After suffering through the first game of the season with a mediocre (at best) play-by-play announcer from ESPN+, I'd really like to offer up some praise to
Larry Hansgen. Larry's skill set was forged by doing radio broadcasts and, later, simulcasts of the Flyer games. As a result, he does his television play-by-play in the same manner as he does his radio broadcasts. And this is his greatest strength.
When describing the play action, Larry almost always identifies the offensive and defensive players most prominently involved by name.
When a foul is committed, Larry always identifies the player who committed the foul and on whom the foul was committed and he specifies the nature of the foul. He then specifies how many fouls the player committing the foul has and how many team fouls have been committed. If any players are in foul trouble, Larry will periodically mention that as well.
When a turnover is committed, Larry will specify the nature of the turnover and what caused it to happen.
At every time stoppage, Larry will almost religiously give the time remaining on the clock and the time remaining on the shot clock.
If a player on the Flyers or on the opponent is having a hot night statistically. Larry will call that to our attention as well.
I don't mean to short change Bucky, who really is one of UD's greatest assets, but my comments are addressed to Larry's skill as a play-by-play announcer and Bucky is our color man.
So well done, Larry. I wish that your broadcasts could be simulcast on ESPN+
