 The network chose Dan Kelly and Sam Rosen to be the network's first play-by-play announcers, Mickey Redmond and Brad Park were selected to be the analysts, and Tom Mees and Jim Kelly were chosen to serve as studio hosts.ESPN designated Sundays as "Hockey Night in America", but also aired select midweek telecasts.ESPN aired its first game, an opening-night matchup between the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers, on October 10, 1985.