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For Flyers broadcasts, Coates and Therien switch roles

Steve Coates moves to radio, Chris Therien to television for color commentary.

RUMORS HAD been swirling during recent months, and the Flyers finally confirmed that a trade was happening.

After spending the last 16 years on the team's Comcast SportsNet television broadcast crew - with much of that time spent wedged between the players' benches - Steve Coates will be heading back to the radio booth.

The Flyers announced in a press release yesterday that "Coatesy" would be trading places with radio color commentator and longtime Flyers defenseman Chris Therien.

Coates, a 32-year Flyers broadcast veteran, had previously worked on the team's radio broadcast from 1991-97. Before that, he spent time alongside Gene Hart in the radio booth and also served as studio host on the television broadcast.

He won two Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards (2000 and 2004) for Best Live Sports Coverage Series during his time in television.

"I'm very excited to be working with Tim Saunders again and to be continuing my career with the Flyers," Coates said in the press release. "We're going to have a lot of fun together and hopefully bring a very entertaining broadcast to Flyers fans every night."

Therien also spent 6 years as the radio color commentator but now will head "inside the glass," on television. Therien was well known during his radio stint for his tirade directed at Penguins captain Sidney Crosby during the 2012 playoffs. His 753 games played is more any other blueliner in Flyers history.

Therien has previous television experience, having spent time as an analyst on Comcast SportsNet's postgame live show.

"I'm extremely honored to be joining the CSN television crew," Therien, who retired from playing following the 2006 season, said in the release. "I'm very grateful to the Flyers and CSN for this opportunity. I know I have some very big shoes to fill and will do my best to bring the little details of the game home to the fans."

The Flyers yesterday also announced the resigning of defenseman Brandon Manning to a 1-year contract. The 24-year-old was a restricted free agent after leading the Phantoms' defensive corps with 31 points in his 73 AHL games played.