Sportsnet’s Ken Reid loves hockey with all his heart – The Hockey Writers –

One of the things I enjoyed most about the Edmonton Oilers making it to the Stanley Cup Final, besides watching great hockey, was watching the game commentary on Sportsnet with Ken Reid and Evanka Osmak. Their contributions from the Ice District in downtown Edmonton made watching the playoffs even more entertaining. Reid talked about the uniqueness of Oilers fans and the special vibe they had during the Oilers’ run. The best part about watching Reid and Osmak on Sportsnet is how authentic and entertaining they keep it, which only makes the experience even richer for a hockey fan like me.

Last offseason, I spoke with Reid, who in addition to co-hosting Sportsnet’s weekday primetime edition is a best-selling author and celebrated collector of hockey and sports memorabilia. Reid has shared his love of collecting in segments on Sportsnet as well as in interviews over the years and has a refreshing attitude toward the hobby. “I collect what I love to collect,” Reid said. And that’s how many collectors think these days. Rather than struggling to collect entire sets, for example, Reid finds great joy in collecting pieces that particularly appeal to him. He mentioned an old WHA card like Dick Paradise as an example of a card that is relatively inexpensive but still fun to collect. Reid went on to talk about how gratifying it was to see his children take an interest in the hobby, including an interest in collecting Jeremy Swayman cards.

A story about the late Bob Cole

As we talked, we got onto the subject of great hockey commentators and I asked Reid if he had any special memories of the legendary Bob Cole. He mentioned that Cole attended the Danny Gallivan Golf Tournament for Cystic Fibrosis every year. “One year I was lucky enough to sit at a table where Bob, Sidney Crosby and Nathan MacKinnon were,” Reid said. “When Bob spoke and started telling stories, we were all captivated by what he had to say.”

I liked this story because it reminded us that Cole was a master storyteller and how generations of great players like Crosby and MacKinnon were so engaged and interested in what the Hall of Fame live commentator had to say. Crosby could tell stories about his Stanley Cup victories or his golden goal for the Canadian national team at the Vancouver Olympics, but it was Cole’s stories that captivated the small audience. It reminds me a bit of conversations with Reid, where there never seems to be a shortage of memorable hockey stories that can only be told the way he knows how.

Great commentators create great memories for ice hockey fans

Reid truly understands what hockey means to fans from the grassroots to the pros. This is evident when he appears on television and when you get the chance to talk to him. One of Reid’s strongest qualities is that he not only reaches millions of hockey fans on television, but he also documents great hockey stories in his books. His latest book, Ken Reid’s Hometown Hockey Heroes, is an excellent read for anyone who had a hockey hero in their part of the world that they looked up to. Reid’s hometown hero is Dana “T-Pot” Johnston, a guy who just seemed to excel at everything he did. It reminded me a lot of my own hockey hero, Mike Macnab, from the Buffalo Coulee area between Vermilion and Wainwright in Alberta. Macnab was a standout defenseman for the Vermilion Jr. B. Tigers in the mid-1970s, tough as nails and probably the best player on a team that featured two future NHL players – John-Paul Kelly and Miles Zaharko.

Related: Sportsnet’s Ken Reid: A love of collecting hockey cards

Reid is currently working on a new book that is expected to be released in the fall of 2025. If his new book is as good as Ken Reid’s Hometown Hockey Heroes, it will definitely be worth buying.

Reid – one of the nicest and most down-to-earth people in hockey

I’ve met Ken in person once and spoken to him twice in detail in phone interviews. He’s the real deal. A true hockey fan who is accessible, insightful and entertaining at the same time. In the billion dollar business of hockey, he’s a guy who doesn’t let his success go to his head. He’s proven that you can be successful and accessible at the same time. I think in this day and age, the world could use more people like Ken Reid.