Jeff O’Neill returns to TSN radio show after being on leave
Posted May 3, 2023 4:46 pm.
Last Updated May 3, 2023 5:23 pm.
Canadian broadcaster and former NHL winger Jeff O’Neill returned to TSN’s 1050 “OverDrive” a week after being on leave for unspecified reasons.
O’Neill hadn’t appeared on the 1050 sports radio show since last week and was absent on Monday, a few days after the Toronto Maple Leafs eliminated the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games.
The 47-year-old tweeted before the start of “OverDrive” on Wednesday, “Really appreciate everyone reaching out. I’ll see you guys at 4 p.m.”
Really appreciate everyone reaching out. I’ll see you you guys at 4pm ????
— Jeff O’Neill (@odognine2) May 3, 2023
O’Neill did not discuss the reasons behind his extended absence, only briefly explaining that he was happy to be back alongside co-hosts Bryan Hayes and Jamie “Noodles” McLennan.
“It’s good to be back. As I tweeted out earlier, I just wanted to let people know I really appreciate the messages — family, friends, everyone. I just appreciate it,” O’Neill said on air.
He teased that his brother had received many emails concerning his absence from the show.
RELATED: TSN radio host, former NHL forward Jeff O’Neill on leave
On Monday, Hayes briefly addressed O’Neill’s absence, confirming the 47-year-old, who goes by the nickname “O-Dog,” had been on leave.
“We wanted to let you know that the O-Dog is on leave, and that’s as far as we’re going to go with it,” Hayes said on-air Monday. “The show is going to continue.”
Hayes, the host of TSN’s “OverDrive” with former NHL goalie and co-host McLennan, was joined by former NHL defenceman Frank Corrado.
Corrado, who has guest-hosted on “OverDrive” and been featured on TSN broadcasts, was expected to appear more often on the 1050 station moving forward. It’s unclear if that’s still the case.
CityNews reached out to TSN’s parent company Bell Media for comment but did not receive a response.
O’Neill and “O-Dog” was a trending topic on Twitter for days following news of him being on leave.
The former NHL winger joined TSN as a part-time radio personality in February 2013. He has been a regular on Bell Media’s TSN since his retirement from the NHL following the 2006-07 season.
The Richmond Hill, Ont. native played 11 NHL seasons, mainly with the Carolina Hurricanes, finishing with 198 goals, 218 assists and 416 points. O’Neill ended his career playing in Toronto with 20 goals and 42 points across 74 games in his final season.
