Aces Bid Find Farewell to Rannard
August 11, 2002 - ECHL (ECHL)
Alaska Aces News Release
ANCHORAGE, Alaska â Fred Rannard, long time radio voice of the Anchorage Aces, will not return for the 2002-03 West Coast Hockey League season.
The hockey team has undergone many positive changes in the weeks since their rebirth under new ownership in mid-July, including bringing back some of the people that had made the team great on and off the ice. But Rannard chose not to return to the remade West Coast Hockey League franchise, according to General Manager Derek Donald.
"We're going to miss Fred very much," he said. "We've made a lot of progress in securing a very qualified radio voice for the upcoming season, but there are certain things that made Fred special and certain things that make him irreplaceable. We're very grateful for all of his hard work. His run here was very impressive and he endeared himself to many people."
Rannard, who joined the team before the 1996-97 season, had called 451 consecutive games over the past six seasons in 12 WCHL cities in seven states. He was selected to broadcast the 2000-01 West Coast Hockey League All-Star Game and recognized across the league as a premier play-by-play man.
"We're leaving the door open," Donald said. "If at some point in the future he decides to return, he will always be welcome."
• Discuss this story on the ECHL message board...
ECHL Stories from August 11, 2002
- Aces Bid Find Farewell to Rannard - Alaska Aces
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
