17 Facts About Gene Principe

Eugenio Principe was born on February 26,1967 and is a Canadian sports reporter and broadcaster, who is the current host of Edmonton Oilers broadcasts on Sportsnet.

Gene Principe is best known for his frequent use of puns and props during his pre-game segments.

Gene Principe anchored various sports programs in Winnipeg and Toronto before returning to Edmonton in 1998 to host Oilers broadcasts for CKEM-TV.

Gene Principe continued to host Oilers games after joining Sportsnet in 2001.

Gene Principe was born in Edmonton to Gina and Franco Gene Principe, who were immigrants from Italy.

Gene Principe's mother Gina was a seamstress, while his father Franco was a carpenter.

Gene Principe attended Austin O'Brien Catholic High School and became interested in sports broadcasting as a teenager.

Gene Principe began his first work placement at CFJC-TV in Kamloops, later moving to Grande Prairie to work as a videographer for CFRN-TV.

Gene Principe later moved to Global-owned CKND-TV in Winnipeg, spending three years as host of the station's Winnipeg Jets broadcasts and the co-anchor of Sportsline, a half-hour sports show.

Gene Principe joined Sportsnet in October 2001, as the host of the network's Edmonton Oilers broadcasts.

Gene Principe travelled to Dubai in 2005 to film a documentary covering the Dubai Mighty Camels of the Emirates Ice Hockey League.

Gene Principe ultimately left the decision to Sportsnet, who had him stay in Edmonton.

Gene Principe's segments were well received by fans and colleagues, which encouraged him to continue his unique pre-game segments in subsequent seasons.

On October 30,2011, Gene Principe began one of his segments dressed as a hot dog, saying that he "[felt] like such a wiener" for accidentally dressing up a day before Halloween.

Gene Principe later described the segment as one of his favorites because "it was a team effort" and "had the most elements to it".

That same year, during a pre-game commemoration of the Edmonton Police Service's 125th anniversary, Gene Principe made several police-related puns, before being handcuffed by an officer, who informed him that he had exceeded the "legal limit for puns" and was being sent to the "pun-itentiary".

Gene Principe is married to Karen Gene Principe, who he met during his time in Winnipeg; together they have three children.