The NHL’s Seattle Kraken introduced the Kraken Hockey Network on Monday with a talent roster that includes SportsCenter anchor Linda Cohn.
The Kraken, who ended their relationship with Root Sports Northwest after last season, previously announced games that aren’t nationally televised would air on Tegna-owned KONG beginning in the 2024-25 season, with 15 games also being simulcast on KING 5 in Seattle.
On Monday, they officially announced the full details of that plan.
KHN will produce non-nationally televised games for distribution on KING 5, KONG, and select TEGNA, Gray, Cox, and Morgan Murphy TV stations. Prime Video will also stream games for Prime members in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, making the Kraken the first NHL team to partner directly with Amazon.
The most notable addition to KHN’s talent roster is Cohn, who will host at least 15 marquee games. Ian Furness will handle hosting duties for all other games and have some involvement in the ones that Cohn takes the lead on.
Good morning @SeattleKraken fans! Thrilled to join this incredible broadcast team! Working for @KIRO7Seattle back in the day was a game changer for me. Excited for this new role back in the Emerald City when needed. 😀🎉🥅🏒#SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/hD2l268MzD
— Linda Cohn (@lindacohn) September 16, 2024
Before her ESPN days, Cohn worked as a sports anchor and reporter for KIRO TV in Seattle.
“It’s a big reason why I’m doing this,” Cohn said of her KHN role in a team release. “Besides the fact that the Kraken are an amazing organization and there’s so much promise with this team, it’s personal for me to be back in Seattle. It’s a city that I’ll always love forever because it’s a family connection.”
She also added that she’s looking forward to the opportunity to mix things up after spending so much time focused on SportsCenter.
“I’ve spent, like, a million years at SportsCenter – well, 32 years and I’m still doing it,” she said. “But here is an opportunity to join a team. A real team, right? Again, it’s for 15 or 18 games, whatever it is. We don’t have the exact number down. But that’s what I’m really excited about as a former goalie. Just missing that team situation.”
Furness, who hosts a show on the Kraken’s radio partner, KJR, has done play-by-play lead for the Seattle Thunderbirds and Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League.
The Kraken previously announced that play-by-play announcer John Forslund, analysts JT Brown, Eddie Olczyk, Alison Lukan, and reporter Piper Shaw will all return for the 2024-25 season as well.
[Seattle Times, Seattle Kraken,
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.