Doug McLeod, the man whose booming voice was the soundtrack for the North Stars and Gophers hockey teams, has died, according to a report from The Rink Live’s Jess Myers.
I’m hearing that long-time Gophers/North Stars/Penguins/Coyotes TV voice Doug McLeod has died. Sad, sad news in the hockey world.
— Jess Myers (@JessRMyers) December 10, 2023
Bally Sports North reporter and analyst Kevin Gorg confirmed the news late Saturday night, saying he “really enjoyed working Gopher games with him.”
The original Saturday Night Sizzler gone way too soon.
RIP 🙏 Doug McLeod
The metalurgy save.
Northbound train….Southbound track.
So many fun quips.
Loved his energy on the North Stars magical Playoff run in 1991.
Really enjoyed working Gopher games with him.
Rest easy. pic.twitter.com/eUNF8mL8Ec
— Kevin Gorg (@Gorgamatic21) December 10, 2023
McLeod was the voice of the Minnesota North Stars for six seasons before the team relocated to Dallas. He also called games for the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and Arizona Coyotes, though Minnesotans may best remember him as the voice of the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers men’s hockey team.
McLeod was the first regular play-by-play announcer for the Gophers. He started in 1978-79 and held the role for 16 seasons. He returned to call Gophers games on Fox Sports North from 2012 to 2019.
He also called Minnesota high school hockey state tournament games – he was pulled from the state tournament broadcast booth in 2019 – and played himself in the 1999 movie “Mystery, Alaska.”
No further information about McLeod’s reported death has been announced.
