Gene Principe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gene Principe
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Principe in 2006
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| Born | February 26, 1967 |
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| Spouse(s) | Karen Poganiatz |
| Children | 3 |
| Sports commentary career | |
| Team(s) | Edmonton Oilers |
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| Sports | National Hockey League |
Gene Principe (born February 26, 1967) is a Canadian sports reporter and broadcaster. He is well-known as the host for Edmonton Oilers games on Sportsnet. People especially know him for using lots of puns and fun items during his pre-game shows.
Gene was born in Edmonton to parents who moved from Italy. He started his broadcasting work in 1987. By 1990, he was a full-time sportscaster. He worked in Winnipeg and Toronto before coming back to Edmonton in 1998. There, he hosted Oilers games for a local TV station. In 2001, he joined Sportsnet and kept hosting Oilers games.
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Gene's Early Life and Career
Gene Principe was born in Edmonton. His parents, Gina and Franco Principe, came from Italy. His mom, Gina, was a seamstress, making clothes. His dad, Franco, was a carpenter, working with wood.
Gene went to Austin O'Brien Catholic High School. As a teenager, he became very interested in sports broadcasting. This led him to study broadcasting for two years. He went to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT). He finished his studies there in 1987.
Starting His Broadcasting Journey
Gene's first job was at CFJC-TV in Kamloops. After that, he moved to Grande Prairie. There, he worked as a videographer for CFRN-TV. This meant he filmed things for TV.
After about a year and a half, he became a reporter in Lethbridge. By the summer of 1990, he was a full-time sports reporter.
Gene then moved to Winnipeg. He worked for CKND-TV, which was owned by Global. He spent three years there. He hosted the station's Winnipeg Jets games. He also co-hosted Sportsline, a half-hour sports show.
In 1995, Global hired him to work in Toronto. He continued to host Sportsline there. In August 1998, Gene got a chance to cover his hometown team. He returned to Edmonton to host Edmonton Oilers games for CKEM-TV. He also hosted their evening sports show.
Gene's Work with Sportsnet
Gene Principe joined Sportsnet in October 2001. He became the host for the network's Edmonton Oilers games. In March 2002, he even got to call two National Hockey League games. He filled in as a play-by-play announcer.
In 2005, Gene traveled to Dubai. He filmed a documentary about the Dubai Mighty Camels. This team played in the Emirates Ice Hockey League.
The 2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
During the 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs, Gene was supposed to cover only the first round. This was because the Oilers were not expected to go far. He planned to leave for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
But the Oilers won their first series! So, Gene stayed to cover the second round. When they made it to the third round, he had a big choice. He could stay with the Oilers, who were doing great. Or he could fly to Germany for the World Cup. The World Cup was a "pure dream" for him. Plus, the Italian team was playing well, and his wife is German.
Gene let Sportsnet make the decision. They asked him to stay in Edmonton. The Oilers ended up losing the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. Meanwhile, the Italian team won the World Cup.
In 2010, Gene covered men's hockey at the 2010 Winter Olympics. He worked for Canada's Olympic Broadcast Media Consortium.
Gene's Famous Puns
Gene Principe is very well known for his puns and funny skits. He uses them during his pre-game segments for the Oilers. He says he was inspired by another broadcaster, Ron MacLean.
Gene started using puns to cheer up fans. This was during the 2006–07 NHL season. The Oilers had lost the Stanley Cup Finals the year before. They were also having a tough season. Fans and co-workers really liked his segments. This made him keep doing his unique pre-game shows.
Memorable Puns and Skits
On October 30, 2011, Gene started a segment dressed as a hot dog. He said he felt "like such a wiener" for dressing up a day early for Halloween. He wore the costume for the whole game. He even interviewed Oilers assistant coach Kelly Buchberger. Gene joked, "This may be the first time in history a hot dog has interviewed a burger."
In December 2015, Gene introduced Oilers head coach Todd McLellan. He called him the "Toddfather." Gene was doing an impression of Vito Corleone from The Godfather movie. A trumpet player played music from the film. Gene later said this was one of his favorite segments. He liked that it was a "team effort" with many parts.
In January 2017, Gene wore a Donald Trump mask. He made many Trump-related puns. This was during a broadcast that happened on the day of Trump's inauguration.
Later that year, Gene did a segment for the Edmonton Police Service's 125th anniversary. He made several police-related puns. Then, an officer handcuffed him. The officer said Gene had gone over the "legal limit for puns." He was being sent to the "pun-itentiary."
Gene's Personal Life
Gene Principe is married to Karen Principe. Her maiden name was Poganiatz. They met when Gene was working in Winnipeg. They have three children together.
Karen Principe used to be a dental hygienist. In 2021, she was elected to Edmonton City Council. She became a councillor for Ward tastawiyiniwak.
