In Toronto, Steve Simmons notes he "would have brought Mike Milbury back to NBC hockey" this season, though he admits he may "be in the minority on this." Milbury "brought an edge to their between-periods panels that they don’t have anymore" (TORONTO SUN, 1/18). In N.Y., Bob Raissman wrote Milbury's departure "drills a hole in the soul" of NBC’s NHL coverage. He was "all about delivering unvarnished opinions," and was the "most entertaining of all of NBC’s NHL voices." Milbury "could make you angry." But he also "could make you laugh," and "think too." In his "own way, Milbury transcended the game" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 1/17).
NEW MOON: In Edmonton, Cam Tait notes analyst Cam Moon "joined the Oilers Entertainment Group and will be calling Sportsnet regional games" on CHED-AM. Moon, a WHL Red Deer Rebels broadcaster since '98, said, "I wasn't looking for the change but it just happened. I'm in with both feet." Moon's first game was last Thursday "in a fan-less Rogers Place." Moon: "You don't realize but the fans put so much energy in the building. The fans can lift the broadcaster to the tone of the game and that really helps. And you try [to] convey that energy" (EDMONTON SUN, 1/18).
FROM ICE TO MIC: The SUN's Simmons wonders what it is "about hockey -- the sport, the culture, the product -- that doesn't attract playing stars to the broadcast booth?" In contrast to the NBA, where Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley are in the studio, the "new star of hockey broadcasting in Canada" is Sportsnet's Kevin Bieksa. He is "refreshingly honest, original and quirky, and once he finished 18th in Norris Trophy voting." The more "established star broadcasters among former players" are Ray Ferraro, Eddie Olczyk, Craig Simpson and Keith Jones. They were all "decent NHL players," but none were "all-time anythings" (TORONTO SUN, 1/18).
