ESPN
- The NHL made its grand return to ESPN on Tuesday night and the network released an incredible tribute to its iconic theme song.
- The man behind the NHL on ESPN the theme song explained how he came up with it and reflected on its legacy
- Read more hockey news here
“On Tuesday, the Seattle Kraken opened their season opener against the Las Vegas Golden Knights, and while it was undoubtedly a special occasion, it was arguably overshadowed by one of the biggest developments to come before the new Stanley Cup campaign kicks off: ESPN reacquiring television rights to the NHL.
For the past 17 years, hockey fans have been forced to make do with NBC’s lackluster coverage of the NHL. However, thanks to a deal signed in March, they will no longer have to deal with an analyst who bugs Sidney Crosby in every conversation, spend way too much time trying to find a game inexplicably broadcast on USA Network, or hear the seven words capable of instilling a special kind of existential dread in every viewer: “Now for Pierre between the glass.” »
The world leader has assembled a great group of hockey broadcasters that includes longtime favorites like John Buccigross, Steve Levy and Sean McDonough, and if you tuned into the rebooted version of NHL on ESPN on Tuesday night, you probably felt like you were catching up with old friends. However, nothing managed to hit my nostalgic nerve quite like hearing the show’s iconic theme song playing on the network for the first time in nearly two decades.
THE NHL on ESPN The theme was originally dreamed up by composer Bob Christianson in 1993, and ahead of the aforementioned contest, the network aired a stunning tribute to the song (which was narrated by none other than the famous dangler Justin Bieber). During the segment, he reflected on how music was formed, and a number of NHL veterans took a trip down memory lane by listening to a track that has been in the ESPN archives since 2004.
It’s good to see you again, my old friend.
