Ken Daniels
Encyclopedia
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 1997, the year he joined the Red Wings. Daniels now lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan
.
on the ice from the age of 11 until the end of his college career. He was involved with the Greater Toronto Hockey League
and put himself through college doing up to four games a night. After graduating from York University
in Toronto
, Daniels began his radio career in Oshawa and moved to CJCL
out of Toronto in 1980 covering both the political beat and general news. He dabbled in sports and kicked off his play-by -play career with the Toronto Maple Leafs
in 1988
. He would remain with that radio station, which later became Canada's first all-sports radio station, THE FAN, for another nine seasons.
, and by 1990, became a reporter for Hockey Night in Canada
. In February 1992, Daniels was the main game host, which included appearances with Don Cherry on "Coach's Corner", while Ron MacLean
was in Albertville, France covering the Winter Olympics
. In 1994, Daniels began doing play-by-play for HNIC, usually for games in Western Canada.
While working for CBC, Daniels' diverse sports experience included hosting stints for CBC Sports Weekend and the Champ Car/Indy-Car World Series
, as well as Formula One Grand Prix
coverage and Toronto Blue Jays
baseball. Daniels' broadcast resume also includes two Olympic games. He covered both the 1988 Summer Olympics
in Seoul
, and 1996 Olympics
in Atlanta, where he could be heard during cycling, baseball, canoeing, kayaking, tennis and judo.
Daniels' Olympic experience landed him a role as the "Olympic host" in the NBC
Movie of the Week: On Thin Ice - The Tai Babilonia Story. He also appeared in a film with Tony Danza
, The Philadelphia Phenomenon, and was a play-by-play voice for the CBS
/CTV
television program Due South
.
and teamed up with color commentator Mickey Redmond.
On December 12, 2006 Daniels broadcast a game between the Red Wings
and the Ottawa Senators
from ice-level between the benches, while color commentator Redmond remained in the booth. This was the first time a U.S. local station had attempted this type of broadcast.
Daniels received a Michigan EMMY Award
for this broadcast at the 29th Annual Michigan EMMY Awards on June 16, 2007 in Detroit.
On June 4, 2008, Daniels filled-in for regular Detroit radio broadcast announcer Ken Kal
for Game 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
between the Red Wings
and the Pittsburgh Penguins
. Kal was suffering from laryngitis
and thus, was unable to call the game. The Red Wings had a 3-2 lead in the series and won the game, and the cup. With 45 seconds left in the game, Daniels took off the headset and handed the game over to Kal, stating to Kal, "I don't care if you can't talk, you have to bring it home". Kal called the final 10 seconds, and was able to make the call "...The Detroit Red Wings are the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions!"
Ken also became a regular announcer for Versus
during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
.
Daniels is a longtime active member of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, founded in 1948 by pioneer Tigers announcer Ty Tyson
. Ken won the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting from the DSBA in an on-ice ceremony Sept. 30, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, prior to a Red Wings game.
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...
. Currently the play-by-play announcer 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...
of 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...
on Fox Sports Detroit
Fox Sports Detroit
Fox Sports Detroit , is a regional sports network that covers local sports teams in the state of Michigan, mostly those in the Metro Detroit area. It is an owned and operated affiliate of Fox Sports Net...
, having completed his 13th season as the voice of the Red Wings, he is best known as a sportscaster with CBC Sports
CBC Sports
CBC Sports is the division of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation responsible for English-language sports broadcasting. The CBC's sports programming primarily airs on CBC Television, with some additional broadcasts on bold, CBC.ca, and occasionally CBC Radio One...
, having worked for the network from 1985 until 1997, the year he joined the Red Wings. Daniels now lives in Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills, Michigan
Farmington Hills is a community in southeastern Michigan. It is the largest city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. Its population was 79,740 at the 2010 census...
.
