Bears play-by-play man John Walton named 2004 Ellery Award winner
Published on June 29, 2004 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hershey Bears News Release
HERSHEY â The HERSHEY BEARS announced today in conjunction with the American Hockey League that play-by-play announcer John Walton has won the 2004 James H. Ellery award in the radio category.
Walton first joined the AHL with the Cincinnati Mighty Ducks in 1997-98, and is currently one of the most senior broadcasters in the AHL. In addition to his radio play-by-play duties, Walton also served as the team's television broadcaster in 2003-04 on WHTM-TV (ABC-27). Prior to his tenure in Hershey, he spent seven years as the public address announcer for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball (1996-2002). His media relations duties with the BEARS in 2003-04 included the publishing of the team's 256-page media guide, which is the most comprehensive record book of the AHL's oldest franchise ever assembled.
Walton becomes HERSHEY'S first winner of the Ellery award for radio since Russ Small won the award in 1981, and the first Ellery winner in any media category since Dave Sottile earned the honor for print media in 2000 with the York Daily Record.
"John is an outstanding employee of the HERSHEY BEARS Hockey Club and we are very extremely proud that he has received this honor", said BEARS President/GM Doug Yingst. "His call of the game and professionalism in our mind is second to none ".
The James H. Ellery Award is presented to the individuals of the news media (newspaper, radio and television) who have contributed the most to the progress of the American Hockey League. The award honors the late Jim Ellery, former publicity director for the AHL.
The BEARS begin their 67th season in the American Hockey League in October, with the 2004-05 schedule due out in late July. Season tickets are on sale now by calling (717) 508-BEAR, with several different packages available.
American Hockey League Stories from June 29, 2004
- Lowell Lock Monsters Summer News - Albany Devils
- IceCats Sign Four Players - Worcester IceCats
- Mike Fornabaio Wins Ellery Award - Bridgeport Islanders
- Bears play-by-play man John Walton named 2004 Ellery Award winner - Hershey Bears
- AHL announces 2003-04 Ellery Award winners - AHL
- Moose Yearling Foundation Raises Over $148,000 for Children's Charities - Manitoba Moose
- Season ticket sales brisk as renewal deadline approaches - Binghamton Senators
- Spend July 4 with Aeros at Street Fleet - Houston Aeros
- Gernander returns, Conacher is the boss in Utah - Hershey Bears
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