Hangin' Up The Microphone

It's been just over 13 years since I received a phone call that changed my life.

I had just moved back to Calgary to work as a radio reporter when a random 403 number came up. Instead of letting it go to voice-mail, I picked it up and heard the voice of Geordie Macleod, who at the time was the game-day director or manager (can't remember the exact title as he's had a few over the years) for the Calgary Flames. He was calling to see if I was interested in being the fill-in game-day host for the Calgary Hitmen.

Rewind the tape to just a few weeks earlier, where I had bid adieu to Medicine Hat, where I had been the game-day host for the Tigers. In fact, the Tigers and Hitmen had met in that spring's playoffs, where the Hitmen beat the Tigers 4-2 in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. I traveled to Calgary for each of the road games and made as much noise as humanly possible with a few friends (looking at you Erin Glazier and Tim Machan). The Hitmen would go on to win the WHL championship a few weeks later.?

Having bled orange and black for those two seasons, I was obviously hesitant about cheering for another team. I actually had my eye on an NHL gig if I could. So I almost said "no thanks" to Geordie. But he talked me into it, making the very valid point that if I put in the work with the Hitmen, the Flames would be the obvious next step. So I took it as a challenge.

December 30, 2010 was my first game with the Hitmen. I had to look the date up because I distinctly remember it being the Brandon Wheat Kings and it was right after Christmas. Either way, I might have looked like I had it all together, but I was nervous as all heck. My first promotion was Timbits Hockey in the first intermission and I may or may not have almost said "make some noise for your Mmmmm...Calgary Hitmen."

Fast-forward to today and I still get nervous turning on that microphone. It's a good nervous...a nervous that I have high expectations of myself to perform. To get you out of your seats. To share a laugh. To participate or cheer on someone in a contest. But most importantly, to have fun cheering for your favourite team.

If you couldn't tell by my vibe at the 'Dome, I've had a ton of fun over the years as well. I mean, how could you not enjoy yelling into a microphone, giving away prizes and just enjoying the game of hockey?

That said, I also knew that, at some point, the ride would come to an end. I truly believe that the team and the fans deserve to get some fresh blood on the microphone to deliver the games in a different way. I never wanted the show to get stale. It never did, but after 13 years, I felt change would have to come soon.

So during the off-season, I met with the game-day team and I told them that I wouldn't be returning as the official host of the Calgary Hitmen. Tears were definitely shed, as this team has become part of who I am. They are family.

It starts with the amazing team behind-the-scenes that don't get nearly the attention or fan-fare they deserve. There have been so many over the years that I know I'm just scratching the surface but we're talking managers and directors like Geordie Macleod, Steve Edgar, Austin Shaw, Austin Friesen, Seth Strankman, Darren Weatherhead and Aaron Fitzgerald. The numerous floor directors like Sarah, Jess, Kara, Maddie, Chris and Steve. The mascots like Dingle, Scott, Graham, Jim and Cris. The incredible voice from above: Bruce Ritchie. The amazing camera and studio crews. The promotions, marketing, media relations and play-by-play teams. The ice crews. The regular seasons, playoff runs, special events, on-ice stuff, off-ice stuff, in the community events. The players, coaches and management for having me be "the voice" all these years. The games themselves, the shenanigans afterwards (shout-out to the PGBO crew). I could legitimately go on and on. Just know that I value each and every one of the people I got to work with over this time, not just with the Hitmen but the Flames, Roughnecks, Wranglers and Stampeders.

I also want to thank our amazing fans. We've built some incredible relationships over the last 13 years. From a passing high-five to conversations on social media to random visits in the stands during a game or even after, it's meant the world to me to build that kind of connection with all of you. I've watched some of them grow up from young kids to young adults.?

Conversely, you've watched me grow up, too. I've gone from being this crazy bald guy who works for almost every team or event in this city to someone who is still crazy and bald, but maybe chilled out a bit as I met the love of my life, Erin, got married and had our two amazing kids. I want to thank my family, parents, sisters and all of my friends for supporting me all these years as I tried to make my mark on Calgary sports and entertainment. Particularly Erin, who has been my biggest cheerleader. She's the power behind my noise. I know it has been a lot of evenings and weekends that we had to plan around the myriad of games and events I was working, and I'm so grateful to her and everyone for being in my corner.

When I first started hosting sporting events, one of the things I've always said is that I wanted to be able to tell my kids and grandkids that "I was cool once." It was my guiding light, and I'll be honest, when I first got to work a game with them in attendance, and to hear how they reacted to hearing my voice or seeing me on the Jumbotron (and seeing the video of it afterwards), it filled me with such an immense feeling of joy and pride that there are no real words to explain it.

It has been an absolute privilege to be the game-day host for the Calgary Hitmen and to work with all of the teams over the course of my career. It has meant the absolute world to me, as I have memories that will last a lifetime. It would be an honour if you'd join me one more time, as the Hitmen have invited me back to host one more game. And it's kind of fitting that it will be the home-opener on Friday against the Medicine Hat Tigers. I can't wait to see you all there, and I look forward to the coming season as my family starts coming to games as we continue cheering on the boys, this time as fans.