Early life and career
Daniels grew up influencing the game of hockey, not just calling it. He was a hockey officialOfficial (ice hockey)
In ice hockey, an official is a person who has some responsibility in enforcing the rules and maintaining the order of the game. There are two categories of officials, on-ice officials, who are the referees and linesmen that enforce the rules during game play, and off-ice officials, who have an...
on the ice from the age of 11 until the end of his college career. He was involved with the Greater Toronto Hockey League
Greater Toronto Hockey League
The Greater Toronto Hockey League , formerly known as the "Metro Toronto Hockey League", is a minor level ice hockey organization based out of the Toronto region of Ontario. The league was founded in 1911 as the Beaches Hockey League by Fred C. Waghorne, Sr., and it is the largest minor hockey...
and put himself through college doing up to four games a night. After graduating from York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Daniels began his radio career in Oshawa and moved to CJCL
CJCL (AM)
CJCL is a Canadian sports radio station in Toronto, Ontario. Owned and operated by Rogers Communications, the station broadcasts at 590 kHz on the AM radio dial with a 50,000 watts transmitter and directional antenna concentrating its signal over the Toronto/Hamilton region...
out of Toronto in 1980 covering both the political beat and general news. He dabbled in sports and kicked off his play-by -play career with the 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...
in 1988
1988–89 Toronto Maple Leafs season
-NHL Draft:-Regular season:The 1988-89 Leafs season was a disastrous one that saw John Brophy relieved from his coaching duties mid-season. Interim coach George Armstrong led the Leafs close to the playoffs, but they eventually missed out by losing to the Chicago Blackhawks on the final day of the...
. He would remain with that radio station, which later became Canada's first all-sports radio station, THE FAN, for another nine seasons.
CBC Sports
While continuing with his radio job, Daniels appearing on television in 1985, with the Canadian Broadcasting CorporationCBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
, and by 1990, became a reporter for Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey Night in Canada is the branding used for CBC Sports' presentations of the National Hockey League...
. In February 1992, Daniels was the main game host, which included appearances with Don Cherry on "Coach's Corner", while Ron MacLean
Ron MacLean
Ronald Harold "Ron" MacLean is a Canadian sportscaster for the CBC who is best known as the host of Hockey Night in Canada.-Early life and career:...
was in Albertville, France covering the Winter Olympics
1992 Winter Olympics
The 1992 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 8 to 23 February 1992 in Albertville, France. They were the last Winter Olympics to be held the same year as the Summer Olympics, and the first where the Winter Paralympics...
. In 1994, Daniels began doing play-by-play for HNIC, usually for games in Western Canada.
While working for CBC, Daniels' diverse sports experience included hosting stints for CBC Sports Weekend and the Champ Car/Indy-Car World Series
Champ Car
Champ Car was the name for a class and specification of open wheel cars used in American Championship Car Racing for many decades, primarily for use in the Indianapolis 500 auto race...
, as well as Formula One Grand Prix
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
coverage and Toronto Blue Jays
Toronto Blue Jays
The Toronto Blue Jays are a professional baseball team located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Blue Jays are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball 's American League ....
baseball. Daniels' broadcast resume also includes two Olympic games. He covered both the 1988 Summer Olympics
1988 Summer Olympics
The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were an all international multi-sport events celebrated from September 17 to October 2, 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. They were the second summer Olympic Games to be held in Asia and the first since the 1964 Summer Olympics...
in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, and 1996 Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
in Atlanta, where he could be heard during cycling, baseball, canoeing, kayaking, tennis and judo.
Daniels' Olympic experience landed him a role as the "Olympic host" in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
Movie of the Week: On Thin Ice - The Tai Babilonia Story. He also appeared in a film with Tony Danza
Tony Danza
Tony Danza is an American actor best known for starring on the TV series Taxi and Who's the Boss?, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award and four Golden Globe Awards...
, The Philadelphia Phenomenon, and was a play-by-play voice for the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
/CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
television program Due South
Due South
Due South is a Canadian crime drama series with elements of comedy. The series was created by Paul Haggis, produced by Alliance Communications, and stars Paul Gross, David Marciano, and latterly Callum Keith Rennie...
