CFL Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Derek Wills Named New Radio Play-By-Play Announcer for Calgary Flames

Published on August 28, 2014 under Canadian Football League (CFL)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats News Release


CALGARY, ALBERTA - Rogers Media, Sportsnet 960 The Fan and the Calgary Flames announced today that Derek Wills has been named the new Radio Play-By-Play Announcer for the National Hockey League's Calgary Flames. Wills and Colour Commentator Peter Loubardias will call all Flames pre-season, regular season and Stanley Cup Playoff games on Sportsnet 960 The Fan in Calgary.

Wills, 37, was the Play-By-Play Announcer for the American Hockey League's Hamilton Bulldogs for 13 seasons from 2001-2014, also serving as the team's Senior Director of Broadcasting, Communications and Team Services. At the end of the 2013-2014 season, Wills had called 1,147 consecutive Bulldogs regular season and Calder Cup Playoff contests, including the AHL's Conference Finals on five occasions (2002, 2003, 2007, 2010 and 2011), the Calder Cup Finals twice (2003 and 2007), the second-longest game in AHL history (Game 2 of the 2003 Calder Cup Finals) and the 2012 AHL Outdoor Classic at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.

"The 13 years that I've spent with the Hamilton Bulldogs have been the best 13 years of my life," Wills said. "I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to work for and with so many outstanding people. First and foremost, I'd like to thank Michael Andlauer for everything he's done for me. Not only has Michael been a wonderful man to work for, he's also been a great friend and mentor. I'd also like to thank Stephen Ostaszewicz. I've really enjoyed working for Stephen for the past two years, and much like Michael, Stephen's gone out of his way to help me realize my dream of becoming an NHL broadcaster. Last, but not least, I'd like to thank Al Craig, who's been a fantastic broadcast partner and an even better friend. As excited as I am to be moving to a world-class city like Calgary and to be working with first-class organizations like the Flames and Sportsnet, there are a lot of things that I'll miss about living in Hamilton and working for the Bulldogs. Thank you to the city, the team and its fans for 13 fabulous years."

A native of Port Colborne, Ontario, Wills was selected to provide the play-by-play for the exclusive radio broadcast and league-wide online broadcast of the 2004 AHL All-Star Game in Grand Rapids, Michigan and was a member of the radio broadcast crew for the 2007 AHL All-Star Game in Toronto, Ontario. In 2004-2005, Wills was named winner of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award, presented annually by the league to recognize one member of the radio, television and print media deemed to have provided the most outstanding coverage of the league.

Wills made his NHL debut in Vancouver on January 25th, 2010, filling-in for Buffalo Sabres Play-By-Play Announcer Rick Jeanneret and working with Colour Commentator Harry Neale.

"For 13 years, Derek has been an important part of our hockey club as the "Voice of the Hamilton Bulldogs"," said 'Dogs Owner and Chairman Michael Andlauer. "His tremendous work ethic, passion, professionalism and obvious talent in the broadcast booth, as well as in the Hamilton community, have earned him the chance to pursue his life-long dream of working in the NHL. I'm so proud to see him achieve his dream of calling NHL games. It'll be strange to hear a new voice calling our games, but it's a change for all the right reasons. I'll personally miss Derek's call, "He Scoooooores!", which always brought a smile to my face, but I'm also so thrilled and proud of his accomplishment and truly wish him great success for years to come."

Hamilton Bulldogs 2014-2015 season tickets, flex tickets and group tickets are on sale now. Starting as low as $10 per game, we have great packages available for you to enjoy more Hockey Unleashed! For more information, call 1-866-DOGS-TIX or visit hamiltonbulldogs.com.

Listen to all Bulldogs regular season and post-season games live on Hamilton's AM 900 CHML, on www.900chml.com or watch live on www.ahllive.com. Watch select games live in high definition on Cable 14.

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