Just Call Me “Andi”: Sports Stories from a Trailblazer

by Andria Petrillo

When Andi Petrillo decided to pursue a career in sportscasting, a woman offering her opinion on sports was still a novelty. She was constantly being criticized, scrutinized, and sexualized, but her love for sports — and her determination to prove she deserved to be doing what she loved — propelled her into a successful and historic career. From becoming the first woman to be part of the Hockey Night in Canada in-studio broadcast, to being the first woman to host a daily sports radio talk show in Canada (Leafs Lunch on TSN), to being the first woman to win a Canadian Screen Award for Best Sports Host, she’s come to see her perseverance as inspiration for young women who now believe they too can achieve great things in sports broadcasting.


Just Call Me “Andi” shares many of the obstacles Petrillo’s faced, as well as the incredible friendships she’s made, and the lessons she’s learned along the way. It also provides a behind-the-scenes look into the industry, explaining why editorial and broadcast decisions are often made and how the broadcasting world has evolved in the era of streaming and social media.


Women have come a long way in sportscasting, but it may surprise people to learn about the pervasive sexism and the downright ridiculous requests that are still made of women that are not made of men … Petrillo’s story is both heartbreakingly honest and deeply insightful, providing a roadmap for future broadcasters navigating similar challenges so that female voices in sport are the norm, not the exception.

249 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 21, 2025

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Andi Petrillo is certainly an inspiration!
She grew up playing sports and turned her passion into a widely successful career covering hockey, soccer and the Olympics.
We read about her journey pursuing her dream and the many obstacles she must face in order to become a sports broadcaster in a career hugely dominated by men.
I loved reading about the support she received from not only family and friends but from those I am familiar with in the sports world.
Andi I admire your courage and resilience!
Highly Recommended

Thank you to NetGalley and ECW Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Kirsten Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and ECW Press for the advanced reader copy of this book. I selected this title from the fall ECW catalogue because since the advent of the PWHL and the Northern Super League, I’ve become a big fan of all things women’s sports. There are not enough books by Canadian women athletes, media or owners so of course I’m going to read and promote this book.

Andi Petrillo is a sports broadcaster with decades of experience in men’s and women’s sports. Her book is part memoir, part guidebook for women entering the profession. It’s well written and entertaining. She deals with prickly topics like locker rooms, misogyny, social media and Don Cherry in a quiet way. So refreshing in the age of online shouting and black and white thinking.

If you are a Canadian sports fan, you’ll enjoy this read. If you want to lift up women in the sports world, you’ll enjoy this book.

I assume she’ll narrate the audio book and if so, I can’t wait to read it again.

[Michaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw this book, I jumped at the opportunity to learn more about Andi and the field of sports casting in Canada.

Andi Petrillo has had an incredible career and is an incredible storyteller. Her memoir focuses on the highlights and the challenges of her career as a sportscaster. She's had moments that inspire awe, laughter, and frustration. From the outside, it's easy to make assumptions about what challenges a woman faces in a male dominated field but in this book, Andi lays out her experiences and her advice for up and comers to stand their ground or ease their worries. I won't get into specifics, mostly because there were too many points I found important and/or interesting so I'd basically be repeating most of it but you should definitely read it when it releases on Tuesday!

[Mike Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Andria Petrillo.
I could say that I always thought about women in the industry in a positive way. But, that might not be entirely true. Jennifer Hedger was a trail blazer on TSN. Over time, I gained more and more respect for her. Enter Andi and it became clear early how good she is. She is as knowledgeable as any man and belongs in the industry and deserves all accolades she has received.
Why is this important?
Well, overall this is not the greatest writing. However, I enjoyed the memories of the stories she told. More importantly, there becomes a clear theme of her trials and tribulations of making it in an industry that is dominated by men. I really appreciated her honesty, her ability to convey the challenges and her work to change this part of the world.

[Dave Cottenie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at Petrillo’s ascension in the world of sports broadcasting in Canada. Som fun stories from her youth and thought and feelings in the industry. The end got a bit preachy, but overall it was a good review of her career.