MSG Networks plans to announce Thursday that Brendan Burke will succeed Howie Rose as the Islanders’ primary television play-by-play man, working alongside analyst Butch Goring.
Burke, 32, most recently was the radio play-by-play man for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League.
He grew up primarily in New Jersey, where his father, Don, worked as a sportswriter for The Star-Ledger of Newark.
After graduating from Ithaca College, Burke called minor-league baseball, then moved to hockey with the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and Peoria Rivermen of the AHL, moving with that team to Utica in 2013.
He has filled in calling radio play-by-play at the NHL level for the St. Louis Blues, and he has called college football and basketball games for Fox Sports’ cable outlets.
Steve Mears of the NHL Network also was believed to be a finalist for the job, which became available in May when Rose announced that he would step down after 21 seasons, citing a desire to have a true offseason after calling Mets games for WOR radio.
The Islanders open their 2016-17 regular season Oct. 13 against the Rangers at Madison Square Garden.
..... - Newsday