As 18-year-old Montreal Canadiens draft choose Michael Hage looked for phrases to honor his father, who had died in a swimming pool accident a yr earlier, Sportsnet broadcaster Jeff Marek positioned his hand on Hage’s arm, helped him transfer his microphone up so he may very well be heard after which put a reassuring hand on Hage’s again as he held again tears.
“The entire hockey world is cheering for you,” Marek mentioned. “ that, proper?”
That second from Sportsnet’s dwell broadcast of the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas was extensively praised for its tenderness — a heat, empathetic gesture by Marek, 55, a veteran broadcaster who over a 30-year profession had endeared himself to tv and radio audiences.
Marek’s affable, beer-with-a-buddy demeanor and encyclopedic information of hockey made him one of many sport’s most beloved and extensively revered voices. He had labored his means up from an entry-level radio station gig to internet hosting the “The Jeff Marek Present” on daily basis at midday on the identical station the place he received his begin and for the final 13 years was one among Sportsnet’s signature skills.
He ran towards sort within the normally staid broadcast tradition, with full-arm tattoos, and he wore denims and T-shirts when he wasn’t sporting a swimsuit for Sportsnet broadcasts. Earlier than touchdown as a full-time hockey analyst, Marek hosted a well-liked skilled wrestling radio present in Toronto. But he was so proficient, so beloved, that former Sportsnet president Scott Moore, who employed Marek in 2011, considered him as a possible future host of “Hockey Evening in Canada,” the game’s iconic Saturday night time broadcast.
However draft night time — June 28, 2024 — could be Marek’s final look for Sportsnet. He was absent from the post-draft taping of “32 Ideas,” the favored hockey podcast he hosts with Elliotte Friedman. Then the next week, Marek missed the ultimate two episodes of his day by day radio present, earlier than a summer season hiatus.
These absences didn’t garner vital consideration, however Marek additionally went darkish on social media. On July 9, one fan wished the broadcaster glad birthday on X however received no response from Marek, identified for his pleasant engagement. One other consumer commented on Marek’s uncommon silence. “Jeff Marek of 32 Ideas has fully disappeared from the face of the earth for the reason that night of the draft,” wrote @NHLJackManning on July 23.
Just a few Marek followers had intuited one thing was amiss, they usually have been right. In July, Sportsnet quietly parted methods with Marek.
It was the form of transfer that usually would have warranted a public assertion, however the purpose behind it led each events to decide on silence. Marek had come beneath scrutiny from the NHL through the first spherical of the draft for allegedly revealing to a good friend which gamers groups have been drafting moments earlier than these picks have been publicly introduced, in line with league and media business sources. The NHL shared issues in regards to the scenario with the Nevada Gaming Management Board, which probed additional, in line with a number of sources briefed on that investigation.
A spokesperson for the Nevada Gaming Management Board, when requested in regards to the matter, mentioned in a press release supplied to The Athletic:
“As a regulation enforcement and regulatory company, the Nevada Gaming Management Board doesn’t touch upon whether or not it’s, or isn’t, investigating specific individuals or entities.”
The NHL and Sportsnet each declined to touch upon the matter. Marek didn’t reply to requests for remark.
Jeff Marek’s disappearance from the Sportsnet air after the NHL Draft wasn’t observed by many at first. (Courtesy of Sportsnet)
The draft has lengthy been an occasion the place Marek stood out given his a long time of expertise reporting on junior hockey. In Las Vegas, Marek was a key a part of Sportsnet’s dwell broadcast and its pre-draft protection, possessing a eager understanding of methods to stability informing the viewers whereas protecting them entertained. In a single pre-draft podcast with Friedman, he was ebullient, ribbing his podcasting companion a couple of trend mishap earlier within the week, sharing tales about cheekily named “hockey canine” and predicting (incorrectly it will end up) that the Anaheim Geese would choose prospect Zeev Buium with the third general choose.
