NESN hires Judd Sirott as new Bruins play-by-play voice
Sirott, 55, has called Bruins radio broadcasts on flagship station 98.5 The Sports Hub since the 2017-18 season.
The new play-by-play announcer on NESN’s Bruins broadcasts is one that is already familiar to fans.
And one who is familiar with the Bruins, and Boston, and how the former is such an important part of the fabric of the latter.
The network announced Thursday that it has hired Judd Sirott as its new Bruins play-by-play voice. Sirott fills the vacancy left by Jack Edwards, who retired in April after 19 years in the role.
Sirott already knows by heart how to get to TD Garden and up to the broadcast booth on the ninth floor – he has called Bruins radio broadcasts on flagship station 98.5 The Sports Hub since the 2017-18 season.
He replaced Dave Goucher, who had left after 17 seasons in the radio booth to become the inaugural television voice of the Vegas Golden Knights, a position he still holds.
Sirott’s workplace remains the same even as his employer changes. He sounded downright giddy Thursday during a call with reporters about the opportunity to become the television voice of the franchise.
“This job is unrivaled around the National Hockey League,’’ said Sirott, who name-checked Edwards and Fred Cusick while noting that there have been just six full-time Bruins TV play-by-play voices.
“The Bruins are not just an Original 6 team, but the oldest American franchise … There is no market in the country that is as rich hockey-wise as this area here in New England. Beyond that, this is such a special city, such a special place.”
Sirott will join longtime color analyst Andy Brickley in the NESN booth. The upcoming season will be Brickley’s 24th in the role.
Sirott and Brickley have known each other since 1995-96, when “Brick” was still an active player. Sirott said one of the things he wanted to convey when he auditioned for the Bruins job in June (calling a tape of the Bruins-Lightning matchup on Jan. 6) was that their relationship was already established.
“Because I had been doing the games for seven years, I think there were a couple of things that I wanted to come through in the audition,’’ he said. “I knew the team. My family and I live here, we’re part of the community, so I know the town. And I know Brick.”
Sirott takes over for Edwards, who retired in April after a mysterious medical issue slowed his ability to speak. Sirott said Edwards called to congratulate him Thursday. Edwards was also quick to praise Sirott on his @RealJackEdwards X/Twitter account.
“Congratulations to Judd Sirott, the new voice of the Boston Bruins on NESN,’’ he wrote. “A seamless transition and a perfect fit! A good man, a good friend, and a guy who has left his thumbprints on every rung of the ladder. I’m happy! So should all the members of the Bruins Tribe.”
In his seven years paired with analyst Bob Beers on the Sports Hub, Sirott was twice (2013, ’18) the winner of “Best Sports Play-By-Play” by the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association.
Sirott acknowledged that his approach will have to change to some degree now that he will be calling the Bruins on television rather than radio.
“The craft is different,” he said. “For ‘Beersie’ and I on radio, we had to paint the picture. That was the job. Here we have the picture, so how can we best add to that, and make the broadcast sing.”
Sirott’s move to NESN leaves a play-by-play vacancy on the Sports Hub’s Bruins broadcasts. Sports Hub program director Rick Radzik said in an email that the job will be opened up to outside applicants.
“We will be posting the position soon and then go through the process of finding the next radio voice to work alongside Bob Beers,’’ he said. “I’m sure there will be a lot of interest, there always is when a play-by-play position opens.”
When Sirott was hired in October 2017, he beat out more than 200 applicants.
Before coming to Boston, Sirott worked as host and fill-in play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Blackhawks on WGN-AM in Chicago for nine years (2008-17).
He spent six seasons (2009-2014) with the Cubs as a radio play-by-play announcer and host on WGN-AM. He also called games nationally for the NHL Network (2006-2009) among other broadcasting roles.
Sirott, a native of Arlington Heights, Ill., previously served for 12 seasons as the play-by-play voice for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League, among other broadcasting roles.
“Judd’s passion for the Bruins and his extensive experience in broadcasting make him a perfect fit for our team,’’ said NESN CEO and president Sean McGrail in a statement. “Only a handful of people have held this position throughout Bruins history, and we’re extremely excited for Judd’s debut on NESN this fall.”
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