LATEST | Ray Ferraro opens up on the opportunity to be on the Canucks' broadcasts
Earlier this week, Sportsnet announced the broadcasting teams for the Canadian teams they have regional deals with, including the Vancouver Canucks.
With John Garrett retiring at the end of the 2022-23 season, Sportsnet was left without a colour commentator for Canucks broadcasts. To replace Garrett, Sportsnet hired Dave Tomlinson, who will carry the majority of the workload, while Ray Ferraro will feature in 20 games throughout the 2023-24 campaign.
After the news was made official, Ferraro discussed his new role while on the Bob McCown podcast on Wednesday.
Ferraro said that being an analyst on the Canucks broadcasts is something he's wanted to do for at least the last 15 years. He grew up watching Canucks games, was born in Trail, British Columbia and has lived in Vancouver for a number of years now.
"I started at Sportsnet when I retired in October of 2002," said Ferraro. "Craig Simpson was leaving broadcasting, going go to coach with the Oilers at the time, he was one of the assistant coaches. So, the opportunity opened up and I got recommended to go audition � I didn't really know what that was about, I'd not done any games before. I auditioned, I got the job, so for the next five years, I worked in Edmonton, but I lived in Vancouver.
"My contract was coming up and I said to Sportsnet at the time, completely naïve of much in the broadcast world, 'Hey look, I don't really want to keep flying to Edmonton to do games and fly back home. When John Garrett retires, I want to be the Vancouver Canucks analyst.' The brass at the time said, 'No, we can't guarantee that.' That was in 2008."
It's unclear as of yet what specific games Ferraro will be involved with, but it's nice to hear that after all these years, he's able to fulfill a dream he's had for a long time.
Vancouver's first regular season game on Sportsnet will come on October 11th against the Edmonton Oilers, which could potentially be his first game in the booth with the Canucks.
Source: Vancouver Is Awesome
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