If I ever cornered Gene Principe to pitch a silver anniversary feature marking 25 years on the Oilers beat, he’d skate circles around the spotlight.

You can bet your bottom dollar-puck he’d stickhandle around the question, take a faceoff pause, look ice-wards to the rafters, and chirp with that signature chuckle: “Aw, Cam, that wouldn’t net any readers — pipe down, it’s just empty-net fluff!”

TAIT: 25-year veteran of Oilers broadcasts a true Prince-ipe Back to video

Think about that: a sports broadcaster passing on a golden story just because he’s the star winger.

In a press box where egos usually go top-shelf, Gene’s humility freezes the competition cold. He’s always dishing the puck, never thirsty to hog the rink.

If you’re hooked on Oilers hockey, you already know Gene’s broadcast track record is in a league of its own.

For a quarter-century on Sportsnet, he hasn’t just anchored the telecast; he’s grabbed us hook, line, and sinker. Before the referee even drops the rubber, Gene drops opening teasers so loaded with pun-ishing wordplay you can hear eyes rolling across Alberta.

His icebreakers are........

© Edmonton Sun