The NHL’s choice to host its annual draft on the Sphere — a futuristic orb-like area on the Venetian resort in Las Vegas — made the 2024 draft appear larger, the spectacle of it ramped up. It was additionally slated to be the final centralized NHL Draft, with the league permitting groups to draft from their residence bases subsequent yr.
On the primary night time of the draft, Marek sat at a transparent desk subsequent to the principle ground, the place workforce executives and scouts conferred earlier than making their picks. All through the printed, he interviewed every newly drafted participant.
As a part of Sportsnet’s crew that night time, Marek was aware of the draft alternatives earlier than they have been publicly introduced. That is widespread observe for broadcast rightsholders. The manufacturing truck is notified of the choose roughly one or two minutes earlier than it’s made in order that graphics could be ready, video clips readied and cameras educated on the participant about to search out out he has been chosen.
That was why Sportsnet cameras have been within the good place to seize the memorable response from Beckett Sennecke, whose beautiful choice at No. 3 by the Anaheim Geese prompted him to face up, bewildered, earlier than uttering “Holy f—.”
Moments later, Marek spoke to Sennecke about his teary-eyed dad and mom, overwhelmed by his choice.
When Hage went No. 21 to Montreal, Marek delivered one of many night time’s signature moments and it highlighted his potential to make interview topics snug.
Additionally beneath the Sphere that night working the draft was Mark Seidel, a former NHL scout with the Minnesota Wild who for the previous 5 years labored in scouting and participant personnel roles with the Ontario Hockey League’s Barrie Colts. He additionally runs his personal scouting service, branded the North American Central Scouting Impartial Bureau (to not be confused with the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau) and has often supplied draft content material for ESPN.
Seidel and Marek have identified one another for years, in line with two individuals with information of their relationship. Seidel has made a number of appearances on podcasts with Marek, together with to speak about prospects prematurely of the annual draft.
In Las Vegas, Seidel appropriately predicted a number of picks on X, which prompted issues that Marek had knowledgeable Seidel who these groups have been selecting.
The almost five-hour broadcast ended round 8:15 p.m. native time, and Marek was scheduled to go away Las Vegas that night time on a red-eye flight. However earlier than he left, at the least one NHL official approached Marek about wanting to talk with him.
The league was involved in regards to the potential misuse or dissemination of insider info, league and media sources mentioned. Gaming business specialists mentioned that draft “leakage” and “tipping” is comparatively widespread. Possessing what’s deemed “insider info” isn’t inherently problematic; provided that that info is used as a way of economic achieve does it turn out to be an integrity concern. In response to a publicly out there doc from the Nevada Gaming Management Board on necessities licensed books should adhere to concerning wagers on the NHL Draft, “acceptance of wagers which contain a particular participant should stop 24 hours previous to the beginning of the primary spherical. Acceptance of all different wagers should stop previous to the beginning of their respective spherical.”
League and media sources mentioned that Marek gave Seidel a heads up on the picks in order that Seidel might higher put together and provide evaluation of these alternatives on social media. Skilled sports activities leagues are identified to watch social media throughout dwell occasions corresponding to drafts; additionally it is widespread for leagues to companion with exterior integrity and compliance companies to watch social media exercise.
When contacted by The Athletic, Seidel declined to reply questions on the scenario, together with why he deleted numerous social media posts he made on the night time of the draft.
Throughout prior drafts, Seidel confirmed a knack for predicting picks simply earlier than they occurred, delivering these scoops on his X account. The wording in these posts have been typically couched, showing to be an insider’s instinct. “Philadelphia and Cutter Gauthier have been made for one another … I’d lay cash on him,” he tweeted through the 2022 draft, nailing the Flyers’ choose simply earlier than it was introduced.
Within the 2020 draft, he predicted or closely insinuated the primary 12 picks appropriately. Main as much as the occasion, he despatched out a tweet highlighting that he had appropriately predicted the highest of the primary spherical in different drafts.
Requested about picks he predicted at earlier drafts, Seidel didn’t reply.
