Matt McConnell

McConnell was born in Gary, Indiana.^[1] While he spent most of his childhood in Indiana, his father's job with U.S. Steel resulted in the family relocating to Minnesota and Pittsburgh.^[2] McConnell graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1981^[2] and earned his Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications at Michigan State University.^[1] While living in Pittsburgh, McConnell became a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and especially idolised Mike Lange.^[3]

McConnell got his start in the NHL as the radio play-by-play announcer for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, a position which he held from 1993 to 1996.

At the end of 1996, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins as their radio play-by-play announcer.^[4]

In 1999, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers as the team's first-ever TV play-by-play announcer,^[5] a position which he held from 1999 to 2003, and returned to from 2009 to 2011.

From 2004 to 2006 he served as the Minnesota Wild TV play-by-play announcer. McConnell has also covered the NHL playoffs for NHL Radio and Westwood One.

In 2011 he was named the play-by-play announcer for the Arizona Coyotes. In 2013, he was named "Arizona Sports Broadcaster of the Year" by the National Sports Media Association.^[6] In 2020 and 2021, he was named a finalist for the same award. At the conclusion of the 2024 NHL season the Arizona Coyotes suspended operations.

In September 2024 McConnell was named the play-by-play announcer for the Utah Mammoth,^[7] the newest team in the NHL, consisting of the assets of the former Arizona Coyotes.

McConnell also has served as the lead play-by-play announcer for CBS College Sports Network college hockey broadcasts. He also covered college basketball, college football and college lacrosse.^[1]

McConnell served as the play-by-play announcer for NHL Network coverage of the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.^[8]