Ball and Hrudey are calling regional games again this year

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

I haven't tried this yet. But I have a theory that I need to test out when games are on.

I have a 7.1 setup on my TV. If memory serves me correct, I thought the PBP only came from the center channel. So if I disconnect the wire from the back on Hockey games, it should only have rink sounds coming through the rest of the speakers.

Praying this works.

Keep us posted

[kermitology]

Rick Ball is the absolute best. I love his voice, his fair exclamation regardless of who scores, and his ability to sense when the moment can take over for his commentary is perfect.

Kelly and Rick have a great candour, but he really rambles sometimes and I find his stories and analysis a bit grating at times. Cassie is super knowledgeable, but I think she’d be better as an intermission person than colour commentary. That’s all.

Ryan is terrific. He’s so well respected, knows how to run an interview, and has a great voice.

So I’m pretty happy to hear this.

[dino7c]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

This seems fairly silly to me. The only time Hrudey's bias comes through is in Oilers games. There are only three games with Edmonton this year; two of which will be on HNIC. This means that Hrudey will doing colour for a total of ONE Oilers/Flames game this year. ONE. Given how great the chemistry is between Ball and Hrudey, one game seems like an incredibly small drawback to what is otherwise a stellar duo.

Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

He will sneak the Oilers in...and then on the panel say things like the "Oilers beating the Flames made my night"

I already praised Ball, one of the best Duos for sure but it's like the Gretzky's and the highest scoring brother duo in NHL history.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by theslymonkey

I haven't tried this yet. But I have a theory that I need to test out when games are on.

I have a 7.1 setup on my TV. If memory serves me correct, I thought the PBP only came from the center channel. So if I disconnect the wire from the back on Hockey games, it should only have rink sounds coming through the rest of the speakers.

Praying this works.

Originally Posted by combustiblefuel

Games are broadcast in 2.1 so you'll still here him .

Yeah, you would need to unplug the front 3 speakers, I would think

Are you sure it's done in 2.1? Because I definitely get arena sounds in the back speakers, and that is all that is coming through the back speakers.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by dino7c

He will sneak the Oilers in...and then on the panel say things like the "Oilers beating the Flames made my night."

Oh, come on. There is no way Hrudey would ever say something like this on a national broadcast.


Sent from my SM-G986W using Tapatalk

[rooster]

Originally Posted by bzoo02

Who would you prefer to do colour?

Doug Barkley(the best we have ever had), Jim Peplinski, Lanny, Joel Otto, Colin Paterson, the drunk living in the alley. Anyone that doesn't feel the need to tell us "it is Wayne Gretzky birthday today". The only guy worse then Hrudey was Simmer. I want to puke every time Hrudey hasn't got the balls to tell the truth about what he has just saw happen on the ice and tries to smooth it over or "prove" he is not a Flames fan. There will never be another combo like Peter and Doug.

[calf]

Originally Posted by kermitology

Rick Ball is the absolute best. I love his voice, his fair exclamation regardless of who scores, and his ability to sense when the moment can take over for his commentary is perfect.

Kelly and Rick have a great candour, but he really rambles sometimes and I find his stories and analysis a bit grating at times. Cassie is super knowledgeable, but I think she’d be better as an intermission person than colour commentary. That’s all.

Ryan is terrific. He’s so well respected, knows how to run an interview, and has a great voice.

So I’m pretty happy to hear this.

The way he just shut the hell up and let the crowd noise come through after Gaudreau's series winner against Dallas was absolutely magical.

On another note, they should do a broadcast similar to the Eli/Payton ones the NFL has on Monday Night Football

[TheScorpion]

The only enduring memory I have of Charlie Simmer is him constantly referring to Iginla or Giordano as "the captain" instead of using their names.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

Just curious, is that all because of Hrudey? Because Ball is one of the very best PBP guys in the NHL.

It is for me.

Kelley was terrific when he first started doing color all thise years ago, but once he was promoted to national coverage he lost me....entirely.

Ball is already one of the best ever IMO.

I don't care that he pumps the opposing team up, at times unnecessarily and without merit, but instead the way he rambles on while play is still happening is just ridiculous.

For me he is borderline unlistenable any more, (though i never allow whoever is doing broadcasts to take away from the actual on ice event), and think he thrives on the studio stuff.

He has become a caricature at times.

[rooster]

Originally Posted by flamesgod

I'd prefer Greg Millen as colour guy.

Yeah he has gotten pretty good. A few years ago it seemed like he hated the Flames for some reason but doesn't seem to anymore.

[rooster]

Originally Posted by hah

Time for the obligatory,


I miss Ed Whalen with John Garret/ Harry Neale/John Davidson/Mickey Redmond/Gary Dornhoefer and Jim Van Horne as host on CFAC 2&7.


With the Saturday Night Hockey Night in Canada legends Don Whitman, Bob Cole, Howie Meeker.



And a glory days version of Peter Maher.


Sigh

Those were the days! Garrett was excellent back then. Those guys were always joking with each other and having a great time.

