Sports Media Report
MSG Networks, the television home of the New Jersey Devils, today announced Bill Spaulding as the Devils new play-by-play announcer. Spaulding replaces Emmy Award-winning announcer Steve Cangialosi, who stepped down earlier this year after 11 seasons in the booth.
Spaulding most recently served as a play-by-play broadcaster for college hockey on NBC Sports and college football on ESPN. While at NBC Sports, he also worked on four Olympic Games and two Paralympic Games, covering events such as track and field, speed skating, ski jumping and more.
“I’m thrilled about the opportunity to bring this season’s stories to life for Devils fans on MSG Networks,” said Spaulding. “The passion Devils fans have is unmatched, and I’m looking forward to feeling all that energy firsthand at The Rock this fall.”
“We are excited to welcome Bill Spaulding to the MSG Networks family as our new Devils play-by-play announcer,” said Jeff Filippi, MSG Networks Senior Vice President of Programming and Production and Executive Producer. “Bill follows a tradition of excellent Devils play-by-play announcers and we’re sure that Devils fans will love his passion, enthusiasm and hockey knowledge.”
The versatile broadcaster has covered hockey and a wide range of other sports at the collegiate level, which has included roles at Harvard University, Boston College and Northeastern University. Throughout his career, Spaulding has provided play-by-play for various USA Track & Field events across the United States as well.
Spaulding will team up on the broadcast with Devils legend Ken Daneyko, who will return for his ninth season as game analyst. The Devils broadcast team will also again feature host and reporter Erika Wachter, alongside studio analyst and former Devils captain Bryce Salvador.
The Devils have a long tradition of great play-by-play announcers, which most notably includes Steve Cangialosi and Hall of Famer Mike ‘Doc’ Emrick. The decorated history dates back to 1982 when Al Albert and Larry Hirsch each provided play-by-play for select games during the team’s debut season in New Jersey. Emrick would then take over as the voice of the Devils the following season, serving as play-by-play announcer from 1983-86, and then again from 1993-2011. Al Albert returned to the air for the 1986-87 season, followed by iconic broadcaster Gary Thorne, who worked in the booth from 1987-1993 in between Emrick’s two separate stints. Cangialosi officially replaced Emrick starting in 2011.
Spaulding, 30, is a graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University and grew up in Horseheads, New York. He was the winner of the prestigious Jim Nantz Award in 2012, which is presented to the nation’s most outstanding collegiate sports broadcaster by the Sportscasters Talent Agency of America (STAA).
