Gord Cutler named to run Rogers all-encompassing hockey productions

Rogers Media has chosen a familiar face to oversee the broadcast end of its $5.2 billion investment in the National Hockey League.

The telecommunications giant announced Thursday that Gord Cutler is its senior vice-president of production for NHL games when the new contract kicks in later this year.

Cutler has a long relationship with Rogers Media head Scott Moore, going back to the launch of Sportsnet in 1998.

"He is one of Canada’s top sports producers, possesses incredible hockey knowledge, and understands the hockey fan,” said Moore, president of Sportsnet and NHL for Rogers. “Gord’s extensive production resume, which includes the NHL playoffs and several Olympic Games, combined with his tremendous passion for the game, will be integral to delivering on our stars-first production philosophy.”

The appointment makes Cutler responsible for basically all aspects of Rogers massive NHL package. He will oversee all on-air production on all platforms for all games, both national and regional and studio broadcasts. That means he will be calling the shots at Hockey Night In Canada as well as all games that appear on Sportsnet, Citytv and other Rogers channels.

It is easily the biggest job in the history of Canadian hockey broadcasting.

Cutler is one of the most experienced sports producers in the country. He was executive producer for the CTV-Rogers consortium that handled the 2010 and 2012 Olympics, involved in the production of all pre-Olympic and Olympic coverage. Prior to that, he was executive producer of the NHL Network, game producer for Toronto Raptors broadcasts and was a senior producer for TSN's hockey and CFL broadcasts.

Cutler also spent seven years as a senior producer at Sportsnet under Moore, producing the network’s first national NHL broadcasts. He also worked with NBC for some of its Olympics coverage and for Fox's NHL broadcasts.

“This is an extremely exciting time for Rogers, and I am very proud and thrilled to become part of the team,” said Cutler. “The passion that Canadians have for hockey is unparalleled, and I am looking forward to helping deliver a viewing experience that not only brings the game to life like never before, but also brings the players and their stories to life in a way that Canadians have yet to experience.”

Cutler won two Canadian Screen Awards for his work on the London 2012 Olympics, a Gemini Award for the Vancouver Games, and is a three-time Emmy Award winner for Olympics work.