History of OLN/VERSUS Opening Night Commentators

2005 (OLN, 7:30 PM)
NY Rangers vs. Philadelphia
Play by Play: Sam Rosen
Color: John Davidson
Reporter: Chris Simpson

2006 (VERSUS, Doubleheader)
Buffalo vs. Carolina
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporter: Bob Harwood

Dallas vs. Colorado
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Daryl Reaugh
Reporter: Chris Simpson

2007 (VERSUS, Doubleheader)
Anaheim vs. Detroit
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporter: Chris Simpson

Dallas vs. Colorado
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Daryl Reaugh
Reporter: Bob Harwood

2008 (VERSUS, Doubleheader)
Toronto vs. Detroit
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporter: Chris Simpson

Boston vs. Colorado
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Andy Brickley
Reporter: Bob Harwood

2009 (VERSUS, Doubleheader)
Washington vs. Boston
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Andy Brickley
Reporter: Billy Jaffe

San Jose vs. Colorado
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporter: Bob Harwood

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Welcome Back Hockey. Your Opening Night Announcing Schedule and Open Thread!

VERSUS

7:00 PM, Washington vs. Boston
Play by Play: Joe Beninati
Color: Andy Brickley
Reporter: Billy Jaffe

10:00 PM, San Jose vs. Colorado
Play by Play: Mike Emrick
Color: Eddie Olczyk
Reporter: Bob Harwood

CBC

7:00 PM, Montreal vs. Toronto
Play by Play: Jim Hughson
Color: Craig Simpson
Inside the Glass: Glenn Healy
Host: Ron MacLean
Analyst: Don Cherry
Reporter: Elliotte Friedman

10:00 PM, Vancouver vs. Calgary
Play by Play: Mark Lee
Color: Kevin Weekes
Host/Reporter: Scott Oake
Analysts: Mike Milbury and Kelly Hrudey

Your New NHL On The Fly Set

On the Fly returns tonight at 8:00 PM ET from this location.  Or at least something similar.  Cheers to Schuyler Baehman from the NHL for this.

Charissa Thompson Breaks Foot, Replaced By Billy Jaffe

Charissa Thompson, new VERSUS NHL reporter, is now on Twitter.  She reported this to us earlier in the day:

“well ill set the record straight.  i have to have surgery tomorrow morning.  i broke my foot and ankle.  never broken a bone..awful.”

We wish her well in her recovery.  Stepping in for her tonight in the reporter slot is the very capable Billy Jaffe.  Thanks to Washington Caps PR genius Nate Ewell for this info.  Check out the full announcing schedule for tonight here.

Are You Ready for the Ultimate Season Opening Music Breakdown?!?!?!?

Thanks Leahy.  Let’s do this.