The Voice of Maverick Hockey
by John Fey
For more than three decades, the booming voice of Terry Leahy has been heard in six states on weekdays by AM listeners of Omaha’s KFAB.
On weekends, UNO hockey fans have been entertained and enlightened by the first – and only – radio color analyst of Maverick games. He hit a milestone with his 1,000th call early into the 2023-24 season as UNO opened its 27th year of Division I hockey.
Leahy, 64, is the epitome of an Omaha native. He grew up east of the UNO campus, graduated from Creighton Prep High School and earned his degree from Creighton University. He even eventually married a classmate from Holy Cross Catholic Elementary School. (Sadly, Sheila Leahy died of cancer in 2015.)
He got his start in radio while at Creighton, working part-time for WOW (now KOMJ). While growing up, Leahy was one of many young fans of the Omaha Knights, who played at the venerable Ak-Sar-Ben Coliseum.
“That was hockey central for the kids from that 1960s and ’70s generation,” he said. “About that time, youth hockey was getting started by Motto McLean (who played for the Knights). But the Omaha Knights established that fan base, starting as early as 1959.”
By the time discussions began about UNO starting a Division I hockey program in 1995, Leahy was embarking on his second decade as the morning news announcer at KFAB. As fate would have it, Omaha’s top-rated AM station was awarded the broadcast rights for Maverick hockey when the puck dropped for the first time on Oct. 17, 1997, at the Civic Auditorium.
“KFAB had lost the rights to Nebraska football for the first time,” Leahy recalls. “This UNO thing exploded, and KFAB jumped on that to get the rights. Management said to me, ‘We know you know hockey. You’re on the broadcast.’ I was just in the right place at the right time.”
Leahy credits Kent Pavelka (who took over Husker football play-by-play duties in 1984) and Gary Sadlemyer for supporting him as the Maverick color analyst. He also credits – to this day – the help he received from then-sports information director Gary Anderson.
Hired as Leahy’s first on-air partner was Greg Harrington, who commuted from his home in St. Paul, Minn., for each home weekend series. The two hit it off immediately and drew high praise from UNO fans.
“Greg had an excellent broadcasting background in college and high school hockey,” Leahy said. “Mike Kemp (UNO’s first coach) knew Greg and gave him a high recommendation. It worked out pretty well.”
In a cost-cutting move, UNO opted not to bring back Harrington ahead of the 2009-10 season. Leahy said he understood but felt bad about losing not just a colleague but a good friend. The two still stay in touch.
“Terry Leahy is the best radio broadcast partner I ever had,” Harrington said. “He knows hockey as well as anyone, and he was always well-prepared.”
Kemp, who remains at UNO as executive associate athletic director, still marvels at Leahy’s longevity and talent.
“Terry has served as the true connection between the fan base and the program since its inception,” Kemp said. “Whether it is a former player, a former player’s parents or a current fan, UNO hockey supporters connect Terry’s distinguishable voice with all things Maverick hockey.”
Leahy’s colleagues from KFAB are happy to have him on the weekday news team. Sadlemyer said he adds to the station’s credibility with his newscasts.
“As a lifelong Omahan, he has tremendous reference points for the geography and history behind news stories and can bring that knowledge to bear in newscasts,” Sadlemyer said. “Add to that his tenure at the station and a terrific delivery, Terry is a great asset.”