The NHL held its annual Stadium Series game over the weekend between the Washington Capitals and the Carolina Hurricanes, putting the city of Raleigh and the Canes’ fanbase in a unique national spotlight.
While it wasn’t the largest crowd ever to witness an outdoor pro hockey game, 56,961 fans packed Carter-Finley Stadium and got their money’s worth as Carolina beat Washington 4-1.
For the radio broadcast crews for both teams, the Stadium Series offered them a unique vantage point to call the game – rinkside seats.
John Walton has been the Caps radio play-by-play voice since 2011. Having called Washington’s appearance in the 2015 Winter Classic and the 2018 Stadium Series, Walton said the outdoor games are truly a memorable experience and a nice pick-me-up from the sometimes monotonous grind of an NHL season.
“I think it’s a nice mid-season event in the middle of 82 games and the sleep deprivation, you don’t know what day it is – you’re home or you’re not home – these are the ones you remember forever,” Walton told BSM Friday at Carter-Finley Stadium. “I think that’s what makes these special. You may not remember a random Tuesday game at home against Florida, but you’re gonna remember this because of all that goes into it.”
“I didn’t really envision ever doing the outdoor stuff, but it’s a great thing to be a part of,” he added.
Joining Walton and his broadcast partner Ken Sabourin in Raleigh for the game was studio host Ben Raby and broadcast producer Mike Callow. Walton said getting the chance to have the whole crew on site made it an even more special touch.
“They don’t travel as much as we do, so it’s fun for them,” he said. “And it’s fun to get barbecue and go out as a staff and do a road game together. It’s a rare opportunity, and we don’t get to do that very much. So we’re certainly glad to have them here too.”
Raby, who has been with the Caps since 2009 and was part of the broadcast for Washington’s first outdoor game at the 2011 Winter Classic, said being included in and attending these special events are what you work for.
“You do this a decade plus as I have, obviously the pinnacle is being able to work broadcasts,” Raby said. “These are bucket list items if you cover the league, if you work around the league, if you work for a team or with a team, these are showcase events.”
The Hurricanes don’t have a separate radio team, so the TV broadcast on Bally Sports is simulcast on the team’s flagship station 99.9 The Fan.
Mike Maniscalco has been the voice of the Hurricanes since taking over for John Forslund during the 2020 COVID bubble. He was a rinkside reporter for the team’s TV broadcasts for three seasons before that. He said he was pumped for the chance to be a part of a monumental moment in Canes history.
“For me, it’s been like Christmas this week leading up to it,” Maniscalco said. “I’m very excited about it. I want to do not just a normal call because this is a special game. And for the people listening you want to bring them into Carter-Finley Stadium if they can’t be there. This is unlike anything I’ve ever been a part of or broadcasted before. The little kid in me and then the broadcast nerd in me are having a field day. It’s incredible.”
Knowing he would be radio-only for the game, Maniscalco added that he knew he would have to change how he calls the action.
“The call changes dramatically from when you have the picture backing it up to when it’s just your words,” he said. “You have to be far more directional – right to left, near boards, far boards – it’s funny in TV you’re told less, less. Say less. You said four words when you should’ve said two. You’re always trying to cut because people can see what’s going on.”
“You’re charged with painting the picture of what’s out there,” Maniscalco added. “And to me I absolutely do love that because radio play-by-play was what I did coming up at any opportunity I could.”
Maniscalco added that when it comes to being that close compared to having a bird’s eye view of all the action for a normal broadcast, there could be a little issue tracking the puck in corners of the rink. But just having the opportunity to be able to reach out and touch the glass for the game makes up for any little issues.
“Any challenge that comes with being that close is far surpassed by the whole experience and the pluses of being able to have the game right in front of you at that pace and that point,” he said.
Mike was joined by analyst Tripp Tracy on the call. Maniscalco spoke glowingly of his broadcast partner, saying he’s been a huge help in the two-and-a-half years they’ve been working together. He said originally they developed a system where if Tripp needed to interject, he’d tap him on the shoulder or point.
But now the two just kind of know when the other wants to say something.
“You get all those gestures out, and now we’ve gotten to the point we don’t even need the tap or the point because we have that rhythm and he knows when to have fun,” Maniscalco said. “He knows when to get serious and for me that makes my job very easy because I don’t have to create something that isn’t there. You follow the lead and go from there.”
Like a lot of other hockey broadcasters, Maniscalco has had dreams of being on the call for playoff and Stanley Cup Final games. The Stadium Series, as unique as it is, is an added treat.
“Nothing in your mind is like, yeah I’m gonna call a game with 60,000 people outside,” he said. “Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think yeah I’m gonna be rinkside calling a Stadium Series game.”
Mike said he spoke to Dallas Stars broadcaster Josh Bogorad ahead of this past weekend asking for any advice. The Stars also don’t have a dedicated radio play-by-play team, and Bogorad was on the radio broadcast for the 2020 Winter Classic between the Stars and Nashville Predators at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
Maniscalco said Bogorad texted him to enjoy it and live in the moment.
“I’m just gonna look around and do my best to soak it all in because I’m quite sure that this opportunity – the first one here and how the fanbase has wanted it – you won’t have this again in this kind of excitement to it,” Maniscalco said.
Joe Ovies, who hosts The OG with Joe Giglio on 99.9 The Fan, broadcasted live from the fan fest next door to Carter-Finley Stadium on game day. He told BSM that whatever preconceived notions the broader public or hockey world had about Raleigh as a hockey market were put to bed over the course of the weekend.
“You could just feel the excitement in the air all week,” Ovies said. “No other professional sports team in the state of North Carolina has galvanized a fanbase like the Hurricanes. There’s a reason why tickets for this game sold out as quickly as they did.”
The whole week of events went off without a hitch. The only issue came on game day when traffic backed up on the highways and inroads to the Carter-Finley Stadium/PNC Arena complex. But Ovies said if that was the only real glaring issue, then you know the Stadium Series was done right.
“I think you can see that the fans were hungry for this game,” Ovies said. “The atmosphere in and around the stadium made it clear that this week meant a great deal to everyone.”
Maniscalco echoed a point Ovies made about the idea of holding a game at N.C. State’s football stadium at one point seemed like a joke. But with the Canes having turned things around over the last several seasons and proven to be a contender in the Eastern Conference, it’s awesome that the fans showed up and showed out for the Stadium Series.
“I don’t think anybody envisioned that there would be 57,000 people at a Carolina Hurricanes game. Let alone that we’re gonna take it outdoors,” Maniscalco said. “People didn’t grow up playing hockey on the frozen rink in the backyard down here the way that others in hockey weather markets can.”
