Islanders Broadcaster Brendan Burke Has Become an All-Points Favorite

For starters, nobody at MSG Networks knew about Brendan Burke when Howie Rose announced that he was leaving his Islanders gig. Burke was working games for the American Hockey League's Utica Comets, then coached by former Islanders center Travis Green.

As far as I'm concerned, broadcasting hockey play-by-play on either radio or television is roughly equivalent to juggling a dozen grapefruits -- with an itch!

I speak firsthand. 

One night in 1955, I worked an Armed Forces Radio Rangers-Canadiens game at the old Madison Square Garden.

I still have the recording to prove how challenging it was. Or, to put it another way, how bad I was. In the mid-1970's I was called on to do it again only this time at Nassau Veterans' Memorial Coliseum. It was a SportsChannel telecast -- New York Islanders vs. Toronto Maple Leafs.

As it happened, the regular play by play guy was from Rhode Island and had an emergency. It meant leaving the Coliseum half way through the third period to catch a flight home. I replaced him.

All reports were that I sounded like a tobacco auctioneer with a hangover.
Which is a roundabout -- but nonetheless sincere -- way of saying why I love listening to the Islanders man behind the mike, Brendan Burke. And why I overwhelmingly admire his climb to the broadcasting peak.

Also, I love a good story and the manner in which Double B wound up being the Isles warbler is a tale for the ages.

For starters, nobody at MSG Networks knew about Brendan when Howie Rose announced that he was leaving his Islanders gig. 

Burke was working games for the American Hockey League's Utica Comets, then coached by former Islanders center Travis Green.

Once Rose left and the Isles broadcast vacancy opened up, everybody and his Uncle Dudley applied for the job. And that included some of the top warblers in the hockey realm.

READ MORE: Now a Baseball Only Voice, Howie Rose Reflects Back to His Islanders Days

At first, Burke was not one of them; that is until Travis Green gave his guy a push.

The coach called someone at MSG, suggesting that Brendan's fine AHL broadcasting be heard.

"What? Are you kidding?" the Network guy shot back. "Do you know how many applicants they've already got? He's gotta get in line and send in his tapes."

Brendan followed through, knowing that the odds would have been better had he offered to become a Zamboni pilot. But, hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained, so he dispatched samples of his work and then waited for the "Thanks, but," reply.

One by one, dozens of rejections were dispatched and -- miracle of miracles -- Burke made it to the Final Three. (No names at the Cafe Discreet but I know who the two other worthies were; each top of the line.)

For one reason or another, Burke beat the pair in MSG's homestretch and, yet another miracle of miracles -- he inherited the job vacated by Howie Rose. Better still, I had the good fortune to work with Brendan during his early Islanders years and here's the deal:

He fit snugly into the position originally launched in 1975 by Spencer Ross and later enhanced by Jiggs McDonald and then Howie Rose.

So, what is it that makes Brendan Burke so good at his craft.? I put that question to an unbiased industry veteran, and here's his reply:

"Burke comes off confident and in command of his show without going over the top. Plus, he interacts well with his analysts, whether they're in the booth or at ice level. And by picking his spots to be urgent, he adds to his credibility as a top NHL play by play guy."

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2X6RRInvVuE[/embed]

But that's not all. There's an old bromide, genus will out -- and in no time at all, the networks discovered our fine, feathered friend. This year he also starred on TNT NHL telecasts.

Actually, it's a challenge to keep up with this man-about-all-games. I kid you not. Check the list of sports he's doing and has done:

* Lacrosse (Premier Lacrosse League).* Baseball (Minors and MLB).* College Football and College Basketball.* Arena Football.* Rowing and Flat-Water Canoeing (2020 Olympics.)

And -- if you haven't already heard -- Yankees baseball.

By the way, Brendan met his lovely wife, Mary, when they were students at Ithaca College. "She's been on the whole, wild ride with me," he chuckled. They have an eight-year-old girl, Quinn and two boys, Liam, 6, and Colin, 2 and live on Long Island.

For me, it's been a treat working with this pro and even more of kick to watch his rise to the top. I recently caught up with my pal with a few questions about his challenging Islanders job. 

