Sam Flood’s hockey bona fides have proven legitimate many times over. The 1983 Williams College captain, now the executive producer for NBC Sports and NBC Sports Network, has been a driving force behind the NHL’s Winter Classic’s ascent to an anticipated event on the sports calendar (at least during seasons not condensed by a labor battle).

He is almost matter-of-fact in acknowledging his lifelong passion for the game, and that passion is a common thread among NBC’s lead broadcast team, which includes unparalleled play-by-play voice Mike “Doc” Emrick and analysts Ed Olczyk and Pierre McGuire.