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John Buccigross

John Buccigross is an American sportscaster who has been an anchor at ESPN since 1996. He is best known for his work in hockey broadcasting, having hosted NHL 2Night and SportsCenter, and currently serving as a play-by-play commentator for NHL games. He also covers the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship, serves as the host of The Point, ESPN’s weekly hockey studio show, and has been involved in ABC’s NHL coverage.

Overview

John Buccigross's Profile

John Buccigross was born on January 27, 1966, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Indiana, Pennsylvania and, later, Steubenville, Ohio. He studied communications and theater arts at Heidelberg University, then built his early career in local television — first at Cape 11 News in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He then joined WPRI-TV in Providence, Rhode Island, where he rose from weekend to weekday sports anchor. 

Buccigross joined ESPN in 1996 as one of its first ESPNEWS anchors. He soon became the face of the network’s hockey coverage, hosting NHL 2Night and anchoring SportsCenter and Baseball Tonight for years. When the NHL returned to ESPN in 2021, he moved into a play-by-play role for select regular-season and playoff games and became lead host of The Point, a weekly hockey-focused studio show. 

He has also served as the play-by-play voice of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Championship since 2013. In addition to his role on ESPN, John Buccigross is also the alternate studio host of ABC Hockey Saturday NHL coverage. Beyond his TV hosting career, he is also a keen golfer and the author of a 2007 book on former NHL player Keith Jones, Jonesy: Put Your Head Down and Skate.

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: John Buccigross
  • Gender: Male
  • Date of Birth: 1966-01-27
  • Nationality: American
  • Ethnicity: White
  • Sexual Orientation: Straight
  • Marital Status: Divorced
  • Career Start: 1989
  • Current Network:
  • Years Active
  • Estimated Salary: $250,000

2
TV Shows

0
Current Hosts

20
Years Active

50
Awards Won

TV Shows​

A list of television shows hosted by this host, including current programs and previous presenting roles.

ABC Hockey Saturday - NHL on ABC
ABC Hockey Saturday
ESPN's SportsCentre
SportsCenter

Networks

A list of Networks that this host has worked for.

Personal Life

Family, relationships and background

  • Marriage Melissa Buccigross from 1987 to 2017 (Buccigross’s ex-wife, with whom he has three children)
  • Brett Buccigross, a biological child with Melissa Buccigross , born in 1992
  • Malorie Buccigross , a biological child with Melissa Buccigross , born in 1994
  • Jack Buccigross, a biological child with Melissa Buccigross , born in 1999

Education

Educational background and qualifications

  • Steubenville Catholic Central High School, Steubenville, Ohio
  • Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Theater Arts from Heidelberg University (then Heidelberg College)

Net Worth & Income

Income sources, net worth, and properties.

  • A career spanning nearly thirty years at ESPN, across SportsCenter, NHL 2Night, The Point, and NHL and NCAA play-by-play commentating roles.
  • Author of Jonesy: Put Your Head Down and Skate: The Improbable Career of Keith Jones.
  • Additional income from a personal merchandise store tied to his popular #Bucciovertimechallenge social media franchise.

Awards

Awards & recognition

  • Young Alumni Achievement Award — Heidelberg University (2003).
  • Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters — Heidelberg University (2017).