Harry Neale
Encyclopedia
Harold Watson Neale is a hockey colour commentator, who currently works for the Buffalo Sabres
on the Sabres Hockey Network
. He is a former NHL
and WHA
coach and General Manager.
for the Detroit Red Wings
and Vancouver Canucks
, where he was also the General Manager from 1982–83 to 1984–85. In the WHA he coached the New England Whalers and Minnesota Fighting Saints
, and in the OHA
he coached the Toronto Marlboros
. He was also an assistant coach
for the U.S. team at the 1976 Canada Cup
. In the 1977-78 WHA season
he coached the Whalers to the Avco Cup Finals as well only to lose to the Winnipeg Jets.
Following that season, he was hired by the Canucks in 1978 and coached the team for four seasons. Late in the 1981-82 season, he was involved in an altercation with fans during a game in Quebec City
against the Nordiques
and was suspended for ten games. His assistant, Roger Neilson
, took the job temporarily, but when the team lost only once in those ten games Neilson was left behind the bench, which resulted in the team's Cinderella
run to the Stanley Cup Finals
. At season's end, Neale was promoted to General Manager (an arrangement made prior to the suspension) and Neilson remained as the team's permanent head coach.
Neale returned to the Canucks bench in January 1984 after firing Neilson and again in November 1984 after firing Bill LaForge
twenty games into the season. In April 1985, Neale was relieved of his duties with the Canucks and he was hired to coach the Detroit Red Wings. However, after a poor start, Neale was fired after thirty-five games.
During his coaching career, he was known for his dry wit, which came out in comments to the media. One of his most famous quotes came when he was coaching the Canucks during the 1981–82 season, when he quipped, "Last season we couldn't win at home. This season we can't win on the road. My failure as a coach is I can't think of any place else to play."
as an analyst in the playoffs, in the event his team did not qualify. He then began working as a broadcaster full-time in 1986. That year, he was first teamed with play-by-play man Bob Cole
on CBC. Together, the pair broadcast twenty Stanley Cup Finals. During this time he also provided colour commentary for locally televised Toronto Maple Leafs
games. During his tenure, he was paired with play-by-play broadcasters Jim Hughson
, Ken Daniels
, Jiggs McDonald
, and Joe Bowen
. He left the Toronto telecasts after the 2006–07 season to join the Buffalo Sabres
broadcast team.
As a colour commentator, Neale has covered the 1998
, 2002
, and 2006 Winter Olympics
and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996
and 2004
. He is known for the same sense of humour he was famous for as a coach, often referring to the puck
as "..bouncing like an Indian Rubber (lacrosse
) ball", as well as for his estimations of exact distances on the ice. For example, ". . . a shot from thirty-eight feet out . . .". In sportscasting, he often refers to a weak goal as one with an "odor" to it. Other humourous calls include Neale describing Sean Avery
as "liked about as much as a rattle snake at a picnic" and humorously commenting on a player's outspokenness, saying "He's got more tongue than a lumberjacks boot."
He is currently the colour commentator for the Buffalo Sabres
and is paired with Rick Jeanneret
.
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
on the Sabres Hockey Network
Sabres Hockey Network
The Sabres Hockey Network is the official radio and television broadcast network of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League. The network is currently operated jointly by the Sabres and by Entercom Communications....
. He is a former NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and WHA
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
coach and General Manager.
Coaching career
Prior to his broadcasting career, Neale was an NHL head coachHead coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
for the Detroit Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League , and are one of the Original Six teams of the NHL, along with the Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, New York...
and Vancouver Canucks
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver, :British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The Canucks play their home games at Rogers Arena, formerly known as General Motors Place,...
, where he was also the General Manager from 1982–83 to 1984–85. In the WHA he coached the New England Whalers and Minnesota Fighting Saints
Minnesota Fighting Saints
The Minnesota Fighting Saints was the name of two professional ice hockey teams based in Saint Paul, Minnesota that played in the World Hockey Association. The first team was one of the WHA's original twelve franchises, playing from 1972–76. The second team was relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, and...