[Buzzard]

Originally Posted by Jiri Hrdina

Purely from a PBP point of view Ed wasn't great. But we all loved him because it was Ed. He had such a great personality and clear love of the game that shone through.

Peter for me is the GOAT. Just fantastic including understanding the emotional levels of the game.

But I will tell you: I think Rick Ball is close. He's f'n good.

The radio guy on the other hand...

Finally, someone says something I think, every time I hear how great he was. He was especially quite terrible towards the end. That constant scrambling to identify the player, and his overuse of "shot off the dasher", I remember it like yesterday lol.


Someone also mentioned Meeker. A lot like Loubardias, excellent knowledge of the game and players, but the delivery..ughh. "Remember kids, you gotta check, check, check!"


I'd say we're very fortunate to have Ball and Hrudey.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by transplant99

It is for me.

Kelley was terrific when he first started doing color all thise years ago, but once he was promoted to national coverage he lost me....entirely.

Ball is already one of the best ever IMO.

I don't care that he pumps the opposing team up, at times unnecessarily and without merit, but instead the way he rambles on while play is still happening is just ridiculous.

For me he is borderline unlistenable any more, (though i never allow whoever is doing broadcasts to take away from the actual on ice event), and think he thrives on the studio stuff.

He has become a caricature at times.

Absolutely agree with this. Really enjoyed Hrudey at first, now, not so much.

[ComixZone]

I also think Hrudey’s performance has dropped significantly. I hadn’t thought about it being linked to when he started doing national coverage, but that may just line up.

He started off strong, but now he offers little actual value to the broadcast that he’s actually working on. He doesn’t focus enough on the game being played in front of him.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Buzzard

Finally, someone says something I think, every time I hear how great he was. He was especially quite terrible towards the end. That constant scrambling to identify the player, and his overuse of "shot off the dasher", I remember it like yesterday lol.


Someone also mentioned Meeker. A lot like Loubardias, excellent knowledge of the game and players, but the delivery..ughh. "Remember kids, you gotta check, check, check!"


I'd say we're very fortunate to have Ball and Hrudey.

I don’t think I ever heard Meeker do colour. He was always in between periods. Pre-coaches corner.

[midniteowl]

Originally Posted by hah

Time for the obligatory,


I miss Ed Whalen with John Garret/ Harry Neale/John Davidson/Mickey Redmond/Gary Dornhoefer and Jim Van Horne as host on CFAC 2&7.


With the Saturday Night Hockey Night in Canada legends Don Whitman, Bob Cole, Howie Meeker.



And a glory days version of Peter Maher.


Sigh

I loved Harry Neale, I love his metaphors, I love how he never over talk. As soon as the game resume, all he talked about was the game.

[Barnet Flame]

I did’t like Hrudey during the play-off - there’s no need to explain why.

However as a tandem, Kelly and Ball offer fantastic commentary over Flames games. They have chemistry, humor and charisma in abundance and it often feels like you are watching a game with good buddies - who know their stuff.

As for Ryan Leslie. I genuinely believe that he is hands down, the best in the business at what he does. His is a tough job, but he makes it seem effortless. He just seems to get so much more from his interactions with players than anyone else. That is not just an incredible skill, it is a mark of the person he seems to be.

I think it is worth comparing what Ryan gets from his interviews with individual players with that others get. The difference must be stark. He seems to get real insight from the players into how they feel where other interviewers get the standard “pucks deep” crap.

I was at the Dome against Seattle, when Johnny got his 100th point and got lucky enough to pass where Leslie was working the game. I spent about ten minutes just watching him work.

Yeah, I’m a Ryan Leslie fan.

[DeluxeMoustache]

Originally Posted by Macman

I don’t want to sound to critical but I just won’t watch SN if I can help it. I watched a lot of games last year from opposing teams streams and would switch back for a period to SN but always went back to the other team’s feed.

Why the preamble?

You sound critical

And nothing in the substance of the post indicating you don’t mean to be

Own it

[Macman]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Why the preamble?

You sound critical

And nothing in the substance of the post indicating you don’t mean to be

Own it

I did own it and it’s a discussion about the Flames broadcast team and it seems there’s a few other people who don’t like Hrudey for the same reason.

It can be tough expressing an unpopular opinion online. When I’m watching a game I have the audio on but am primarily focused on watching the game but will pay attention to the audio when something is happening in the game and that’s where you really notice Hrudey’s rambling and Ball’s non call. It’s unprofessional in my opinion.

[UnitedFlames]

Someone already said it, but it’s Cassie who rambles, not Hrudey. He disappointed me during the playoffs, but the insight he brings to the broadcast as a former player is just so good. Even sitting so far from the ice, he still has great hearing and eyesight. I’m amazed at how often he *hears* something, and just by that correctly guesses the call.

And yes, we’re so lucky to have Ball. And Leslie. I remember when he was about to go live with Gaudreau after the signing, he said to the viewers, ‘keep it classy; don’t be a donkey.”