Flyers radio play-by-play announcer Tim Saunders and Flyers General Manager Danny Briere. (Courtesy @NHLFlyers on X)
The Flyers suspended radio play-by-play broadcaster Tim Saunders for two games on Friday after an unfortunate hot mic incident in their 5-3 loss in Buffalo on Thursday night.
Here is the Flyers official statement on the matter that they put out on X:
— Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) December 19, 2025
Notice they don't embarrass Saunders by name, even though everyone knows it was him. And the likely reason they don't - is because they find what happened just as humorous as you and I do.
However, because of a fear that there are some folks out there who will get their undergarments in a snit over something like this, the Flyers worried about the optics of it and it resulted in this "hard-handed" suspension because, you know, it's unprofessional.
So, what happened?
During a third period television timeout, Saunders announced that the radio broadcast was also going to go to commercial. It didn't.
We'll get into why in a minute.
So, they stayed on the air and after a few seconds of just background noise and some sing-songy humming, apparently color analyst Todd Fedoruk was bending over from his seat to either grab something off the floor of the broadcast booth or get something out of his bag. The following exchange happened:
Saunders: “While you’re down there, would you mind blowing me?”
Fedoruk: “I think we’re still on the air, Tim.”
Saunders: (Laughter) “No we’re not, are we?”
Then there's a long pause where all you hear is crowd noise, Saunders eventually starts talking again and trying to determine if they are back on the air. He's talking to either the on-site engineer in Buffalo or the producer back at the radio station (97.5 the Fanatic) in Philadelphia.
Saunders: “Do you have us? Mikey, talk to me.”
After a few more seconds, Saunders picks up the broadcast with the game having resumed.
That's it.
If you actually want to hear it, here it is:
For those that haven’t heard it pic.twitter.com/E92eBuiuhQ
So, now the first question is, who is actually offended by this?
By the reaction on social media, nobody.
It's not like he used a slur or a derogatory term toward an individual person. I haven't spoken to Fedoruk, but knowing him like I do, I'm sure he found this hysterical. And I would venture to say that Saunders and Fedoruk are close enough that off-air, back-and-forth banter between them often leads to humorous, sophomoric exchanges like this.
Now, if you are in the business, you do know you are always on, even when you are not, so you need to be careful, but the reality is, when you are doing this day-in and day-out, it's easy to get into a more comfortable spot where you trust the team you are working with to do their job and not let this kind of thing happen.
And that's where the producers/engineers come into play.
This hot mic faux pas happened because the studio never went to commercial break.
As someone who many moons ago was that producer in studio, I can tell you that broadcasters will give you a warning that they are going to throw it to commercial. The thing you listen for as a producer is something like "We'll take a timeout," or "Timeout on the ice." It's a cue to be ready because the broadcasters need a break too. Those two minutes are precious when you are calling a game.
Did Saunders say that in this case? Why, yes, he did. Here's the transcription:
Saunders: “Now they’re going to take the TV timeout. We’ll take it as well, seven (minutes) gone in the third, it’s 3-2 Buffalo on the Philadelphia Flyers broadcast network.”
That last part - "the Philadelphia Flyers Broadcast Network" - is also a verbal hint that he is heading into the break. It's only really said at the top of the hour, when a station ID is required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and heading into commercial breaks.
So, there were several cues for the producer and engineer to know Saunders was not planning to stay live on air.
All those cues were missed.
Also missed was any communication from the studio back to Saunders about coming back from a break. Thus, Saunders asking for information when he says, "Do you have us? Mikey, talk to me."
So, in my mind, this is more on production than it is on Saunders.
No other discipline necessary. This is on the producer as much as anybody
And I can say that as someone who used to do that job - and had it happen to me once, a quarter century ago.
I won't say the game, the broadcasters, or the other individuals involved, because it was technically my fault, so I'll take all the blame.
But I was working a broadcast of a sporting event once. I was training a new producer at the time. The new producer was very proficient at picking up how to do the gig and was near the end of his training. He had done a few games already, running everything by himself with me sitting there and me not having to tell him what to do at all. He had this down pat.
So, on this final night of training, I had other responsibilities and walked over to another part of the studio to grab some things when I heard the radio feed (which was the live on-air feed in that part of the studio) have the broadcaster referencing the attractiveness of one of the women in the crowd as a commercial played in the background.
The trainee had thrown to commercial and gave the all clear to the on-site engineer, but had forgotten to pot down the feed coming from the booth, and, well, I heard about it from my boss.
The point is, it happens. Yeah, it's kind of stupidly embarrassing when it happens, but it happens.
But there will be no FCC fines, because Saunders didn't curse. There will be no calls for his job. There will be no outrage.
Which is why I think the whole suspension is stupid and ridiculous and an overreaction by the Flyers.
Honest question: Did anyone ask for this? Was there a massive outcry that I’ve missed since the hot mic last night? https://t.co/lAAb9UTRJa
Most people found this entertaining and funny. Those same people will forget it even happened in a couple days and move on to the next broadcasting fail. It's really a nothingburger, and for punitive action to be taken, is a misread by the organization. They think they are saving face, but they are only making it worse by getting everyone telling them the suspension is stupid.
I am honestly surprised it got to this point. I would have thought a simple on-air apology would have sufficed and everyone moves on and looks back on it with a chuckle. I mean, team President Keith Jones was known as the guy who told fart jokes on the radio for a laugh before he took this job.
(Edit - Saunders did release a statement through the team. It's an apology. Which is all they should have had happen to begin with. If they would have released this first, there wouldn't have been a need for a suspension because this would have been enough, but they can't put that toothpaste back in the tube):
— Flyers Broadcast Network (@FlyersBroadcast) December 19, 2025
And if the answer to why suspend here is, "well, the sponsors are unhappy" then the sponsors need to take a look in the mirror considering what passes for advertising for sports content these days.
There's an almost abusive amount of gambling advertisements. Then there are those ads for pills to help make it possible for guys to experience the very thing Saunders was joking about..
This is just ass backwards, Flyers. You should reconsider and have Saunders on the call tomorrow against the Rangers.
