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ESPN Announcer Sean McDonough Missing Time With Illness

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Feb 13, 2025 6:13 PM ET

Sean McDonough won't return to ESPN's hockey team on Thursday.

The play-by-play announcer hasn't broadcasted a game since voicing the College Football Playoff National Championship Game for ESPN Radio on Jan. 20. An illness has delayed his transition back to the network's hockey team.

McDonough was initially scheduled to call Thursday night's NHL Four Nations Face-Off matchup between the United States and Finland. However, ESPN announced that Bob Wischusen will call the international tournament game instead. Wischusen will work alongside analyst Ray Ferraro and sideline reporter Emily Kaplan.

Mike Monaco previously replaced McDonough in ESPN's NHL booth on each of the last two Saturdays. ESPN said on Feb. 8 that McDonough was "under the weather." Travel issued caused by Hurricane Milton also prevented the 62-year-old from working a season-opening game between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins on Oct. 8, so he hasn't announced an NHL game this season.

McDonough remains scheduled to call Saturday's game between the U.S. and Canada on ABC. If he can, he'll announce next Thursday's Four Nations championship game.

According to Awful Announcing, an ESPN spokesperson said McDonaugh has the flu and is skipping Thursday's game to fully recover his voice in time for Saturday.

Perhaps McDonough is taking extra caution following last year's experience. He sounded noticeably sick while calling the Stanley Cup Finals.

McDonough admitted that he was "bothered" by the negative public response to his performance.

"I hope the people who have heard me over the years know that’s not the way I usually sound," McDonough told SiriusXM in June. "Maybe I shouldn't have tried to power through it. Maybe I should have just stepped aside. The decision was made collectively, collaboratively with our bosses to give it a try, so I did. I'm just glad it’s hopefully behind us now."

If all goes according to plan, McDonough could soon re-join ESPN's broadcast booth.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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