𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Massive, massive props to NBC for deploying Kenny Albert on the call of both this game and the earlier U.S. win over Finland. Albert is, for my money, the best active hockey announcer on the planet following the retirement of Doc Emrick, who Albert took over for as NBC’s top hockey voice before NBC lost its NHL broadcast rights in 2021. (Albert then joined new rightsholder Turner Sports and called last year’s Stanley Cup for them.)

The fact that NBC has brought him in for Milan Cortina is no surprise, given the company’s longstanding relationship with him and his father, sportscasting legend Marv Albert. But having someone of his pedigree calling these Olympics women’s games make them feel like the big deal that that they are in and of themselves, and not an undercard event while fans wait for the men’s hockey tournament to start.