, and in the OHA
Ontario Hockey Association
The Ontario Hockey Association is the governing body for the majority of Junior and Senior level ice hockey teams in the Province of Ontario. The OHA is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Federation along with the Northern Ontario Hockey Association. Other Ontario sanctioning bodies along with the...
he coached the Toronto Marlboros
Toronto Marlboros
The Toronto Marlborough Athletic Club, commonly known as the Toronto Marlboros, was founded in 1903. It operated a junior ice hockey team in the Ontario Hockey Association and Ontario Hockey League from 1904 to 1989...
. He was also an assistant coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for the U.S. team at the 1976 Canada Cup
1976 Canada Cup
The 1976 Canada Cup was an international ice hockey tournament held September 2–15, 1976, in Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg and Quebec, Canada as well as in Philadelphia, United States. It was the first of five Canada Cup tournaments held between 1976 and 1991...
. In the 1977-78 WHA season
1977-78 WHA season
The 1977–78 WHA season was the sixth season of the World Hockey Association . Eight teams played 80 games each. The Avco World Trophy winner was the Winnipeg Jets.-League business:...
he coached the Whalers to the Avco Cup Finals as well only to lose to the Winnipeg Jets.
Following that season, he was hired by the Canucks in 1978 and coached the team for four seasons. Late in the 1981-82 season, he was involved in an altercation with fans during a game in Quebec City
Colisée Pepsi
Colisée Pepsi , formerly the Colisée de Québec , is a multi-purpose arena in Quebec City, Quebec.It was the home of the WHA and NHL Quebec Nordiques from 1972–1995, and is currently the home of the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League...
against the Nordiques
Quebec Nordiques
The Quebec Nordiques were a professional ice hockey team based in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. The Nordiques played in the World Hockey Association and the National Hockey League...
and was suspended for ten games. His assistant, Roger Neilson
Roger Neilson
Roger Paul Neilson, CM was a National Hockey League coach, and was responsible for many innovations in the game...
, took the job temporarily, but when the team lost only once in those ten games Neilson was left behind the bench, which resulted in the team's Cinderella
Cinderella (sports)
In American and Canadian sports, a Cinderella or "Cinderella Story" refers to a team or player who advances much further in a tournament or career than originally anticipated. Cinderellas tend to gain much media and fan attention as they move closer to the championship game at the end of the...
run to the Stanley Cup Finals
1982 Stanley Cup Finals
-References:...
. At season's end, Neale was promoted to General Manager (an arrangement made prior to the suspension) and Neilson remained as the team's permanent head coach.
Neale returned to the Canucks bench in January 1984 after firing Neilson and again in November 1984 after firing Bill LaForge
Bill LaForge
Bill LaForge was a Canadian ice hockey head coach. He was born in Edmonton, Alberta. He coached the Kamloops Blazers of the Western Hockey League into the Memorial Cup tournament of 1984...
twenty games into the season. In April 1985, Neale was relieved of his duties with the Canucks and he was hired to coach the Detroit Red Wings. However, after a poor start, Neale was fired after thirty-five games.
During his coaching career, he was known for his dry wit, which came out in comments to the media. One of his most famous quotes came when he was coaching the Canucks during the 1981–82 season, when he quipped, "Last season we couldn't win at home. This season we can't win on the road. My failure as a coach is I can't think of any place else to play."
Broadcast career
During his coaching and managerial career, he sometimes worked for Hockey Night in CanadaHockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
as an analyst in the playoffs, in the event his team did not qualify. He then began working as a broadcaster full-time in 1986. That year, he was first teamed with play-by-play man Bob Cole
Bob Cole (announcer)
Robert Cecil "Bob" Cole is a Canadian television announcer and former competitive curler.Cole was the primary play-by-play announcer for Hockey Night in Canada 'HNIC' on CBC, usually for Toronto Maple Leafs games, from 1980 to 2008. Aside from the Leafs broadcasts, he was also a staple for the...
on CBC. Together, the pair broadcast twenty Stanley Cup Finals. During this time he also provided colour commentary for locally televised Toronto Maple Leafs
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
games. During his tenure, he was paired with play-by-play broadcasters Jim Hughson
Jim Hughson
Jim Hughson is a Canadian sportscaster, best known for his play-by-play of professional ice hockey and baseball.-Biography:...