4 individuals near Marek, who declined to talk on the report due to the authorized sensitivity of the scenario, mentioned he isn’t identified to gamble. Two of these 4 mentioned he has, on a number of events, expressed an aversion to selling playing on air. On his eponymous radio present, his producer usually handles the betting segments.
One supply briefed on the draft night time scenario mentioned that no playing impropriety was found or any intent for Marek to achieve financially from what occurred.
Nevertheless, as a result of Marek was alleged to have shared proprietary info with somebody exterior the corporate, and given the corporate’s partnership with the NHL — Sportsnet has two years left on a 12-year deal because the league’s nationwide rightsholder — the community was in a troublesome place involving one among its most outstanding broadcasters.
As hypothesis about his extended absence from the airwaves persevered, Canadian sports activities media commentator Jonah Sigel broke information of Marek’s departure final week. That very same day, a Sportsnet spokesperson confirmed he was not with the corporate.
The subsequent day, Marek addressed his departure on X, although he didn’t publicly share the explanations behind it. (A number of sources mentioned Marek signed a confidentiality settlement previous to exiting the corporate.)
“After 13 nice years at Sportsnet, I’m shifting on,” he wrote. “It’s been an unbelievable journey and I’m grateful to have labored alongside so many nice individuals and performed a job in bringing sports activities and hockey information to followers throughout Canada and the world. Extra to return quickly.”
The information of his departure prompted an outpouring of help from inside the hockey and sports activities media neighborhood, with many lamenting Marek’s departure and sharing anecdotes of how he’d endeared himself to his viewers — together with encouraging messages he’d despatched to at least one listener as they battled most cancers — and mentored younger journalists and others beginning their careers in hockey.
Nick Alberga, who now hosts the “Leafs Morning Take” on The Nation Community, mentioned he didn’t know Marek nicely when Marek supplied up his identify as a possible host for Sportsnet’s “Hockey Central Saturday” in 2017, serving to him land a spot on the weekly syndicated present.
“That primarily received my foot within the door,” mentioned Alberga.
At Sportsnet, Marek’s absence is already being felt. He had a fame for championing producers and technical workers, and for welcoming new voices onto his many reveals.
“Jeff is a good advocate of diversifying the voices that speak in regards to the sport,” mentioned Dave Cadeau, the previous director of programming at Sportsnet Radio. “He actually appreciated the worth that it might probably deliver to the dialog.”
Moore recalled assembly Marek for breakfast in Toronto earlier than hiring him for the primary time whereas Moore was an government at CBC.
“As quickly as I met him, I assumed this man goes to be a unusual star,” Moore mentioned. “He wasn’t your commonplace ‘Hockey Evening in Canada’ anchor sort. He’s received a bit little bit of an edge to him, a bit little bit of character to him.”
Moore later employed Marek at Sportsnet and made him one of many community’s marquee skills.
“I do know he’ll do nicely in no matter his subsequent triumph is,” mentioned Moore, who’s now chairman of Uninterrupted Canada and CEO of the 2025 Invictus Video games.
After Marek addressed his departure on Friday, Friedman, his longtime podcast companion, wrote on X: “Life throws curveballs at you. I’ll miss being his teammate, and thank him for being an amazing co-pilot to our 32 ideas podcasting voyage — which is able to proceed.”
Friedman, when contacted in regards to the particulars of Marek’s departure, declined to remark.
Sportsnet has but to call Marek’s alternative on the podcast or who would possibly fill his roles on tv and radio.
In a 2012 newspaper profile, Marek famous the odd trajectory of his profession. His first job was working at a graveyard. He postponed a deliberate Ph.D. in English to take an entry-level job at TheFan 590 — the community that might turn out to be Sportsnet radio.
“It’s been form of an unintentional profession,” Marek advised the Stouffville Examiner, shortly after being employed by Sportsnet. “It’s been a bit surreal and weird. … And I’m grateful for that.”
— The Athletic’s Corey Pronman contributed to this story.
(Illustration: Dan Goldfarb / The Athletic)
