The Art of the Call: Chris Kerber & Conor McGahey on Bringing Hockey to Life

John Shannon and Daren Millard welcome two of the NHL's play-by-play voices to 100% Hockey, Chris Kerber of the St. Louis Blues and Conor McGahey of the Colorado Avalanche, for a conversation about the art of calling hockey games and the personalities behind the microphone. Kerber and McGahey share their journeys into broadcasting, the experiences that shaped their careers, and the importance of bringing passion and authenticity to every game. They discuss finding their own voices, developing memorable goal calls, and balancing enthusiasm with the professionalism expected of an NHL broadcaster. The conversation explores the differences between calling games for a local audience and working on national broadcasts, including how broadcasters approach storytelling, team connections, and the responsibility of delivering an accurate account of the action. Both guests reflect on the broadcasters who influenced their careers, including Dan Kelly and Ken Wilson, while sharing stories about memorable calls, working alone in the broadcast booth, and the evolution of technology in hockey coverage. John and Daren also look ahead to the Hockey Hall of Fame celebrations, including broadcaster Chris Cuthbert's recognition as the recipient of the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award. It's a conversation about the voices, traditions, and personalities that help bring the NHL to life for hockey fans.