{{Short description|American sportscaster}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} '''Matt McConnell''' is an American sports broadcaster and is currently the play-by-play announcer for Utah Mammoth.
==Early life== McConnell was born in Gary, Indiana.<ref name="CBS">{{Cite web|url=http://www.cstv.com/cstv/shows/bios/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120918001214/http://www.cstv.com/cstv/shows/bios/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012|title=CBS Bios}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Finder">{{cite news |last1=Finder |first1=Chuck |title=McConnell on broadcast team |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-mcconnell-on-bro/196122996/ |access-date=April 25, 2026 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=August 15, 1996|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> McConnell graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School in 1981<ref name="Finder"/> and earned his Bachelor's degree in Telecommunications at Michigan State University.<ref name="CBS"/> While living in Pittsburgh, McConnell became a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins and especially idolised Mike Lange.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finder |first1=Chuck |title=Penguins add voice |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-penguins-add-voi/196123043/ |access-date=April 25, 2026 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=August 15, 1996|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
==Announcing career== ===NHL=== 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Penguins Hire McConnell As Announcer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/latrobe-bulletin-penguins-hire-mcconnell/196122691/ |access-date=April 22, 2026 |publisher=Latrobe Bulletin |date=August 16, 1996|via=newspapers.com}}</ref>
In 1999, he joined the Atlanta Thrashers as the team's first-ever TV play-by-play announcer,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Finder |first1=Chuck |title=Penguins voice changing his tune |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/pittsburgh-post-gazette-penguins-voice-c/196122819/ |access-date=April 22, 2026 |publisher=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=June 21, 1999|via=newspapers.com}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bao |first1=Robert |title=Matt McConnell: Sportscaster of the Year |url=https://spartan.msu.edu/spartan-story-hub/news/2014/06/matt-mcconnell-sportscaster-of-the-year |publisher=Michigan State University |access-date=April 25, 2026 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251016160135/https://spartan.msu.edu/spartan-story-hub/news/2014/06/matt-mcconnell-sportscaster-of-the-year |archive-date=October 16, 2025 |date=June 2, 2014}}</ref> 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,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Ryan |title=Here's who will be calling Utah Hockey Club games |url=https://www.ksl.com/article/51118339/heres-who-will-be-calling-utah-hockey-club-games |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=www.ksl.com |language=en}}</ref> the newest team in the NHL, consisting of the assets of the former Arizona Coyotes.
===College sports=== 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.<ref name="CBS"/>
=== World Juniors === McConnell served as the play-by-play announcer for NHL Network coverage of the 2009 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usahockey.com/world_junior_championships_2009/default.aspx?NAV=AF_06&id=248670&DetailedNews=yes |title=USA Hockey |accessdate=2011-09-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110111082838/http://www.usahockey.com/world_junior_championships_2009/default.aspx?NAV=AF_06&id=248670&DetailedNews=yes |archivedate=2011-01-11 }}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{NHL Radio}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McConnell, Matt}} Category:Living people Category:People from Gary, Indiana Category:Mt. Lebanon High School alumni Category:American sports commentators Category:Anaheim Ducks announcers Category:Arizona Coyotes announcers Category:Atlanta Thrashers announcers Category:College basketball announcers in the United States Category:College football announcers Category:Minnesota Wild announcers Category:National Hockey League broadcasters Category:Pittsburgh Penguins announcers Category:Utah Mammoth announcers Category:Lacrosse announcers Category:College hockey announcers in the United States Category:Michigan State University alumni