.
Detroit Red Wings
For the 1997–98 NHL season, Daniels was lured away from CBC to take over play-by-play for the Detroit Red Wings1997–98 Detroit Red Wings season
The 1997–98 Detroit Red Wings season was the 72nd National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. The highlight of the Red Wings season was winning the Stanley Cup.-NHL Draft:-Sergei Fedorov's Holdout:...
and teamed up with color commentator Mickey Redmond.
On December 12, 2006 Daniels broadcast a game between the Red Wings
2006–07 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2006–07 Detroit Red Wings season was the 81st National Hockey League season in Detroit, Michigan. The Wings entered a new era, following the retirement of longtime captain Steve Yzerman after 22 seasons in the NHL, all with Detroit...
and the Ottawa Senators
2006–07 Ottawa Senators season
The 2006–07 Ottawa Senators season saw the team rebound from a disappointing early exit from the 2006 playoffs. The team made it all the way to the Stanley Cup finals before losing to the Anaheim Ducks. After numerous personnel changes at the start of the season, the team had a poor record until...
from ice-level between the benches, while color commentator Redmond remained in the booth. This was the first time a U.S. local station had attempted this type of broadcast.
Daniels received a Michigan EMMY Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
for this broadcast at the 29th Annual Michigan EMMY Awards on June 16, 2007 in Detroit.
On June 4, 2008, Daniels filled-in for regular Detroit radio broadcast announcer Ken Kal
Ken Kal
Ken Kalczynski or Ken Kal is an American disc jockey and reporter for WXYT AM 1270 in Detroit, as well as the radio play-by-play commentator for the Detroit Red Wings of the NHL for the past 16 seasons...
for Game 6 of the 2008 Stanley Cup Finals
2008 Stanley Cup Finals
The 2008 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven playoff series that determined the National Hockey League champion for the 2007–08 season. As a culmination of the 2008 Stanley Cup playoffs, the Western Conference champion Detroit Red Wings defeated the Eastern Conference champion Pittsburgh...
between the Red Wings
2007–08 Detroit Red Wings season
The 2007–08 Detroit Red Wings season began October 3, 2007, against the Anaheim Ducks. It was the franchise's 82nd season in the National Hockey League, 76th as the Red Wings.Key dates prior to the start of the season:...
and the Pittsburgh Penguins
2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season
The 2007–08 Pittsburgh Penguins season was the franchise's 41st season in the National Hockey League . Their regular season began on October 5, 2007, against the Carolina Hurricanes and concluded on April 6, 2008, against the rival Philadelphia Flyers...
. Kal was suffering from 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....
and thus, was unable to call the game. The Red Wings had a 3-2 lead in the series and won the game, and the cup. With 45 seconds left in the game, Daniels took off the headset and handed the game over to Kal, stating to Kal, "I don't care if you can't talk, you have to bring it home". Kal called the final 10 seconds, and was able to make the call "...The Detroit Red Wings are the 2008 Stanley Cup Champions!"
Ken also became a regular announcer for 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...
during the 2011 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
2011 Stanley Cup playoffs
The 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs of the National Hockey League began on April 13, 2011, after the conclusion of the 2010–11 NHL regular season. Game 1 of the Finals was held on June 1, while Game 7 was held on June 15...
.
Daniels is a longtime active member of the Detroit Sports Broadcasters Association, founded in 1948 by pioneer Tigers announcer Ty Tyson
Ty Tyson
Edwin L. "Ty" Tyson was an American sports broadcaster and radio play-by-play announcer.-Early life:Tyson was born in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania and he attended Penn State University. As a young man, he played ball and acted in nearby Tyrone, Pennsylvania. While acting in a play, he met another...
. Ken won the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting from the DSBA in an on-ice ceremony Sept. 30, 2011 at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, prior to a Red Wings game.