Ducks’ Radio Man Hired by Penguins

Matt McConnell, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Mighty Ducks since the team’s inception, is leaving to become the radio voice of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Ducks earlier lost McConnell’s broadcast partner, analyst Charlie Simmer, to the Phoenix Coyotes, where he will be a television analyst.

McConnell, 33, will replace Doug McLeod on the Penguins’ radio network. McLeod was recently hired to be the Coyotes’ play-by-play voice.

McConnell, who graduated from Mount Lebanon High School near Pittsburgh, was among 82 applicants for the Penguins’ broadcast vacancy.

“It really is a great opportunity for me,” he said. “They gave me a tremendous deal and it’s good to come full circle. I grew up rooting for the Penguins long before Mario Lemieux.”

McConnell agreed to a four-year deal. The Ducks had offered a one-year extension. “I’d really like to thank the Ducks for the opportunity they gave me to work at this level,” he said.