A New Voice?

The next time you turn on a radio to 630 CHED to catch an Oiler game there could be a chance it’s a fresh voice coming at you from the play by play position.

Word has come out that current radio play by play man according to Robin Brownlee over at OilersNation.com could be heading down to LA to become the new voice of the Kings to replace the new retired icon in the form of Bob Miller next season.

While Miller was recovering from serious health problems this season, Michaels filled in as one of the man rotating play by play voices for Fox Sports West, calling two games last season at Staples Center.

Of course nothing is confirmed but if Jack did leave for La La Land here’s some names that I think would be solid replacements, some purely fantasy, some maybe realistic.

Daryl Reaugh

Being a colour man is hard work. Going from a colour man to a play by play man as a former player? Not only is that hard it’s very very rare. Less than 10 former players do play by play in North American pro sports and the ex NHL netminder started doing it at the start of last season while his broadcast partner Dave Strader left the booth unfortunately to receive duct cancer treatment.

Reaugh, is a knowledgeable voice and mixes humour and a vast vocabulary often into his on air presence.

Here’s some of his work:

https://youtu.be/NyxcVr6HeyE

There’s also an Edmonton connection as he was taken 42nd overall by the Oilers in the 1984 entry draft, remaining with the organization until 1988, shuffling between the big club and their then AHL squad the Nova Scotia Oilers.

He’s been down in Texas since 1996-97 season so he may not want to move but being the play by play man is only a temporary move until Strader’s health improves. A return to YEG could mean a chance to be a full time play by play man if he wants it.

Kenny Albert

Now this is pure fantasy. Kenny, the son of broadcasting legend Marv Albert has been one of the voices of hockey in America for a very long time, especially when it comes to Rangers games but he by far is one of the most versatile broadcasters in the world. Albert is the only person who currently works NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA games.

The only. One.

Coming to Edmonton would make that impossible with his non NHL duties but having a voice as respected as his with experience on MSG, Fox and USA would be very cool at Rogers Place.

Check out his call of Mika Zibanejad’s winner from this year’s playoffs. Such a commanding voice that’s been apart of the sports world for so many years.

Dennis Beyak

If you’re of a certain age you’ll remember Beyak has actually been the voice of the Oilers before, during rebuild 1.0 back in the mid 90s he was the TV voice alongside John Garrett on CFRN (now CTV Edmonton).

Beyak has been all around the hockey world and currently is Winnipeg Jets play by play man for TSN broadcasts. Beyak has been able to ingrain himself into the Jets franchise as a local and also as the team’s first play by play man since the franchise moved from Atlanta.

Like Albert, he’s got a solid and strong voice for a broadcast and knows how to bring up his tone for moments such as hits and goals, see this Patrick Laine hat trick for example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z531McOoy08

Although, since Beyak is back at home and also gets to call World Junior games on TSN would he want to leave that to return to the Oilers and Sportsnet with no WJC games? That may be a hurdle if he was a name bandied about if Jack does go to Los Angles.

For all we know Jack Michaels may be back at Rogers Place in Fall 2017 doing his thing but you when the day will come that the Orange and Blue have a brand new voice in the booth. Either way it’s still fun to guess at it.