John Forslund
Encyclopedia
John Forslund is the television play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes
. He has been with the team since 1991 (when the team was the Hartford Whalers
) and has been calling games since 1995.
's Springfield Indians
. From 1984–91 he handled the team's television and radio broadcasts - with the well-known catchphrase "Hey hey, whadda ya say!" - including producing and hosting a weekly talk and interview show called Inside the Indians for regional cable. In 1989 he won the Ken McKenzie Award
, an award given to the AHL's top publicist and/or announcer.
He joined the Hartford Whalers
organization in 1991 as public relations director. In 1995, he replaced Rick Peckham
on the Whalers television broadcasts, then on SportsChannel New England. In 1997, he followed the team to North Carolina
when the Whalers relocated to Raleigh
. He also serves as the Hurricanes radio analyst alongside Chuck Kaiton
during non-televised games. His broadcasting partners have included Kaiton, Tripp Tracy
, Daryl Reaugh
, and Bill Gardner.
Nationally, Forslund has served as a play-by-play announcer for the ESPN National Hockey Night
, NHL on Versus
, and has called ACC
and SEC
basketball for Fox Sports Net
.
Forslund is a graduate of Springfield College
and earned his Master's degree in Athletic Management from Adelphi University
.
After every game, Forslund ends the broadcast by stating "Keep America in your thoughts and prayers"
Forslund often exclaims "Hey Hey Whaddaya Say!" after a game winning goal.
When a goalie makes a good save he'll sometimes scream "what a save!"
He has been credited with inventing "sideburns."
When a goalie makes a kick save he's been known to say "kicked out with a purpose by (goalie's name)".
When a team makes a great play for a goal, Forslund is known to say, "that's hockey, baby!"
If there is a scrum of players in front of the net, Forslund will often call it "a bevy of humanity."
When a player hits the post he is known for saying "heavy metal."
Often when they switch to the camera positioned in the corner of the ice he'll say "and now you see it up close."
Before going into the final television time out in the third period during a broadcast, Forslund states, "We're going down the stretch here in (insert city name)"
Often when a team scores before the first commercial break Forslund will exclaim "And the (insert team name) are off and running!"
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
. He has been with the team since 1991 (when the team was the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
) and has been calling games since 1995.
Biography
Forslund's career began with the American Hockey LeagueAmerican Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
's Springfield Indians
Springfield Indians
The Springfield Indians were a minor professional ice hockey franchise, originally based in West Springfield, Massachusetts and later Springfield, Massachusetts. The Indians were founding members of the American Hockey League. They were in existence for a total of 60 seasons from 1926 to 1994, with...
. From 1984–91 he handled the team's television and radio broadcasts - with the well-known catchphrase "Hey hey, whadda ya say!" - including producing and hosting a weekly talk and interview show called Inside the Indians for regional cable. In 1989 he won the Ken McKenzie Award
Ken McKenzie Award
The Ken McKenzie Award is presented annually to an individual who accomplished the most during the season in promoting his or her American Hockey League team, by marketing and public relations. The award is named for Ken McKenzie, the co-founder and longtime president and publisher of The Hockey...
, an award given to the AHL's top publicist and/or announcer.
He joined the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
organization in 1991 as public relations director. In 1995, he replaced Rick Peckham
Rick Peckham
Rick Peckham is the current play-by-play broadcaster for the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. Previously, Peckham had served as the play-by-play announcer for the Hartford Whalers from 1984 through 1995. He has also broadcast NHL games on ESPN and SportsChannel America . Through 1977–84,...
on the Whalers television broadcasts, then on SportsChannel New England. In 1997, he followed the team to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
when the Whalers relocated to Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. He also serves as the Hurricanes radio analyst alongside Chuck Kaiton
Chuck Kaiton
Charles "Chuck" Kaiton is the radio play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League. He has been with the team since 1979–80 season, their first in the NHL while they were still the Hartford Whalers.-Career:...
during non-televised games. His broadcasting partners have included Kaiton, Tripp Tracy
Tripp Tracy
Emmet E. Tracy III , better known as Tripp Tracy, is a retired American professional ice hockey goaltender and is currently the television color commentator for the Carolina Hurricanes. He spent four years playing goalie for Harvard University of which the last two he was the starter...
, Daryl Reaugh
Daryl Reaugh
Daryl "Razor" Reaugh , is a retired professional ice hockey goaltender, now a color commentator for the Dallas Stars of the NHL, the The NHL on Versus and Hockey Night in Canada.-Playing career:...
, and Bill Gardner.
Nationally, Forslund has served as a play-by-play announcer for the ESPN National Hockey Night
ESPN National Hockey Night
ESPN National Hockey Night was ESPN's weekly television broadcasts of National Hockey League regular season games and coverage of playoff games, broadcast from 1992 to 2004...
, NHL on Versus
NHL on Versus
The NHL on Versus was the former branding used for National Hockey League games broadcast on Versus. Versus became the NHL's cable partner in the United States beginning in the 2005-06 season from previous partner ESPN, providing coverage of regular season games, playoff games, and select games...
, and has called ACC
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
and SEC
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference is a Division I college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision . Member institutions are located in the states of Alabama, Georgia, North...
basketball for Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
.
Forslund is a graduate of Springfield College
Springfield College
Springfield College is a private, coeducational university located in the City of Springfield, Massachusetts. Springfield College is most famous as the site where the sport of basketball was invented...
and earned his Master's degree in Athletic Management from Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
.
Trademarks
Forslund is known for saying "(Goaltender's name) says no!" after a particularly good save.After every game, Forslund ends the broadcast by stating "Keep America in your thoughts and prayers"
Forslund often exclaims "Hey Hey Whaddaya Say!" after a game winning goal.
When a goalie makes a good save he'll sometimes scream "what a save!"
He has been credited with inventing "sideburns."
When a goalie makes a kick save he's been known to say "kicked out with a purpose by (goalie's name)".
When a team makes a great play for a goal, Forslund is known to say, "that's hockey, baby!"
If there is a scrum of players in front of the net, Forslund will often call it "a bevy of humanity."
When a player hits the post he is known for saying "heavy metal."
Often when they switch to the camera positioned in the corner of the ice he'll say "and now you see it up close."
Before going into the final television time out in the third period during a broadcast, Forslund states, "We're going down the stretch here in (insert city name)"
Often when a team scores before the first commercial break Forslund will exclaim "And the (insert team name) are off and running!"