Blackhawks announcer annoyed with late start times (Video)

Blackhawks announcer is less than pleased with the late start times

Chicago Blackhawks Hall of Fame announcer Pat Foley has been around a long time, and is not afraid to talk about his dislike of the late start times for the first round of the NHL playoffs.

During Thursday night’s Blackhawks double overtime victory over the St. Louis Blues, broadcast nationally by NBCSN, Foley took time to criticize the league for starting several games in the series so late.

“This is the third time in five games that a start time of 8:42 [p.m.] local was mandated. I can say with certainty players can not stand these late starts. Coaches can not stand them. Most importantly, the fans can’t stand them. So as we approach midnight again on a work night, a school night, a simple question. An 8:42 puck drop?” Foley’s rant was cut off by a commercial, but his point was made.

Immediately following the game, NBCSN analyst Mike Milbury fired back at Foley without actually calling him out by name. When the 8 p.m. ET start time for Saturday’s Game 6 was announced, Milbury quipped, “If that’s too late for certain announcers, I think they should just let someone else call the game, and stay home and get a good night’s rest, because 8 o’clock it is. We do that so we can get everybody involved, and all the games on. Lots of games and we do a good job showing them.”

At a press meeting early Friday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman weighed in on the matter, saying that Foley “didn’t have his facts straight.” Bettman added that the NHL actually starts their games earlier than other pro sports leagues, and that Foley saying all the teams hate it is “off the mark.”

Foley should be happy to hear that the puck drop for Saturday night’s game in Chicago is scheduled for 7 p.m. local time.

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