ESPN’s hockey coverage has appeared different this season due to the absence of play-by-play announcer Sean McDonough, the network’s lead NHL voice. Despite being scheduled for several games, McDonough has yet to call a single game this season. He will again be absent on Thursday night as ESPN broadcasts a USA vs. Finland match in the Four Nations Face-Off.
On Thursday morning, ESPN updated its schedule to reflect that Bob Wischusen would take over play-by-play duties alongside analyst Ray Ferraro for the USA’s Four Nations debut. When contacted by Awful Announcing, ESPN stated that McDonough is currently battling the flu and has opted to sit out the game to fully recover his voice for Saturday’s game between the USA and Canada. McDonough’s ongoing absences have certainly raised eyebrows within the hockey community. According to Braylon Breeze from Sports Media Watch, McDonough was scheduled to call games on ABC for the past two Saturdays but was replaced by Mike Monaco each time. He was also set to cover an Opening Night game but was unable to do so due to Hurricane Milton affecting his travel plans.
NEWS: Bob Wischusen has replaced Sean McDonough and will now call tonight’s USA-Finland game at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Previously—in addition to tonight’s game—McDonough had been scheduled to call an ABC Hockey Saturday game in each of the past two weeks but was replaced by Mike…
— Braylon Breeze (@Braylon_Breeze) February 13, 2025
This isn’t McDonough’s first time facing such a situation; last season he missed Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals due to illness and was noticeably sick during his Game 3 call of the Stanley Cup Final. It is hoped that the veteran play-by-play announcer will be back to full strength for Saturday’s game.
