Rick Ball is the new voice of the Chicago Blackhawks
Photo credit: Reddit
A fresh voice behind the mic: Chicago Blackhawks embrace change in broadcasting team.
In a decisive move echoing the sentiments of their dedicated fanbase, the Chicago Blackhawks have announced a significant shift in their broadcasting lineup. After just one season, play-by-play announcer Chris Vosters has been released from his duties, making way for veteran broadcaster Rick Ball, previously with the Calgary Flames.
The departure of Vosters follows his attempt to fill the considerable shoes left by Pat Foley, a beloved Hall of Fame broadcaster whose voice became synonymous with Blackhawks hockey. While Vosters brought vibrant energy to the broadcasts, his style, perhaps better suited to basketball, didn't resonate as hoped with the hockey audience.
The Blackhawks organization expressed their rationale in a candid statement:
« One thing we know is that our fans value a deep hockey knowledge and experience, and it was important to us that our broadcast reflect those values,» said Jaime Faulkner, Blackhawks president of business. «Every year after the season concludes, we evaluate our broadcast talent in the booth for both radio and TV, and also in-studio, to determine if it is at the level our fans expect and deserve. Based on our own evaluations, as well as feedback from key stakeholders and partners, we felt we need to make a change in this role. »
Faulkner continued, praising Vosters' capabilities while highlighting the need for a change :
« Chris is a tremendous broadcaster with a very bright future ahead of him,» Faulkner noted. «He has a very big voice that lends itself extremely well to being a sports broadcaster. We want to offer our fans a broadcast with deep experience and hockey knowledge. We evaluate things like depth of hockey vocabulary, ability to anticipate the play to use your voice to draw the viewer in, ability to call plays happening with players who don't have the puck, and knowing that sometimes you don't say anything at all. »
Rick Ball steps into the role with a robust background in hockey broadcasting. Having spent the last decade as the TV play-by-play broadcaster for the Calgary Flames, Ball's experience and familiarity with the NHL landscape are expected to elevate the Blackhawks' broadcast quality.
« When it was first presented to me, there were probably four main factors: Original Six franchise, world-class city, young superstar centerpiece in Connor Bedard, and, last but not least, Darren Pang, who I consider one of the best all-time at his job,» Ball shared. «So when you put those four things, it was a no-brainer.»
Further endorsing Ball, Faulkner added :
« Rick is an exceptional broadcaster with a resume that includes over 20 years of experience as a hockey announcer,» she stated. «He's called some of the sport's biggest games, on its biggest stages, and on one of its most storied broadcasts. He knows this game and its history, and we believe he will take our broadcast to the next level. »
With Ball now secured for the broadcasting booth, the Blackhawks' attention will turn towards enhancing their studio team, aiming to maintain the deep connection and energy that resonates with their audience. Faulkner elucidated their next steps:
« Now that we have the booth set, our attention is going to be directed to the studio,» she explained. «(In making those hires), hockey knowledge, some connection to the Blackhawks is important to us, energy is important. We are working on the criteria that is important to us because we will have the ability to decide who is in studio. Thankfully, we did have a lot of studio talent, both in the host position and otherwise that had been very strong for us. »
As the Blackhawks gear up for these new developments, the anticipation among fans and stakeholders alike is palpable. Will this strategic shift bring the desired freshness and depth to their broadcasts? Only the upcoming season will tell.
For more updates, follow the team's official channel at :
| POLL | ||
6 JUIN | 66 ANSWERS Rick Ball is the new voice of the Chicago Blackhawks Do you think Rick Ball will be better than Chris Vosters? | ||
| Yes | 46 | 69.7 % |
| No | 20 | 30.3 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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