The Toronto Maple Leafs begin their 2023 Stanley Cup playoff run on Tuesday against the defending Eastern Conference champion Tampa Bay Lightning. But when the series shifts south of the Canadian border for Games 3 and 4 and potentially Game 6, the Leafs radio broadcasters won’t be making the trip.
Calling road games remotely is not new for play-by-play voice Joe Bowen and analyst Jim Ralph. The policy has been in place since the pandemic bubble in 2020. The policy is also in place for the Toronto Blue Jays’ radio broadcasts. The decision has been viewed as a cost-cutting measure and was the last resort for many at the height of the pandemic when international travel restrictions were in place.
Now the world has more or less returned to normal, but both Rogers and Bell, which own Canada’s two sports media giants Sportsnet and TSN respectively, haven’t budged on this policy.
“Our radio broadcast plans for the playoffs will be consistent with the regular season, with games being called remotely through Round 1,” statements from both Sportsnet and TSN read to The Athletic. Depending on which of the two stations (Sportsnet 590 The Fan and TSN 1050 Toronto) carries the Leafs, that’s where Bowen and Ralph will set up shop for their remote broadcasts.
The Leafs haven’t won a playoff series since 2004. There’s no clear answer as to whether Bowen and Ralph will get the chance to travel for road games if Toronto advances.
