Greg Halbleib to Return as Voice of the Bloomington PrairieThunder

October 8, 2009 - International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release


BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - Greg Halbleib will return for his second season as the "Voice of the Bloomington PrairieThunder" when the team opens the 2009-10 International Hockey League regular season Oct. 17 in Muskegon.

It was also announced Thursday that former PrairieThunder radio broadcaster Ed Hammond will handle the public address duties this season.

"We are thrilled to have Greg and Ed on board with the organization," said Bryan Bloodworth, the team's assistant general manager and director of communications. "Both are familiar with the IHL and the PrairieThunder franchise.

"Greg did a great job for us in his first season calling hockey," said PrairieThunder assistant general manager Bryan Bloodworth. "He will be the first to admit that it was unchartered waters for him, but listening to his broadcasts you would never know it.

"Fans can visualize the game through his broadcast. Not only is Greg an outstanding play-by-play announcer, but he is a true professional and a person the PrairieThunder is proud to have associated with its organization."

Bloodworth said the team welcomes Hammond back after a one-year hiatus from calling the PrairieThunder action. He replaces B.J. Stone, who now handles public address duties for the Peoria Rivermen.

"Ed did a great job with us in the radio booth the first two years of our existence," Bloodworth added. "He is a natural for the public address job because of his excitable delivery of the action and his knowledge of hockey."

Hammond is certainly no stranger to public address duties. He has served as the public address announcer for the Peoria Chiefs minor league baseball team and the Peoria Rivermen hockey team.

The Chillicothe native has worked in the radio and television business as a sports and news broadcaster for 35 years. The last nine years he has toiled at WMBD radio in Peoria where he is currently the morning news anchor and reporter.

In addition to his stint with the PrairieThunder, Hammond has been the play-by-play broadcaster for the Peoria Pirates indoor football team and Bradley women's basketball.

Halbleib is marking his 30th anniversary as a broadcaster. He is the sports director of WJBC-AM in Bloomington and is the volleyball play-by-play television voice for the Missouri Valley Conference.

He has been recognized by The Illinois Broadcasters Association with the Silver Dome Award for best play-by-play six times. And, in April 2009, he was inducted into the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

The McNabb native currently handled news and sports reporting and play-by-play duties at WZOE-AM-FM in Princeton for more than 22 years before moving to Bloomington in 2002. He and his wife, Karry, live in Bloomington.

All 38 PrairieThunder road games will be broadcast live on WTRX (93.7 FM) and on the internet at wjbc.com and wtrx.com. All 38 home games will be broadcast live on the internet at wjbc.com and wtrx.com. Select home and road games also will be carried live on WJBC (1230 AM).

"We're thrilled to continue to be a part of the excitement of Prairie Thunder hockey and a vital link between the team and its loyal fans," said R.C. McBride, program director for Radio Bloomington.



International Hockey League 2 Stories from October 8, 2009


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