Whoopi! (as in Goldberg) it’s time for hockey

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Before Sarah Palin, hockey mom, there was Whoopi Goldberg, hockey voice.

The actress and moderator of ABC’s ‘The View’ got hooked on hockey several years ago after being introduced to the sport, reportedly by a Canadian friend. Goldberg became a hard-core New Jersey Devils fan.

So much so that she was invited out onto the ice after the Devils beat the Anaheim Ducks to end their successful 2002-2003 NHL Stanley Cup season. Goldberg, who attended all of the team’s home games during that postseason run, also narrated the Devils’ highlight DVD. Goldberg also wrote a hockey storyline (and some real hockey players) into an episode of her ‘Whoopi!’ television show.

And on Thursday morning, Goldberg will be the headlining guest on the first episode of the second season of ‘The NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman.’ The radio show that is co-hosted by former NHL player Bill Clement is carried at 1 p.m. (PT) by XM Channel 204, Sirius Channel 208 and NHL.com.

-- Greg Johnson