Bare Knuckle Sports Talk with Special Guest Gene Principe

Gene Principe

BornFebruary 26, 1967 (age 58)

• Edmonton, Alberta, CanadaOccupationsSports reporterbroadcaster
• SpouseKaren PoganiatzChildren3Sports commentary careerTeamEdmonton OilersGenresHostreporter

SportNational Hockey LeagueEmployerSportsnet

Eugenio Principe[1] (born February 26, 1967)[2] is a Canadian sports reporter and broadcaster, who is the current host of Edmonton Oilers broadcasts on Sportsnet. He is best known for his frequent use of puns and props during his pre-game segments. 

Born in Edmonton to Italian immigrants, Principe began his broadcasting career in 1987 and became a full-time sportscaster in 1990. He anchored various sports programs in Winnipeg and Toronto before returning to Edmonton in 1998 to host Oilers broadcasts for CKEM-TV (then known as A-Channel). Principe continued to host Oilers games after joining Sportsnet in 2001.

Early life and career

Principe was born in Edmonton to Gina and Franco Principe, who were immigrants from Italy.[1][3] His mother Gina was a seamstress, while his father Franco was a carpenter.[4][5] Principe attended Austin O'Brien Catholic High School and became interested in sports broadcasting as a teenager.[6][7] This led him to study broadcasting for two years at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) before graduating in 1987.[7]

Principe began his first work placement at CFJC-TV in Kamloops, later moving to Grande Prairie to work as a videographer for CFRN-TV.[7][3] After a year and a half in Grande Prairie, he became a reporter for CFCN-TV in Lethbridge, eventually transitioning to a full-time sports reporter in the summer of 1990.[3][8]

Principe later moved to Global-owned CKND-TV in Winnipeg,[6] spending three years as host of the station's Winnipeg Jets broadcasts and the co-anchor of Sportsline, a half-hour sports show.[9] In 1995, he was hired by Global to work for CIII-TV in Toronto, where he continued to host Sportsline.[6][10]Given the opportunity to cover his hometown team, Principe returned to Edmonton in August 1998 to become the host of CKEM-TV's Edmonton Oilers broadcasts, as well as its evening sports show.[6]