18:20 first period- “Chara is getting booed here in Winnipeg
as he does in 29 buildings in the national hockey league.” – The biggest knock
on Edwards is that he paints the Bruins as underdogs in every game they play
even though at 35-18-2 they should be favorites even on the road at 27-26-6
Winnipeg.
15:29 first period- “Here is Josh Hennessy, born in Brockton,
grew up south of Boston, went to Milton academy for a couple of years, went the
junior route… and here he is playing for the team he adored as a boy he has got
to be on a cloud right now, and there are people all over the south shore
jumping up and down and screaming at their TV’s” – Edwards has always done a
fantastic job of following local New England players and giving insight on the
route they’ve taken to the NHL, this is just another example.
5:35 first period- “Corvo
up the wing to Pouliot, Wing to wing for Lucic, he works against Jones lucic
goes right past Jones! Closes! works in front and slides it past the front near
post. Milan Lucic undressing Randy Jones along the near side boards.” – Edwards
has the ability to take a regular play and dress it up as something magical,
this is the reason Boston fans love him and die-hard hockey fans can’t stand
him.
4:37 first period- “Off glass’s stick and it goes up and
over, Tanner Glass had a heck of a bout last night with Darroll Powe. Now of
course Powe went to Princeton and Glass went to Dartmouth and you know I don’t
know for sure but I got a feeling that Powe said Princeton has a lot more Nobel
prize winners then Dartmouth and that just crosses the threshold brick you just
can’t tolerate that kind of talk.”
Andy Brickley- “that is trash talking!”
Edwards- “Exactly, they said that’s enough of that and they
threw down and there was no defense in that fight that was one of the best
tilts we’ve seen in a few weeks.” – It’s moments like this where Edwards fills
the casual fan in on something they might not have seen that really elevate
Edward’s play-by-play ability.
Second Period
17:45 second period- Here’s Burmistrov working on that off wing
against Chara… here’s the shot.. He Scores! Alexander Burmistrov! The jets are
ahead.
Andy Brickley- Well we talked about the Jets and how they
like to score off the rush, Burmistrov is going to take this puck back hand to forehand which lets him get a little more
centrally located. Rask is down in the butterfly and Burmistrov just rips that
forehand wrist shot old fashion style right up under the cross bar to give the
jets the lead. – Every good broadcaster needs a color commentator and former
Bruins left winger Andy Brickley is one of the best in the business, he plays
his role to perfection constantly breaking down scoring plays so the most
novice fan can understand them.
16:10 second period- Go Jets Go the chat from the smallest
and loudest building in the NHL right here. – Edwards is consistently reminding
fans of senses they can’t feel, we can all see the game but the sounds of the
crowd are usually washed out by the announcers voice.
13:50- second period -“Caron Scores! Tukka Rask at one end with a big save
and Jordan Caron at the other! With just his third goal of the year, The bruins
have tied it 1-1!”
10:53- second period- "Caron… Wellwood picks his pocket he drops it for Kane
who’s red hot.. the shot! Glove save by Rask! Tukka Rask let in a shaky one but
since then he’s been sensational." – Edwards loves making calls on big saves
thankfully the Bruins have two of the better goalies in the NHL.
Third Period
13:40 third period- “Wheeler turns, maneuvers right, in
front of Little… who Scores! Brian Little roofs it and it’s a two goal lead for
the jets! Two goals in two minutes and four seconds and it’s too much for the
Boston Bruins to handle right now!” – Critics say Edwards has liberal uses alliteration,
this would be one of those cases.
10:22 third period- “Stuart
and Hennessy getting into a scrap and Stuart gets a straight left into Hennessy’s
face and there has got to be a call here. He certainly gets away with something
extra right there.” –Here’s a prime example of Edwards Homer-ness, if you
weren’t watching the game almost every post whistle altercation would seem like
a mugging.
1:01- Go Jets Go! The crowd chats as it grows louder minute
by minute. Deafening here in the MTS center.
Kelly chases it down, wheeler intercepts. Chara fools the hip out of
him. They had a hockey team in Atlanta that couldn’t draw flies, here you can’t get a seat. The jets are going
to go two and 0 against the Boston Bruins in this building this year. Listen to
the fans in Winnipeg. In the history of the Atlanta Thrasher's they never drew an ovation like this. – Edwards focuses on the volume of the arena and the energy
of the fans, two things we can’t see during the game.
After reviewing this game I’ve found that I not only like
Jack Edwards more than I did before but also I have a new appreciation for what he
brings to the table as a sportscaster. He’s energetic and yes a bit of a homer
but he does his homework he fills the dead time with amusing stories and antic
dotes. He might be just another crazy Boston play-by-play announcer to the rest
of the country but to us he’s OUR crazy play-by-play announcer.
- Liam Ariel
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