As Game 5 of the 2023 Stanley Cup Final drew near, ultimately resulting in the Vegas Golden Knights winning the Cup, the TNT studio show was wrapping up. Anson Carter raised his left hand, microphone in his right, and asked, “Can we get a couple of quick clicks too? Z, the mama bear of TNT, just got promoted.”
Without hesitation, Wayne Gretzky, Paul Bissonette, Henrik Lundqvist, and Liam McHugh all raised their hands, snapping away as they celebrated the moment. This recognition was for Michele Zarzaca, who was promoted to director of talent relations at TNT the previous March, and her efforts led to this gathering for the final NHL Face Off show of the Stanley Cup Final.
The journey began back in 1972 at a hockey game, sparking Zarzaca’s lifelong passion for the sport, which endured despite the exits of two professional hockey teams from Georgia – the Atlanta Flames and Atlanta Thrashers. This passion came full circle in 2021, nearly half a century after her first exposure to hockey, when Turner Sports secured NHL broadcasting rights in the U.S. alongside ESPN/ABC. Zarzaca saw this as an opportunity to assemble her ideal team.
She had dedicated countless hours to watching hockey, honing her understanding of what resonated on screen, who captivated audiences, and who did not. Zarzaca felt that this role was the culmination of her lifelong preparation. “I became familiar with all these voices and all these people,” she said. “As soon as I was told that I’m leading the charge on this, within moments, I had a list of people I wanted to go after.”
Recognizing the urgency to recruit talent before ESPN did, she urged her superiors to reach out promptly. “These are the best guys in the business,” she insisted. “We need to get phone calls to them, Zoom calls. You and the executive team need to meet and talk to these people, and then we need to hire them. Fortunately, they listened to me.”
Eddie Olczyk, Kenny Albert, and Darren Pang soon joined the team, while they missed out on Brian Boucher, who went to ESPN. Zarzaca’s vision was materializing quickly. Her most notable achievement was crafting the studio show, which aimed to cater to both dedicated hockey aficionados and casual viewers. She sought to blend fun with professionalism, echoing the chemistry seen in TNT’s successful “Inside the NBA” crew.
Zarzaca’s decision to bring in Wayne Gretzky was straightforward, but she also needed a dynamic personality. “We wanted a lightning rod,” she explained, drawing parallels to Charles Barkley from the NBA side. They took a chance on Paul Bissonette, believing he would resonate with a younger demographic. “And it worked,” Zarzaca noted.
Anson Carter was added for stability, while Liam McHugh was chosen as the host. When Rick Tocchet stepped down as coach of the Arizona Coyotes, Zarzaca seized the opportunity to advocate for securing the best talent. “They trust my judgment,” she said, emphasizing the support she received from her leadership, which allowed her to bring her vision to life.
Among her most remarkable selections was Henrik Lundqvist. “What a name that would be,” Zarzaca thought. Many of the talents brought in were seasoned veterans, but Lundqvist stood out. “Since day one when I joined TNT I felt so welcomed and taken care of, and it all starts with Z,” he shared.
Zarzaca’s goal has always been to create an environment where players feel free to express themselves. She noted significant growth in Lundqvist, particularly when he embraced the persona of “Angry Hank” to critique younger goalies. “They’re in the safe zone and they know we all have their back,” Zarzaca remarked.
The uniqueness of the show stemmed from allowing personalities to shine authentically. “She’s such a genuine individual and she wants you to be yourself,” McHugh reflected, adding that the team’s dynamic is rare, with each member bringing their strong opinions and personalities to the table while being supportive teammates.