Rick Ball Leaving to Join Chicago Blackhawks Broadcast

[super6646]

Blackhawks replace Chris Vosters with Rick Ball in TV booth

Following in Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Foley’s footsteps as the TV voice of the Chicago Blackhawks was never going to be easy for anyone. But that was especially the case for Chris Vosters, an out-of-the-box hire with a ton of energy and personality but limited hockey experience. The...

www.nytimes.com

@Volica you just had to open your trap didn't you

This absolutely f***ing blows. Massive loss for this market and the team. Wonder who will end up being the replacement; wouldn't mind Singh, but I know others might disagree with that opinion.

Some Flames fans threw Wills' name out there... would not surprise me in the least with how crappy we've had it recently.

Click to read more...

 

[Ace Rimmer]

Bring back Peter Loubardias

Damn didn't realize the product of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan was a scout for the Flames. Neat!

 

[Bounces R Way]

Brutal. The hits just keep on coming.

Don't blame him considering Sportsnet gave him zero playoff games to do over the other jackasses they have doing PBP.
please not Harnarayan or Wills

 

[Lunatik]

Terrible news.

 

[Iggys Dome]

He was the best PBP SN had IMO.

Welp par for the course for Flames fans

 

[BobColesNasalCavity]

Feels like we’re getting kicked while we’re down.

 

[Mobiandi]

Devastating news. He represented us really well through some brutal stretches of hockey

 

[Bert Mckrakken]

I was sad to see this. I like Ball cause he would be excited no matter who scores. If you weren’t paying attention you’d have to look to see which team buried it. That’s what I like in PBP and that’s why Mahr was the best.

If we have to listen to Harderryan I’m going to switch teams. Fml

 

[chaser17]

I don't blame Rick for leaving, sportsnet did him dirty giving inferior PxP guys national broadcast playoff assignments over him.

 

[Figgy44]

I've never imagined it was possible to get shit kicked like this over and over and over in a span of a few seasons as a fan of a team. It's not even the on ice departure, it's off ice as well in a huge, huge way.

 

[JPeeper]

Gaudreau wanted to re-sign the summer prior, Tkachuk would have stayed and now Rick Ball leaves for Chicago.

We're truly in the darkest timeline. Nothing coming up Flames the past couple years.

 

[Canuckle1970]

Canuck fan - sorry about your losing Rick Ball. Really liked him when he did Canucks radio pbp, and of course, on your Flames tv broadcasts. He should have had more national exposure. Hope you get a good replacement.

 

[Figgy44]

Gaudreau wanted to re-sign the summer prior, Tkachuk would have stayed and now Rick Ball leaves for Chicago.

We're truly in the darkest timeline. Nothing coming up Flames the past couple years.

That includes Snowy too.

 

[User1996]

Never understood why he didn’t get more national/playoff games. Easily one of the most enjoyable guys SN had, and they blew it.

Another case of someone getting the crap end of the stick and finding greener pastures elsewhere.

We’ll miss you, Rick.

 

[Bounces R Way]

 

[flames23]

Awful news. Really like Rick. Think I'll tune in to the Hawks feed for our games against them for the foreseeable.

We'll see who the replacement is. Not a fan of HS's delivery. I'd rather it's not him so it probably will be.

 

[GlenviewFlames]

Pat Foley, the longtime Blackhawks announcer, is from my hometown (Glenview, Illinois). I hope Rick is as good as he was.

 

[MakeCgyGreatAgain]

Good riddance.

 

[Double Dion]

I really liked Ball and really dislike the list of potential replacements on the list up at the nation site. Going from Peter Maher to Derek Wills was like going from a Lexus to a 1992 Hyundai Accent. Seeing him on TV would be even worse. It will probably go to him though. Meghan Mikkelson is awesome, but better at color than PBP I would think. Loubardias is too spazzy and scared to say anything critical of players, even though he's a good hockey mind. Singh has gotten better, but is an Edmonton honk.

 

[Nanuuk]

How about Leah Hextall?

 

[Volica]

Good on Rick for likely getting some extra money, likely now being paid in USD, joining an up-and-coming team.
I honestly don't really care about who's calling the play; if it gets annoying I'm just muting it anyway.

I especially don't care considering that we're going into some real shit times for this franchise; and that most games will be background noise while I'm doing other things lol.

 

[StreetHawk]

Good on Rick for likely getting some extra money, likely now being paid in USD, joining an up-and-coming team.
I honestly don't really care about who's calling the play; if it gets annoying I'm just muting it anyway.

I especially don't care considering that we're going into some real shit times for this franchise; and that most games will be background noise while I'm doing other things lol.

Big US market, so there is money available for future increases to salary.

As for his replacement, plenty of options given the A, and 16 CAD based WHL teams, plus all of the OHL and Q play by play, plus Tor, Van, Mon, Ott, Win AHL clubs are in Canada.

Pick the best up and comer. These jobs don't open up often.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Shaq and Charles Barkley are going to be looking for work soon.
I say we get them

 

[Ace Rimmer]

How about Leah Hextall?

Is she any good?

 

[Figgy44]

I still feel like this when reading the thread title....