FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Matt McConnell.

Thursday, September 8, 2011Phoenix Coyotes Chief Operating Officer Mike Nealy announced today that the Coyotes have named Matt McConnell as the club’s new television play-by-play announcer.“We are very excited to bring in a broadcaster with the talent and experience of Matt McConnell,” said Nealy. “Matt has 15 seasons of NHL play-by-play experience and we are confident that he and his partner Tyson Nash will provide our fans with an entertaining and informative broadcast. We look forward to watching them on FOX Sports Arizona all season long.”► Click here to listen to an interview with McConnell.For the last two seasons (2009-2011), McConnell has been the TV voice of the Atlanta Thrashers. McConnell also called all the TV play-by-play for the Thrashers from 1999 (their inaugural season in the NHL) through 2003 before moving on to the Minnesota Wild where he called NHL action for two seasons (2003-2005).“Matt will join FOX Sports Arizona’s well-respected NHL production team that Phoenix Coyotes fans have been enjoying for years,” said Mike Connelly, FOX Sports Arizona Sr Vice President & General Manager. “Adding him to a mix that includes Tyson Nash and Todd Walsh will allow us to follow through on our goal of entertaining and educating hockey fans in Arizona and New Mexico.”McConnell got his start in the NHL in 1993 when he was named as the radio voice of the expansion Anaheim Mighty Ducks. He worked with the Ducks through 1996 when he became the radio play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Penguins for three seasons (1996-1999)."I am extremely excited about joining the Phoenix Coyotes broadcast team,” said McConnell. “I look forward to working with Tyson and Todd and know we will all work towards the common goal of making Coyotes broadcasts among the best in the NHL."McConnell has also covered the NHL playoffs for NHL Radio and Westwood One, the Stanley Cup Final for NHL International and the 2009 IIHF World Junior Championship for the NHL Network.McConnell’s broadcasting resume also includes four seasons as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS College Sports’ hockey broadcasts from 2005-06 to 2008-09. During this time, he also called college basketball, football and lacrosse for the network and hosted their coverage of the NCAA lacrosse championships. He also played the role of fill-in broadcaster for the NBA on TNT in 2001.McConnell’s accolades in the broadcasting industry include a pair of regional sports Emmys involving his work on Thrashers telecasts in 2002 and 2003, his nomination for a regional sports Emmy in 2010, and his nomination for 1994 Broadcaster of the Year by the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Association while he was working with the Ducks.McConnell is a graduate of Michigan State University where he earned a Bachelor’s degree in Telecommunication with major emphasis in Economics. He and his wife Jennifer have a daughter named Zoe.