SaskatchewanTanner Svenson, 23, was recently hired as the colour commentator for the Prince Albert Mintos, a team in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League. Svenson is on the autism spectrum. Hockey announcer Tanner Svenson says it’s his ‘happy place’Lisa Risom · CBC News · Posted: Oct 28, 2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 5 hours agoListen to this articleEstimated 5 minutesTanner Svenson, 23, has landed an on-air colour commentary job for the Prince Albert Mintos, a team in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League. His commentary goes out live on Flohockey, a subscription broadcast service. (Lisa Risom/CBC)A young Prince Albert man’s dream of saying “He shoots, he scores” on the air could come true any day now. Tanner Svenson, 23, was recently hired as the colour commentator for the Prince Albert Mintos, a team in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League. Svenson is on the autism spectrum. “I feel like it’s my destiny to do this,” he said. “It’s a great feeling. It makes me feel pride and joy whenever I announce those names. I love to see those hockey players playing their hearts out there.” His dad, Mike Svenson, says Tanner has come a long way, considering he was non-verbal and didn’t start talking until he was almost seven years old. “It’s miraculous that he’s doing what he’s doing today in such a professional fashion, that he’s able to speak, he’s able to communicate the way he does. He’s doing it now for a living, which is quite remarkable.”At 14, he had surgery to fix a hole in his skull, which delayed his development once again. A tumor damaged his hearing and he now wears a hearing aid. Despite his health setback, Svenson said he has a knack for memorizing statistics.“I just do my homework … I look at the stats sheet and I have that implanted in my brain for a long time.”This fall, Big Drum Media manager Barry Mihilewicz let Svenson try out as the colour commentator and soon offered him the job for the season.“He’s obviously very excited about it, and we’re very excited to have him,” Mihilewicz said. He employs a few other people who are on the autism spectrum who are succeeding in their roles, he said. “It’s something we’ve strived for, for the last few years for sure, and this is only going to get bigger and better.”Svenson said growing up with autism made it difficult to make friends. As a teenager, he began volunteering with various Prince Albert hockey teams as an announcer, DJ, scorekeeper and timekeeper as a way to be included in the community. “Now I’ve found things that I want to do in my life. And I’ve been building my confidence over the years and making some of the best friends I’ve ever had in my life,” he said.In the future, he wants to attend broadcast school and make a career out of it. His dream is to be a play-by-play announcer with the WHL and someday commentate NHL games.WATCH | Prince Albert Mintos broadcast team scores big with new commentator:He didn’t learn to talk until he was 6. Now the Sask. man is a hockey colour commentatorA young man with autism is joining the broadcast team for a AAA hockey club in Prince Albert, Sask. Tanner Svenson is the new colour commentator for the Mintos.“I just have this voice, that I want to say, ‘He shoots, he scores’ and ‘Passes over with the backhand, he shoots, he scores.’ I just want to say it like that. I just want to be one of those play-by-plays who has a lot of passion and enthusiasm,” Svenson said.He’s had some tips from his coworkers. The Mintos’ play-by-play announcer said Svenson knows a lot about Saskatchewan U18 AAA teams and their players.“If I ask him a question, just off the top of his head he knows that answer. It’s like, wow, because you usually need to do some research on a computer or something, but he’s got a computer in his brain. It’s special, but it’s super unique,” Kyle Kosowan said.Svenson said he’s from a “hockey family” and has spent countless hours at the rink watching his siblings play. “I just like being in the rink a lot. It’s my happy place,” he said.Tanner Svenson, right, with his family. His brother Zach, centre, plays in Assiniboia with the Richardson Pioneer Southern Rebels of the Prairie Junior B Hockey League. His sister Emma, left, is a forward with the U18 A Beachcomber Foxes. (Submitted by Taryn Swenson)His brother Zach plays in Assiniboia with the Richardson Pioneer Southern Rebels of the Prairie Junior B Hockey League. His sister Emma is a forward with the U18 A Beachcomber Foxes. His parents coach and help manage the Foxes. “Hockey is our No. 1 sport as a family. We always have our favorite NHL teams. My dad likes Chicago. My mom loves Edmonton, and my sister likes Edmonton. My brother likes Boston and I’m the one who likes the Florida Panthers, who are back-to-back Stanley Cup champions,” Svenson said.In his spare time, he’s a Special Olympics athlete in floorball and bocce ball. He won gold in the Special Olympics Summer Games bocce ball competition this summer. He’s also been short-listed to compete in bocce ball at the National Special Olympics Games in Medicine Hat, Alta. in August 2026.Fans with subscriptions to flohockey.tv can hear Svenson’s game commentary. Tanner Svenson playing bocce ball with Special Olympics. (Submitted by Taryn Svenson)ABOUT THE AUTHORLisa Risom has two decades of multimedia journalism experience in northeast Saskatchewan. She joined CBC Prince Albert in 2025.
Autistic Prince Albert, Sask., man lands on-air colour commentary job
