As Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final drew near, marking the moment the Vegas Golden Knights would clinch the championship, the TNT studio show was nearing its conclusion. Anson Carter, microphone in hand, raised his left hand and asked, “Can we get a couple of quick clicks too? Z, the mama bear of TNT, just got promoted.” The crew, including Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonette, Henrik Lundqvist, and Liam McHugh, raised their hands and snapped their fingers for a photo.
This was a moment to honor Michele Zarzaca, recently promoted to director of talent relations at TNT in March. She played a vital role in bringing together the crew for their final NHL Face Off show of the Stanley Cup Final. Zarzaca’s journey began at a hockey game in 1972, leading to a lifelong passion for the sport, which continued even after the exits of both the Atlanta Flames and Atlanta Thrashers from Georgia. In a remarkable twist of fate, hockey returned to her life in 2021 when Turner Sports became one of the NHL’s key U.S. broadcasters alongside ESPN/ABC, giving her the opportunity to curate a dream team.
Zarzaca dedicated countless hours to analyzing hockey broadcasts, assessing talent, and crafting a vision for her lineup. She felt she was preparing for this moment her entire life. When given the chance to lead the charge at TNT, she quickly compiled a list of potential hires, understanding the urgency to compete with ESPN for top talent. “We need to get phone calls to them, Zoom calls. You and whoever on the executive team needs to meet these people, talk to these people, and then we need to hire them. Fortunately, they listened to me,” she recounted.
Eddie Olczyk, Kenny Albert, and Keith Jones joined, along with Darren Pang as a key goalie hire. Zarzaca’s vision for a strong lineup was taking shape. Her most significant achievement was assembling a studio show that appealed to both diehard hockey fans and casual viewers, aiming for a dynamic chemistry similar to that of the acclaimed “Inside the NBA” team.
Bringing in Wayne Gretzky was an easy decision. Zarzaca identified the need for a standout personality akin to Charles Barkley, choosing Paul Bissonette to fulfill that role. “We took a chance, and it worked,” she said. With Anson Carter providing stability and Liam McHugh as the host, the group became complete, especially after Rick Tocchet left his role as coach for the Arizona Coyotes.
Zarzaca’s most ingenious hire, however, was former New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist. She envisioned the impact he could have on the show. Lundqvist expressed gratitude for the warmth and support he received upon joining TNT, emphasizing that “it all starts with Z.” Zarzaca’s goal was to create an environment where players felt comfortable voicing their opinions, leading to significant growth in Lundqvist’s on-air presence, even embracing his alter ego, “Angry Hank,” when critiquing younger goalies.
Zarzaca reassured players that they could express themselves freely without fear of discomfort. The format encouraged spontaneity, as talent members did not attend production meetings to maintain genuine, unfiltered reactions on air. “She’s such a genuine individual and she wants you to be yourself,” McHugh said. “Everyone is exactly who they are. They’re individuals with strong opinions and strong personalities but they’re also great teammates. I think that’s somewhat rare.”