Dave Strader
Encyclopedia
Dave Strader is an American
sportscaster
and currently is the #2 play-by-play announcer (behind Mike Emrick
) for NHL on NBC and NHL on Versus
. He also broadcasts the Stanley Cup Finals in English on the NHL's International feed.
While hockey has been his primary focus, he has also called college basketball
, WNBA
, and the NBDL
games.
in Communication Studies
at the University of Massachusetts
.
of the AHL
from 1979–1985. A two time New York State Broadcasters Association honoree, Strader was named the AHL's top public relations professional in 1984.
In 1985, the NHL
's Detroit Red Wings
called Strader up from the farm club and he took over the play-by-play duties, calling TV Games on both WKBD
and PASS Sports. Strader called games for the Florida Panthers
for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons when not calling games for NBC or Versus. Strader was hired by the Phoenix Coyotes
on July 2, 2007. He was reunited with his former ESPN
and ABC partner, Darren Pang, for Coyotes broadcasts for two seasons; however with no television contract in place for Coyotes games, Pang left in 2009 to join the St. Louis Blues. Strader was joined in the broadcast booth by former NHL player Tyson Nash
. He broadcast FSN Coyotes games for four seasons.
In July 2011, Strader left his position with the Coyotes to accept a full time job with NBC/Versus.
broadcaster Tom Mees
in 1996, Strader was hired by the cable network to take the vacant play-by-play spot on National Hockey Night
broadcasts. Strader was usually paired with Darren Pang on the network's secondary hockey broadcast team. When ABC got the NHL broadcast network contract in 2000, Strader worked for them as well.
In his career he also has called NHL games for FOX in the mid 1990s. He also provided hockey play-by-play for NBC's coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics
in Turin, Italy.
He moved to NBC and Versus
when they got the contracts in 2005. Strader served as a last-minute play-by-play replacement for Mike Emrick
on NBC's coverage of the NHL Winter Classic
between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks on January 1, 2009. Emrick was unable to broadcast the game due to laryngitis
.
Strader also called the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic on Versus, where the Montreal Canadiens
played the Calgary Flames
in McMahon Stadium
in Calgary
, Alberta
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sportscaster
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
and currently is the #2 play-by-play announcer (behind Mike Emrick
Mike Emrick
Michael "Doc" Emrick, is an American sports commentator noted mostly for his work in ice hockey. Emrick is currently the lead announcer for NHL national telecasts on both NBC and Versus...
) for NHL on NBC and 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...
. He also broadcasts the Stanley Cup Finals in English on the NHL's International feed.
While hockey has been his primary focus, he has also called college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
, WNBA
Women's National Basketball Association
The Women's National Basketball Association is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. It currently is composed of twelve teams. The league was founded on April 24, 1996 as the women's counterpart to the National Basketball Association...
, and the NBDL
NBA Development League
The NBA Development League, or NBA D-League, is the National Basketball Association's official minor league basketball organization. Known until summer 2005 as the National Basketball Development League , the NBA D-League started with eight teams in the fall of 2001...
games.
Biography
A Glens Falls, New York State native, Strader honed his broadcasting skills in the college radio station while studying for his Bachelor of ArtsBachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in Communication Studies
Communication studies
Communication Studies is an academic field that deals with processes of communication, commonly defined as the sharing of symbols over distances in space and time. Hence, communication studies encompasses a wide range of topics and contexts ranging from face-to-face conversation to speeches to mass...
at the University of Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts
This article relates to the statewide university system. For the flagship campus often referred to as "UMass", see University of Massachusetts Amherst...
.
Local work
Strader's professional broadcasting career began as the radio announcer and public relations director for the Adirondack Red WingsAdirondack Red Wings
The Adirondack Red Wings were a minor professional ice hockey team in the American Hockey League. They played in Glens Falls, New York, USA at the Glens Falls Civic Center. The team was affiliated with the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League...
of the AHL
American 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...
from 1979–1985. A two time New York State Broadcasters Association honoree, Strader was named the AHL's top public relations professional in 1984.
In 1985, the 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...
's 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...
called Strader up from the farm club and he took over the play-by-play duties, calling TV Games on both WKBD
WKBD
WKBD-TV, virtual channel 50 , is an owned and operated station of the CW Television Network, based in Detroit, Michigan. The station is owned and operated by the CBS Corporation, and is one-half of a duopoly with sister station WWJ-TV . Its studios and transmitters are located at 11 mile and...
and PASS Sports. Strader called games for the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
for the 2005–06 and 2006–07 seasons when not calling games for NBC or Versus. Strader was hired by the Phoenix Coyotes
Phoenix Coyotes
The Phoenix Coyotes are a professional ice hockey team based in Glendale, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their home games at Jobing.com Arena....
on July 2, 2007. He was reunited with his former ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and ABC partner, Darren Pang, for Coyotes broadcasts for two seasons; however with no television contract in place for Coyotes games, Pang left in 2009 to join the St. Louis Blues. Strader was joined in the broadcast booth by former NHL player Tyson Nash
Tyson Nash
Tyson Scott Nash is a former ice hockey left winger. He announced his retirement on September 11, 2008. He last played for the Nippon Paper Cranes in Japan during the 2007–08 season....
. He broadcast FSN Coyotes games for four seasons.
In July 2011, Strader left his position with the Coyotes to accept a full time job with NBC/Versus.
National work
Following the death of longtime ESPNESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
broadcaster Tom Mees
Tom Mees
Thomas E. Mees at Southington, Connecticut, was an American sports broadcaster specializing in ice hockey.-Early life and career:...
in 1996, Strader was hired by the cable network to take the vacant play-by-play spot on 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...
broadcasts. Strader was usually paired with Darren Pang on the network's secondary hockey broadcast team. When ABC got the NHL broadcast network contract in 2000, Strader worked for them as well.
In his career he also has called NHL games for FOX in the mid 1990s. He also provided hockey play-by-play for NBC's coverage of the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
in Turin, Italy.
He moved to NBC and 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...
when they got the contracts in 2005. Strader served as a last-minute play-by-play replacement for Mike Emrick
Mike Emrick
Michael "Doc" Emrick, is an American sports commentator noted mostly for his work in ice hockey. Emrick is currently the lead announcer for NHL national telecasts on both NBC and Versus...
on NBC's coverage of the NHL Winter Classic
2009 NHL Winter Classic
The 2009 NHL Winter Classic, also known as the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic 2009, was a specially staged National Hockey League regular-season game played outdoors on January 1, 2009 at 12:36 p.m. CST at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois...
between the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks on January 1, 2009. Emrick was unable to broadcast the game due to laryngitis
Laryngitis
Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx. It causes hoarse voice or the complete loss of the voice because of irritation to the vocal folds . Dysphonia is the medical term for a vocal disorder, of which laryngitis is one cause....
.
Strader also called the 2011 NHL Heritage Classic on Versus, where the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
played the Calgary Flames
Calgary Flames
The Calgary Flames are a professional ice hockey team based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is the third major-professional ice hockey team to represent the city of Calgary, following the...
in McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium
McMahon Stadium is a Canadian football stadium located in Calgary, Alberta. The stadium is owned by the University of Calgary and operated by the McMahon Stadium Society....
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
.