Matthew Wright

Director Of Programs at @chcanada Scout MHL Chaleur Lightning

[Toronto Blue Jays @BlueJays]

WE'RE GOING TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!!! #WANTITALL

[Bob McKenzie @TSNBobMcKenzie]

The trade is one for none.

Which is to say I’m exchanging my semi-retired TSN life of the last five years — doing the World Junior Championships, NHL Draft Rankings, a handful of Toronto Maple Leaf broadcasts, TradeCentre and Free Agent Frenzy — for a fully-retired life of doing absolutely nothing.

Well, nothing work related anyway.

Today’s Free Agent Frenzy is the last working day in a 48-year professional career that included stops at The Sault Star, The Globe and Mail, The Hockey News (twice), The Toronto Star, TSN, ESPN and NBC, amongst others.

It’s been quite a ride.

I’ll be 69 years old in August. I decided a few months ago it’s as nice a time as any to call it a career with the expiry of my current contract. If I had been so inclined to continue doing the World Juniors and draft rankings etc. at TSN, the opportunity was certainly there for me to do so. And I’m so grateful to TSN for that.

Honestly, though, I am looking forward to waking up on Christmas morning this year and NOT flying to Minneapolis-St. Paul for the World Juniors.

I’m also looking forward to doing more travelling with my wife Cindy; having more time to give my sons Mike and Shawn unwanted (and unneeded) advice; playing even more golf than I am now; and having my two wonderful grandchildren Blake and Gunnar running my show on a full-time basis.

After almost 50 years in the business, there are far too many people to thank individually, so I won’t even try to name any lest I leave some out.

Just know that I’ve been blessed to work for, work with and work against so many great people who gave me boundless opportunity, incredible support and intense motivation. The nearly five decades have gone by in the blink of an eye.

I certainly never set out to be the TSN Hockey Insider. It never occurred to me that I would work in television. All I wanted to be when I grew up was a hockey writer, to have a “job” to watch, write and talk about the game. You know, tell a few stories and try to capture the spirit of the thing.

Mission accomplished, I guess.

I couldn’t say goodbye now without a special thanks to everyone at TSN, past and present.

I first started showing up on the network in or around 1986-87. In the 1990s, I was working full-time hours at TSN but still had a full time newspaper job, too. Since 2000, 25 years ago, TSN has been my primary professional home.

It’s been a very special place on so many levels. The best part of TSN has always been the people. The best people doing the best work. What an honour to be one small part of the unsurpassed excellence that is TSN. Every time I’ve walked out of Studio Six at the end of Free Agent Frenzy on July 1, I’ve said to myself: “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

And it doesn’t. That’s especially true on this Canada Day because I’m so very proud to be a Canadian. 🇨🇦

I’m a very lucky guy. I owe the game of hockey, and all the people within it — the players, coaches, managers, executives, scouts, agents et al — so much; I owe my family and friends even more. 

Finally, thank you to anyone who has ever read, watched or listened to any of my work in any form at any outlet over the last 48 years. It’s been a privilege to share some information with you all, and try to have a few laughs along the way on social media or whatever they’re calling it these days.

I’ve cherished it all.

Fully Completely.

✌️and 💕 

-30-

[Sportsnet @Sportsnet]

Passing of the torch 🤝

[Sportsnet @Sportsnet]

CONNOR MCDAVID!!!! THE GAME WINNER!!! CANADA WINS THE #4NATIONS FACE-OFF 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦

[Sportsnet @Sportsnet]

A Sho for the ages. 🐐

In addition to creating the 50/50 club, Shohei Ohtani delivered one of the greatest single-game performances ever. 😳

[Matthew Wright @MattWright89HA]

Another early season upset for the Irish.. This sucks .. Northern Illinois was the better team throughout. Congratulations

[Columbus Blue Jackets @BlueJacketsNHL]

Columbus Blue Jackets statement on the passing of Johnny Gaudreau and his brother, Matthew.

[TSN @TSN_Sports]

UNBELIEVABLE‼️ Canada takes gold in the Men’s 4x100M Relay 🇨🇦🥇

WHAT A RACE‼️

[Washington Capitals @Capitals]

NEWS | The Capitals have signed forward Luke Philp to a one-year, two-way contract and forward Spencer Smallman to a one-year, two-way contract. https://t.co/dzkeoxdM85

[Matthew Wright @MattWright89HA]

How about last week when he was 2 for 2 with 2 doubles and they only had 3 hits at the time, took him out of the game for “a better match up” which led to a pop out.. Its becoming tough to watch

[Ken Reid @SNKenReid]

Ernie Clement has 10 hits in his last six games. By the standards of this year’s team - that is Ruthian. He is NOT in the starting lineup tonight. Organization has learned nothing from last year. Zero day to day feel for the game. It is run by a computer and it ain’t working

[Matthew Wright @MattWright89HA]

@WKortleever Makes no sense to pinch hit for Clement there. He had 2 of the 3 Jays hits tonight. Where’s the feel in the game compared to analytics on that decision. It’s a bad move

[Matthew Wright @MattWright89HA]

I don’t get it. Jays struggling for production, Clement 2-2 with 2 doubles tonight and you pinch hit for him….

[Remparts de Québec @quebec_remparts]

Un premier défenseur pour les Remparts aujourd'hui!

#DeQuébecPourQuébec | @fenplast

[NHL Public Relations @NHLPR]

Chris Kreider became the third player in @NYRangers history to record a hat trick in a potential series-clinching game, joining Mike Gartner (Game 5 of 1990 DSF) and Steve Vickers (Game 5 of 1973 QF). #StanleyCup

#NHLStats: https://t.co/c43Wmn6Ztg

[Spittin' Chiclets @spittinchiclets]

THE RANGERS ARE HEADING TO THE EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS!!

[Sportsnet @Sportsnet]

THE BREADMAN PLAYS HERO! 🍞

[New York Rangers @NYRangers]

GAME 3. ✔️ #NoQuitInNY

[Hockey Night in Canada @hockeynight]

Bob Cole, the play-by-play voice of countless NHL games, dies at 90 https://t.co/TdFG5445le

[Matthew Wright @MattWright89HA]

Usports hockey national final not being on national TV is not right and a disgrace to the caliber of hockey. Do Better @USPORTS_Hockey

[New York Rangers @NYRangers]

#LGR