TSN Makes History With First Female Play-by-Play Announcer To Call Toronto Maple Leafs vs. Senators Game

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Chris Gerics
November 13, 2024 (8:52)

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Kenzie Lalonde became the first female play-by-play broadcaster in TSN history on Tuesday as she made her debut during the Senators vs. Maple Leafs game.

It was a monumental moment for the long-time Canadian sports network and, surprisingly, it took so long for it to happen. The network has been around since 1984 and has broadcasted thousands of hockey games over its time, so it's great to see them finally break that barrier.

It didn't take Lalonde too long either to get her first goal call and make some more history, as Ottawa scored 41 seconds into the game with their first shot on net:

Lalonde can walk away from the booth on Tuesday night knowing she did a fantastic job and has a bright future in the broadcasting world.

Who Is Kenzie Lalonde?

Lalonde, a lifelong Senators fan has been broadcasting for a few years now, and while she's called games previously; they've been on the radio. Speaking of, the radio was something of importance to her growing up, as it brought her and her father together as they listened to Ottawa Senators' recaps on their morning commute:

"When I would drive to school in the mornings with my dad, I knew we would be listening to TGOR on TSN 1200 - with JR, Steve, and Jungle Jim. We would always get recap of the Sens game from the night before."

An admirer of the simplicity and humbleness of the Senators, who were often seen in public milling about within the community, it showed Lalonde a different side of hockey; plus it led to some humorous interactions:

"I remember being at Bayshore Shopping Centre and being inside a changeroom and overhearing a really familiar voice. I peeked outside and I saw Chris Neil with his whole family. I shut the dressing room door and thought, �That's Chris Neil! Do I go and say hello? Do I ask for an autograph?' And instead, I just sat there frozen for like 20 minutes until I could hear they had left. I finally came out because I was way too starstruck."

She's also got loads of charisma, something that can be lacking in some broadcasts.

She's passionate about the game, extremely fluid when it comes to fast-paced action, and she has a brain for the sport; she did grow up playing it after all.

This will surely be the first of many games that Lalonde will call, and there is no doubt she will leave a legacy with the next generation of Ottawa Senators fans as her idol Dean Brown did for her.

But there is one takeaway that Lalonde wants to share, and it's a beautiful sentiment:

"I want them to know that anything is possible. That's all I would say. It's cliché, but when you see yourself in something, it's quite exciting. There was nobody who looked like me or sounded like me doing this job when I was growing up. I didn't even think this was possible.

I only thought a role for a woman in sports broadcasting was to be a reporter or to be a host. So when people ask me if this is a dream come true, I can't really say that it is because I never thought this was not possible. I always dreamed of working as a host for Ottawa Senators broadcasts, but never in the capacity of play-by-play.

So I do hope there are young female fans who watch this game and think, �No way. I can do this too.' So I hope there are lots of young hockey fans who are watching and want to follow suit."

Congratulations Kenzie, you deserve it and it's about time too.