Benton Named To All-Star Radio Broadcast Team

Published on December 23, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Stockton Thunder News Release


STOCKTON, Calif. - Stockton Thunder radio play-by-play broadcaster Mike Benton has been named to the radio broadcast announcing team of the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game presented by Jackson Rancheria and Bud Light at Stockton Arena, Thunder president Dan Chapman announced today in conjunction with the ECHL.

It is the second straight All-Star radio appearance for Benton, who is in his third season as radio play-by-play broadcaster for the Thunder. Benton, 26, joins Brendan Burke of the Wheeling Nailers and Leif Skodnick of the Mississippi Sea Wolves on the broadcast, with the game to be held at Stockton Arena beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT. The game's broadcast will be produced through NHL Radio, airing locally on 1420-AM KSTN and nationally on XM Satellite Radio, with additional listening details to be announced soon.

"This is a well-deserved honor for Mike and we as an organization are again thrilled he has been recognized as an All-Star broadcaster," said Chapman. "Mike has worked very hard since joining us in 2005 to refine his broadcasting skills and this is yet another example of the great strides he has made."

The ECHL All-Star Game will be broadcast on NHL Hockey Play-by-Play (XM Channel 206) at 7:00 p.m. PT on Jan. 23 in the United States on XM Radio and in Canada through XM's partner, Canadian Satellite Radio.

Benton is also the radio play-by-play voice for the Stockton Lightning of the arenafootball2 league and anchors "SportsCenter" breaks for "The Jim" heard each weekday on AM-970 ESPN Radio. Benton graduated in 2004 from Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) with a B.A. degree in Communication Studies.

While enrolled in school, he filled play-by-play roles for APU's basketball telecasts, football on the school's campus radio station and reported on ESPN2's Los Angeles-area local "Valley Sports2" magazine show. His previous broadcasting experience also includes stints with UC Riverside women's basketball and in Minor League Baseball with the Dayton Dragons and High Desert Mavericks.

2008 CHASE CHEVROLET ECHL ALL-STAR GAME

Hosted by the Stockton Thunder and the City of Stockton at Stockton Arena, the 2008 Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game presented by Jackson Rancheria and Bud Light will be played on Jan. 23 with the 11th edition of the Chase Chevrolet ECHL All-Star Game Skills Competition being held on Jan. 22. The economic impact of the All-Star Game is projected to give the city of Stockton an estimated more than $1 million in revenue and will take place in the 9,737-seat Stockton Arena, adjacent to the new seven-story Sheraton Stockton Hotel at Regent Pointe. Stockton is the 13th largest city in California and the 69th largest city in the United States of America.

The Thunder will be represented on the ice by three players, including rookie center Ryan O'Marra, rookie left wing Jacob Micflikier and defenseman Brad Farynuk.

Tickets for the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and ECHL All-Star Skills Competition start as low as $10 and are currently available by purchasing a 2007-08 Thunder season ticket or min-plan package by calling 209-373-1500. Individual tickets for the 2008 ECHL All-Star Game and All-Star Skills Competition will go on sale soon.

The ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League's Edmonton Oilers and American Hockey League's Springfield Falcons, the Thunder has led the ECHL in attendance for two consecutive seasons and drew 244,085 fans to Stockton Arena in 2006-07. Season tickets, mini plans, group and individual tickets for 2007-08 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.stocktonthunder.com.

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