Matt McConnell

Matt McConnell is an American sports broadcaster and is currently the play-by-play announcer for Utah Mammoth.

Early life

McConnell was born in Gary, Indiana. While he spent most of his childhood in Indiana, his father's job with U.S. Steel resulted in the family relocating to Minnesota and Pittsburgh. McConnell graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1981 and earned his Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications at Michigan State University. While living in Pittsburgh, McConnell became a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and especially idolised Mike Lange.

Announcing career

NHL

McConnell got his start in the NHL as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a position which he held from 1993 to 1996.

At the end of 1996, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as their radio play-by-play announcer.

In 1999, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers as the team's first-ever TV play-by-play announcer, a position which he held from 1999 to 2003, and returned to from 2009 to 2011.

From 2004 to 2006 he served as the Minnesota Wild TV play-by-play announcer. McConnell has also covered the NHL playoffs for NHL Radio and Westwood One.

In 2011 he was named the play-by-play announcer for the Arizona Coyotes. In 2013, he was named "Arizona Sports Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Sports Media Association. In 2020 and 2021, he was named a finalist for the same award. At the conclusion of the 2024 NHL season the Arizona Coyotes suspended operations.

In September 2024 McConnell was named the play-by-play announcer for the Utah Mammoth, the newest team in the NHL, consisting of the assets of the former Arizona Coyotes.

College sports

McConnell also has served as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS College Sports Network college hockey broadcasts. He also covered college basketball, college football and college lacrosse.

World Juniors

McConnell served as the play-by-play announcer for NHL Network coverage of the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "CBS Bios". Archived from the original on September 18, 2012.
  2. 1 2 Finder, Chuck (August 15, 1996). "McConnell on broadcast team". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Finder, Chuck (August 15, 1996). "Penguins add voice". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 25, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Penguins Hire McConnell As Announcer". Latrobe Bulletin. August 16, 1996. Retrieved April 22, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ Finder, Chuck (June 21, 1999). "Penguins voice changing his tune". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 22, 2026 – via newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ Bao, Robert (June 2, 2014). "Matt McConnell: Sportscaster of the Year". Michigan State University. Archived from the original on October 16, 2025. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  7. ↑ Miller, Ryan. "Here's who will be calling Utah Hockey Club games". www.ksl.com. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  8. ↑ "USA Hockey". Archived from the original on January 11, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011.