Reporter survives TV trial by fire
Hendrick filled in for Bowen on broadcast
It was at the airport on Sunday that Joe Bowen, radio voice of the Maple Leafs, signalled to Paul Hendrick, chief reporter on the team-owned Leafs Nation Network, that laryngitis had taken full hold.
Bowen pointed to his throat and shook his head. There was no way he could do Leafs-Rangers play-by-play that night for Sportsnet 590 The FAN. Hendrick got the call.
“It was a thrill to get to do it, in Madison Square Garden, to call an NHL game. You never say no to an opportunity like that,” said Hendrick.
Bowen was sent home to rest and Todd Crocker, who calls Marlies games, was flown in to take Bowen’s seat — this game was on TSN Radio 1050 — for the rest of the Leafs’ six-game road trip, which stopped in Denver on Tuesday night. Hendrick resumed his reporting duties with LNN, but said he loved his play-by-play stint.
“It was like running a sevenminute mile without training, to be dropped right into it,” Hendrick said Tuesday at the Leafs’ morning skate. “You realize right off the bat how difficult it is on your vocal cords, if your cords aren’t trained.”
Hendrick had never called an NHL game, and his last play-byplay work was in 1998, on college football for Hamilton’s CHCH television. “The mechanics were all there,” he said of Sunday’s game, a 4-1 loss by the Leafs. “It was just gritting it out vocally, especially on a night when the Leafs had 56 shots. There was a lot of chatting.”
Of course, droll colour commentator Jim Ralph had to add: “Henny was good. He had the score 5-3 Leafs, but other than that ...”
Hendrick says he has a new appreciation for Bowen and his play-by-play brethren.
“There’s a tendency for hockey fans to really critique these people, but the game is going quickly,” said Hendrick. “To be able to do it easily and fluidly and still maintain vocal strength — they’re to be applauded.” ENNIS CLEARED: Leaf Tyler Ennis has been cleared for duty, but remained a healthy scratch Tuesday. He broke his ankle Dec. 22. Coach Mike Babcock says Ennis has to be patient, because the fourth line with Frederik Gauthier at centre and Par Lindholm on the wing has played well. NET RESULTS: Babcock was asked about Rangers goalie Alexandar Georgiev’s 55-save performance on Sunday. “I never like to give the other goalie too much credit, but he did a good job,” said Babcock. “I thought we had a lot of quality chances. But in the end, I think (Leaf Frederik Andersen) stole us some games this year, too. It goes that way. It evens out.” ICED KAP: Kasperi Kapanen had gone nine games without a goal, despite playing mostly on Auston Matthews’ line, before he scored the Leafs’ lone goal on Sunday. “To me, Kapanen hasn’t missed a beat,” said Babcock. “You guys (the media) would see it far more than me, as far as not scoring. To me, Kapanen has been very good night in, night out. With all players, you like to score. The darned NHL, sometimes it doesn’t let you score.”