A New Voice Is Headed To The Blackhawks’ TV Booth This Year

After a tumultuous season in the Blackhawks’ broadcast booth, the Blackhawks appear to be on track to hiring Darren Pang as their newest color commentator on TV.

As one of the league’s most experienced and popular analysts, Pang is enthusiastic and his personality is infectious. He’s extremely insightful on air, along with his candid and funny choice of words. His trademark line, “Holy jumpin’!” makes him one of the most entertaining color commentators to listen to in the booth.

History

Panger served as the Blackhawks’ goaltender for a game in the 1984-85 season, then played on the team for two years in 1987-88 and 1988-89. He was named to the NHL All-Rookie team in 1988. Pang was the second-shortest goalie to ever play in the NHL at 5’5”, behind only Roy “Shrimp” Worters, with many jokingly considering him to have a “sixth hole” above his head. During training camp in 1990, Pang suffered a career-ending knee injury.

Pang began his broadcasting career with the St. Louis Blues, where he was a TV analyst for 14 years. He recently stated that he was close to signing an extension with TNT, who he also works for. He’s currently covering the Stanley Cup Final for the broadcast. He also mentioned during the hiring process that his new job needs to accommodate his work with TNT.

Pang comes to the Blackhawks to join Chris Vosters, who just completed his first full season as Chicago’s play-by-play announcer. Vosters took over for Hall of Famer Pat Voley. Pang’s contract with Bally Sports Midwest recently expired, leaving him with the opportunity to broadcast for NBC Sports as well as TNT.

He takes over for the hybrid television crew that was in place last year, a combination of Patrick Sharp and Troy Murray. While Pang continues at TNT and will have to occasionally fulfill his duties there, either Sharp or Murray could fill in between the benches when needed.

Colby Cohen

A talented broadcaster coming into the United Center means that another voice is on its way out, however. Colby Cohen, the Blackhawks’ studio analyst, announced on Twitter Wednesday morning that he was headed back to Philadelphia, where he was born and raised, in order to be closer to his home and family. The move concludes a two-year tenure for Cohen in Chicago.

With multiple changes set to occur in the Blackhawks’ TV broadcast booth, Blackhawks fans can look forward to a fresh and engaging broadcast experience in the upcoming season. The excitement will be felt through television sets, as each game is sure to be (holy) jumpin’.