NY Islanders announcer Brendan Burke takes another swing at calling Yankees games

When legendary New York Yankees announcer John Sterling unexpectedly made the decision to retire from the radio booth weeks into the regular season, New York Islanders TV play-by-play man Brendan Burke knew the perfect way to pay tribute.

During the third period of an Islanders' game against the New Jersey Devils, center Kyle MacLean scored to give the Isles a 4-1 lead. "Islanders goal! Islanders goal!" proclaimed Burke, a nod to the way Sterling called Isles goals back in the 1970s when their radio announcer.

Growing up a Yankees fan, at the same time his father was a beat reporter, Burke grew up listening to Sterling's famous home-run calls on the radio and probably dreaming of having his job one day as he recorded himself calling games from the upper deck. Two summers ago, as Sterling reduced his travel schedule, Burke fulfilled his boyhood dream, becoming one of a handful of broadcasters who filled in for theatrical announcer in 2022.

Now that opportunity is knocking again. As reported by Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Burke will call a pair of series for the Bronx Bomber in June against the Baltimore Orioles and Atlanta Braves. Burke just finished calling the second round playoff series between the Florida Panthers and Boston Bruins for the NHL on TNT, but he finds way to stay plenty busy over the summer. Last year, Burke called Peacock's national TV weekend MLB games for the streaming network.

WFAN, the radio home of the Yankees, and the organization will have to decide on a permanent replacement for Sterling ahead of next season. Fordham University and WFUV Sports alumni Justin Shackil and Emmanuel Berbari have proven to be more than capable members of the Yankees radio team in recent years. Other candidates could include another Fordham alum, Ryan Ruocco, who, in addition to his ESPN work, has been a familiar face and voice on the YES Network for years.

Then, there's Burke. The soon-to-be 40-year-old has become beloved by Islanders fans since taking over for Howie Rose after the 2015-16 season. Working alongside Butch Goring and Thomas Hickey, the MSG telecast is one of the best in hockey. He's quickly becoming regarded as one of the best television voices in hockey, and it's understandable why there would be mutual interest between him and his childhood team.

Rose managed calling Islanders games and New York Mets broadcasts for years, but unlike Burke, he didn't have national television hockey responsibilities. When the Isles season was over, Rose was able to jump right into baseball. It would be a tricky but not impossible juggling act for Burke to take on, but an opportunity that could prove hard to pass up.