The topics and Burke's replies follow:

NUMBER OF HOCKEY GAMES HE'S DONE DURING 2022-23:
"There's a chance that this is off by a game or two, but by my count I've done a total of 102. Or, to break it down, it would be three pre-season games, 85 regular season and 14 playoffs."

HIS BIGGEST GEOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE -- WHERE TO WHERE?
"I would say probably any of my West Coast TNT games on a Wednesday night with a game on Thursday. I did games on back to back days in Anaheim-Long Island, Los Angeles-Long Island and San Jose-Buffalo. 'Red-Eyes' are never fun. I also did January 4th in Detroit and then January 5th in Edmonton and January 6th in Calgary."

INTEGRATING FAMILY LIFE WITH THE WORK SCHEDULE:
"This is always a challenge when you spend as much time as I do on the road. It's because you never feel like you're giving your family enough time. But what I try do is do as much work as humanly possible when I am on the road; whether it be in hotels or on planes. That way when I come home I can be present with my family and not just working while they are in the background."

CONTRASTING BROADCASTING ISLES AND NATIONAL GAMES:
"I try not to change things all that much. I prepare the same way for both broadcasts. Clearly, I can get a little more detailed in my approach to the Islanders. It's really not anything major that I change. I really just apply the same enthusiasm that I have for the Islanders on local broadcasts to both teams on national games."

TEAMS HE WORKED FOR ON HIS WAY UP THE HOCKEY LADDER:
"Just after graduating, I started with the Batavia (N.Y.) Muckdogs baseball team in the NY-Penn League. My first hockey job was the following fall in Wheeling, WV with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL. I moved up a level in baseball the next summer to the South Atlantic League with the Lakewood BlueClaws. I alternated seasons in Wheeling and Lakewood for 2 years before I moved to the American Hockey League in 2008. I spent five seasons with the Peoria (Illinois) Rivermen and then three seasons with the Utica (NY) Comets before landing the job with the Islanders in 2016.

ANNOUNCERS WHO WERE ROLE MODELS:
"Doc Emrick would probably be my greatest influence. I grew up in New Jersey at a time when he was the voice of the Devils and he was the voice of the NHL for the entire time that I was forming my style. My style is probably influenced by Doc because I enjoyed the way he called a game. Or, to put it another way, Doccalled a game the way I wanted to hear it. With that in mind, it made sense that some of that comes across in my call."

THE PARTICULAR EMRICK STYLE THAT INFLUENCED:
"Doc's energy, enthusiasm and cadence calling the game were the elements that I gravitated toward as I grew in the business. He captured the speed andemotion of the game beautifully with his voice and inflection. My hope always is to do it even half as well."

INFLUENCE OF HIS FATHER:                                                                              "My dad's job as a baseball writer introduced me to the media side of the sports world at a young age. He has encouraged and supported me every step of the way. He's been my unpaid agent and publicist since I was in college and he watches everything that I do. If he can't watch a game live, he'll watch a recording of it."

BEST PART OF HIS GIG:                                                                                    "The most fun about my line of work is that I never know what's going to happen on any given night. And, while I call a hundred games a season, I never see the same game twice!"

BRENDAN'S THREE FAVORITE ISLES GAMES: "That's a tough one, really, but here goes:

1. February 9, 2018: The Islanders scored four power play goals on a five-minute power play in the third period against Detroit to take the lead. They wound up winning 7-6 in overtime on a hat trick goal from Brock Nelson. It was just one of those games that you walk out of feeling that you saw something special."

2. December 2, 2018: Islanders vs. Columbus. This was the first game back at the Coliseum after the team started shifting back to Brooklyn. It was such an emotional night and -- added to that -- it was my first game ever working at the Coliseum. And the Islanders won, 3-2."

3. April 10, 2019: Game One between the Islanders and Pittsburgh to open the 2019 playoffs. That year many of the pundits picked the Islanders to be one of the worst teams in the league. Instead, they wound up with home ice in the opening round. Josh Bailey scored the overtime winner in what was just an incredible environment to call a game."