Bulldogs, AM 900 CHML Announce Broadcast Team

Published on September 26, 2013 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Hamilton Bulldogs News Release


HAMILTON, ONTARIO - The Hamilton Bulldogs and AM 900 CHML announced today the radio broadcast team for the 2013-2014 season. Joining Play-By-Play Announcer Derek Wills and Colour Commentator Al Craig will be CHML's Rick Zamperin, as pre-game host, and Matt Holmes, as post-game host. Fans can listen to the first broadcast live tomorrow, Friday, September 27th when the Bulldogs host the Toronto Marlies in a pre-season game at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville. The pre-game show will start at 7:00 p.m.

The Bulldogs and AM 900 CHML's parent company, Corus Entertainment, came to terms on a three-year broadcast agreement in July. This season, all Bulldogs regular season and post-season games will be broadcast live on the station, as well as both pre-season home games, including Friday's game in Oakville and next Thursday, October 3rd's tilt against the Utica Comets at J.L. Grightmire Market Street Arena in Dundas, beginning with a pre-game show at 6:30 p.m.

Derek Wills returns for a 13th season of play-by-play. Wills, a James H. Ellery Award winner, is a seasoned broadcaster of 1,071 consecutive Bulldogs games - an American Hockey League high. The native of Port Colborne, Ontario, has called a number of historically significant games such as the AHL's Conference Finals on five occasions (2002, 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011), the Calder Cup Finals twice (2003, 2007) and the second-longest game in AHL history (Game 2 of the 2002 Calder Cup Finals).

Veteran broadcaster Al Craig will return for his 12th season with the Bulldogs as colour commentator for all home games and select road games. Now in his 44th year of broadcasting, the native of Toronto, Ontario became the most recognizable sports broadcaster in Hamilton during his 23 years at AM 900 CHML. Serving as the Sports Director for the majority of his long tenure with the station, Craig covered a wide variety of sports and leagues including the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Canadian Football League, Canadian Soccer League and Ontario Hockey League. Craig has also covered a number of historical sporting events, including the 1972 Canada - Soviet Summit Series, the 1987 and 1991 Canada Cups, the 1992 and 1993 World Series, won by the Toronto Blue Jays, the 1997, 2003 and 2007 Calder Cup Finals, as well as numerous World Championships in a number of different sports.

Rick Zamperin, Assistant Brand, News and Sports Director at CHML, will host the pre-game show, featuring commentary and one-on-one interviews with Bulldogs' players and staff. Zamperin has been in radio for nearly 20 years and has worked in numerous cities, including Fort McMurray, Alberta and Chatham, Ontario. Since 2007, Zamperin's been the Play-By-Play Announcer of the CFL's Hamilton Tiger-Cats. You can hear Rick's sportscasts every weekday morning on AM 900 CHML. Rick lives in Hamilton, is married, and has two children.

Matt Holmes, host of the Matt Holmes Show on CHML, will host the post-game show, featuring a call-in component for fans. Holmes was born and raised on Hamilton Mountain and is a graduate of Mohawk College. He has been working at CHML since 2004. Holmes is a versatile broadcaster who handles multiple positions at CHML. He is a Sports Anchor during the 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. afternoon drive show, hosts his own talk show from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. and is also the host of the pre-game show for Tiger-Cats games on CHML.

Hamilton Bulldogs season tickets, flex tickets and group tickets are on sale now. Starting as low as $140 for a 10 pack, we have great packages available for you to enjoy more Hockey Unleashed! For more information, call 1-866-DOGS-TIX or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com. Single-game tickets are available at the Copps Coliseum Box Office, online at www.ticketmaster.ca, or by calling 1-866-DOGS-TIX or 905-529-8500.

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



American Hockey League Stories from September 26, 2013


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.

OurSports Central