Sherry Ross (born c. 1954[1]) is an American sports broadcaster and journalist who most recently worked alongside Matt Loughlin as a color commentator for the NHL's New Jersey Devils radio broadcasts.[2] She is the first woman to serve as an analyst for the Stanley Cup Finals, and the first woman to call play-by-play for a full NHL game.[3]

Background edit

Born in Dover, New Jersey, Ross grew up in Randolph, where she graduated from Randolph High School and was inducted into its Hall of Fame in 2007.[4] She graduated from Rutgers University–Newark in 1977 with a degree in English and attended University of Illinois studying veterinary medicine but later chose journalism as a career.[5]

She has been a resident of West Orange, New Jersey.[6]

Career edit

Ross began her career in 1978 as a hockey reporter for the Daily Record newspaper in Morristown, New Jersey. She has also worked as a sportswriter for The Record (Bergen County), New York Newsday, and the New York Daily News, for whom she continues to work in the hockey offseason covering horse racing. From the 1990–91 season to the 2003–04 season, she was the author of the Hockey Scouting Report, an annually published guide to all active NHL players.

Ross first broadcast color commentary for the Devils from January 1992 through the strike-shortened 1994–95 season, prior to being re-hired for the role in 2007. On November 25, 2009, she called play-by-play of a game between the Devils and the Ottawa Senators, as Loughlin missed the game due to a death in his family, becoming the first woman to provide English language play-by-play for a full NHL game.[7]

On May 23, 2017, Ross was relieved of her duties as the Devils' radio analyst.[8] She was later replaced by former Devils goalie Chico Resch.[9][10]

References edit

  1. ^ Based on graduating from a four-year university in 1977
  2. ^ "Devils hire Sherry Ross as radio color commentator". USA Today/Associated Press. September 20, 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  3. ^ Ackert, Kristie (November 25, 2009). "Patrik Elias' goal helps New Jersey snap three-game skid; Sherry Ross makes broadcast history". New York Daily News. Retrieved 28 November 2009.
  4. ^ "N.J. Statehouse to honor Sherry Ross", New Jersey Devils, March 22, 2010. Accessed September 21, 2015. "In May 2007, the native of Dover, NJ was among those inducted into the inaugural class of Randolph (NJ) High School’s Hall of Fame."
  5. ^ "Sherry Ross – Devils/WFAN Radio Color Commentator". New Jersey Devils. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
  6. ^ Staff. "N.J. Statehouse to honor Sherry Ross", New Jersey Devils, March 22, 2010. Accessed April 11, 2011. "The resident of West Orange, NJ has covered the Stanley Cup Finals on 15 occasions, while attending the Kentucky Derby six times.... In May 2007, the native of Dover, NJ was among those inducted into the inaugural class of Randolph (NJ) High School’s Hall of Fame."
  7. ^ "Elias scores, Devils beat Senators". New England Sports Network. Associated Press. November 25, 2009. Retrieved 2015-01-16. Sherry Ross became the first female broadcaster to provide play-by-play for a full NHL game. Ross, normally the Devils' radio color analyst, filled in for Matt Loughlin, who missed the game due to a death in the family.
  8. ^ "Sherry Ross relieved of duties as Devils radio analyst". North Jersey. Retrieved 2017-05-23.
  9. ^ Gross, Andrew. "Devils re-hire Chico Resch as their new radio analyst". North Jersey Media Group. Retrieved 2021-09-06.
  10. ^ NJ.com, Chris Ryan | NJ Advance Media for (2017-10-06). "Devils name Chico Resch new radio analyst". nj. Retrieved 2021-09-06.