A familiar voice to longtime hockey fans in Minnesota has been chosen to be the play-by-play television announcer for the Minnesota Gophers men's hockey team, the school and Fox Sports North announced Wednesday.
Doug McLeod, the TV voice of the Minnesota North Stars for six seasons, will join analysts Kevin Gorg and Casey Hankinson for Fox's 28 Gophers telecasts in a reunion for McLeod with the university.
McLeod was the first regular play-by-play announcer for the Gophers, spending 16 seasons on TV and radio. In his first full season calling Gophers games (1978-79), the team won the NCAA championship under head coach Herb Brooks.
His time behind the mike with the North Stars included calling all six games in the 1991 Stanley Cup Finals.
"I'm thrilled and honored to return to the Gophers," McLeod said in a statement announcing his selection. "This is the premier college hockey program in the country, and it has always been my dream to come back to broadcast their games again. . . . I'm looking forward to again saying, 'It's hockey night in Minnesota.' "
During his career in Minnesota, McLeod also spent 14 seasons on TV calling the Minnesota State High School Hockey Tournament.
Since 2006, McLeod has worked as a freelance play-by-play announcer, author and news anchor. Prior to that, he served as the radio and television voice of the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, Colorado Avalanche and Phoenix Coyotes. He also appeared in the hockey movie "Mystery Alaska" starring Russell Crowe.
Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482
