Al Koken | RMNB

Al Koken’s Silver Circle honor equivalent to local media Hall of Fame: ‘He’s a tremendously gifted storyteller and interviewer’

For most Washington Capitals fans, Al Koken has been an integral part of the team’s coverage since they first got into hockey. Now, after 38 seasons covering the Caps, Koken is getting a major honor from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Koken is one of nine broadcasters who are being inducted into the prestigious Silver Circle (25-plus years of service) while three others, including retired NBC 4 Washington reporter Pat Collins, are being inducted into the Gold Circle (50-plus years).

The ceremony will be held on Saturday, October 7, in Richmond, Virginia.

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By Ian Oland 4 weeks ago

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John Walton to fill in for a sick Joe Beninati, team up with Craig Laughlin during Game Six broadcast

Longtime NBC Sports Washington play-by-play man, Joe Beninati, will miss tonight’s telecast due to illness. A source confirmed to RMNB that Capitals Radio’s John Walton will take the reins and fill in with Beninati feeling under the weather. Zack Fisch will slide over to Walton’s spot on the radio broadcast with the Hershey Bears eliminated from the postseason.

The Athletic’s Tarik El-Bashir was the first to report the news.

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By Ian Oland 1 year ago

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Local sports broadcasters are making personalized videos on Cameo to help raise money for DC’s food banks

With all professional sports leagues on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, DC’s local sports broadcasters are teaming up to help raise money for those in need in the DC area.

With a donation of $25 or more, fans can have a broadcaster of their choice create a personalized video via the website Cameo. The money raised will go to help DC Central Kitchen, the Capital Area Food Bank, and Martha’s Table. Donations can also be made by texting “DCSPORTS” to 44321.

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By Rachel Cohen 4 years ago

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Tom Wilson blocks camera’s view of Blaine Forsythe for entire interview

Even though Tom Wilson didn’t score during Tuesday’s match-up against the Vancouver Canucks, he was still one of the highlights of the NBC Sports Washington broadcast. During a third period interview between NBC Sports Washington’s Al Koken and assistant coach Blaine Forsythe, Wilson stood up right in front of the two.

For the entirety of the interview, instead of seeing Forsythe’s expressions, viewers were able to watch Wilson drink some Gatorade.

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By Cara Bahniuk 5 years ago

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Joe Beninati and Craig Laughlin Win Emmy Awards For Their Caps Coverage

Photo: @CourtneyCSN

Saturday night, the National Capital Chesapeake Bay Chapter held their 58th annual Emmy Awards at the Baltimore Marriott and several big names in the Caps media brought home some hardware.

CSN Mid-Atlantic’s Joe Beninati, who has been calling Capitals games on TV since 1994, brought home two Emmys. First, Beninati was named this area’s best sports play-by-play man.

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By Ian Oland 7 years ago

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Evgeny Kuznetsov’s Brilliant Interview With Al Koken, Says ‘It’s Not Time For Celebrate’

Evgeny Kuznetsov just scored the biggest goal of his life. His third period goal closed the Nassau Coliseum forever (thank god) and sent the Caps to the second round of the playoffs where they’ll face those danged New York Rangers. After the game, CSN Washington’s Al Koken spoke to Kuznetsov about his goal, and Kuzy dropped some more broken-English pearls of wisdom.

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By Ian Oland 8 years ago

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The Caps’ Video For Bensten Is Powerful Stuff

I hate feeling my own feels. The Caps just turned my insides to mush with this two-minute video dedicated to Bensten “Bman” Schone. As you’ll recall, Bensten is the six-year-old Caps fan who was struck by a car after accidentally sledding into the road. He’s been slowly recovering from a brain injury ever since.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Mike Green Thanks Neighbor’s Kids For Banana Bread After Goal (Vine)

Washington Capitals defenseman Mike Green scored for the second straight game on Tuesday. That’s cause for celebration. During his intermission interview with Al Koken he had a special shout-out.

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By Ian Oland 9 years ago

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Photo: Peter Hassett

Filling in for Joe B. has to be tough. It’s even harder when you have to do it on short notice, which Al Koken was forced to do on Sunday after Beninati fell ill. There are, after all, a lot of names to memorize in play-by-play. It seems Smokin’ Al, who flew into Nashville last night after doing yesterday’s game, remembered one name a little too well: Calle Johansson.

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By Chris Gordon 9 years ago

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Calle Johansson on Alex Urbom: “He’s a Swede, What Can Be Wrong With Him?”

Comcast Sportsnet sideline reporter Al Koken spoke with Washington Capitals assistant coach Calle Johansson during the first period. Koken wanted to know what the Caps franchise leader in games played thought of his new giant defenseman, Alex Urbom.

Apparently it was comedy hour or something.

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By Ian Oland 10 years ago

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