Quick Facts
Scorpio
Biography
Joseph Edward Beninati (born November 14, 1965 in Long Island, New York) is the television play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals. Along with color analyst Craig Laughlin and "Inside the Glass" reporter Alan May, he provides Capitals game coverage for NBC Sports Washington. Beninati has been with the Washington Capitals since 1994. During his years in broadcasting, he's done freelance announcing for ESPN, ESPNU, Westwood One, WFAN and was one of the prominent hockey voices on Versus (formerly OLN now NBCSN.) Throughout his career, Beninati's been awarded DC area Sportscaster of the year, along with claiming 12 Capital Emmy Awards. Occasionally he's heard as the play-by-play voice of Men and Women's Lacrosse on ESPNU and The Big Ten Network; along with the Chesapeake Bayhawks of the MLL on NBC Sports Washington. Before his time with NBC Sports and the Capitals, he covered the AHL system of the Boston Bruins for both the Maine Mariners and the Providence Bruins.
Biography
Early life and college
Beninati grew up on Long Island, listening to Marv Albert broadcasting Knicks and Rangers games. He attended Bowdoin College, where he still holds the school record for saves in a season (263) by a lacrosse goaltender.
Broadcasting
Beninati started broadcasting when he was injured playing hockey and some friends talked him into appearing on the school's radio station. The following year, he began doing play-by-play of local high school events. He later served as a sports information director. Out of college, he was hired to broadcast American Hockey League games, where he rode buses for 5 years. In 1994, he was hired as the Capitals' television play-by-play voice on Home Team Sports (now NBC Sports Washington).
Other sports
In addition to ice hockey coverage, he has provided play-by-play for various ACC and CAA sporting events, Navy football, the Washington Mystics, Major League Lacrosse on ESPN, and the 2002 Winter Olympics and 2006 Winter Olympics hockey tournaments for Westwood One.
Beninati has also filled in for coverage of the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Wizards.Beninati has also found his way behind the in-arena mic, as he subbed as the voice of the Washington Kastles for one match during their third consecutive World Team Tennis championship season in 2013.He called the playoff match against the Boston Lobsters.
Lacrosse
Beninati's allegiance to lacrosse didn't stop with college, as he has called numerous lacrosse events over the years including the Chesapeake Bayhawks vs Boston Cannons every year and was the man on the mic for the 2013 Major League Lacrosse championship match in which Chesapeake downed the Charlotte Hounds 10-9. He also announced the 2019 Major League Lacrosse All-Star Game.