, Ken Daniels
Ken Daniels
Ken Daniels is a Canadian sportscaster. Currently the play-by-play announcer for the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL on Fox Sports Detroit, having completed his 13th season as the voice of the Red Wings, he is best known as a sportscaster with CBC Sports, having worked for the network from 1985 until...
, Jiggs McDonald
Jiggs McDonald
John Kenneth "Jiggs" McDonald is a sportscaster who did play-by-play announcing for NHL games for almost 40 years. In 1990, McDonald received the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award from the Hockey Hall of Fame....
, and Joe Bowen
Joe Bowen
Joe Bowen , is a Canadian sportscaster. He is known as "The Voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs", having broadcast over 2,100 Leaf Games. He started calling games for the Leafs in 1982, after calling games for the Nova Scotia Voyageurs.Bowen's catchphrase is "Holy Mackinaw!", typically used when an...
. He left the Toronto telecasts after the 2006–07 season to join the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
broadcast team.
As a colour commentator, Neale has covered the 1998
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 1998 Winter Olympics was played at The Big Hat and Aqua Wing Arena in Nagano, Japan.-Men's tournament:The 1998 Olympic men's ice hockey tournament was the first in which professional players from the National Hockey League were allowed to participate, allowing national teams to...
, 2002
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2002 Winter Olympics were held at the E Center in West Valley City and Peaks Ice Arena in Provo, Utah. Both the men's and women's tournaments were won by Canada, defeating the host USA in both games.-Men:...
, and 2006 Winter Olympics
Ice hockey at the 2006 Winter Olympics
-Leading scorers:-Leading goaltenders:Goalkeepers with 40% or more of their team's total minutes.-Awards:Antero Niittymäki was named the most valuable player and received the Directorate Award for best goaltender of the tournament. Directorate Awards also went to Teemu Selänne for best forward, and...
and the World Cup of Hockey in 1996
1996 World Cup of Hockey
The first World Cup of Hockey , or 1996 World Cup of Hockey, replaced the Canada Cup as one of the premier championships for professional ice hockey ....
and 2004
2004 World Cup of Hockey
The 2004 World Cup of Hockey was an international ice hockey tournament. It was the second installment of the National Hockey League -sanctioned competition eight years after the inaugural 1996 World Cup of Hockey. It was held from August 30 to September 14, 2004, and took place in various venues...
. He is known for the same sense of humour he was famous for as a coach, often referring to the puck
Puck (sports)
A puck is a disk used in various games serving the same functions as a ball does in ball games. The best-known use of pucks is in ice hockey, a major international sport.- Etymology :The origin of the word "puck" is obscure...
as "..bouncing like an Indian Rubber (lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
) ball", as well as for his estimations of exact distances on the ice. For example, ". . . a shot from thirty-eight feet out . . .". In sportscasting, he often refers to a weak goal as one with an "odor" to it. Other humourous calls include Neale describing Sean Avery
Sean Avery
Sean Christopher Avery is a Canadian professional ice hockey player for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League . He formerly played for the Detroit Red Wings, Los Angeles Kings, Dallas Stars and New York Rangers. Prior to the NHL, Avery played for the Owen Sound Platers and the...
as "liked about as much as a rattle snake at a picnic" and humorously commenting on a player's outspokenness, saying "He's got more tongue than a lumberjacks boot."
He is currently the colour commentator for the Buffalo Sabres
Buffalo Sabres
The Buffalo Sabres are a professional ice hockey team based in Buffalo, New York. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League .-Founding and early success: 1970-71—1980-81:...
and is paired with Rick Jeanneret
Rick Jeanneret
Richard "Rick" Jeanneret is the television and radio play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League's Buffalo Sabres and its broadcast network, the Sabres Hockey Network. Having started with the team on radio during the 1971–72 season, he is the longest-tenured announcer in the NHL...
.