As the NHL restarted their season this past August, Carolina Hurricanes broadcaster Mike Maniscalco was handed a unique opportunity stepping in for John Forslund as the team’s play-by-play voice.
How long the opportunity would last wasn’t known at the time, as the Hurricanes and their longtime TV play-by-play announcer were in the midst of a contract dispute. Three months later, and still unable to reach an agreement with Forslund, the Hurricanes named Maniscalco their new full-time play-by-play voice. A bittersweet moment for Maniscalco, recognizing the opportunity, but also realizing the circumstance that someone he considered a mentor won’t be returning.
“John taught me to be myself and not to change because there is a camera,” Maniscalco told BSM over the summer. “He told me be the guy on the radio that I had always been and everything else takes care of itself.”
In addition to being the team’s TV voice, Maniscalco will also be featured on their radio broadcast. In 2018, the Hurricanes decided to streamline their broadcasts by cutting 39-year radio voice Chuck Kaiton, instead simulcasting their TV announcers on the radio. Similar to Kaiton, Forslund’s time with the organization dates back to their days in Hartford, joining them in 1991.
Maniscalco joined the Hurricanes team of broadcasters in 2016 after working with Buzz Sports Radio and 99.9 the Fan in Raleigh. His initial TV role included contributions as an on-ice reporter, intermission and pre-game coverage for FOX Sports Carolinas.
Brandon Contes is a former reporter for BSM, now working for Awful Announcing. You can find him on Twitter @BrandonContes or reach him by email at Brandon.Contes@gmail.com.
