Hammond to return as 'Voice of the Thunder'
Published on August 23, 2007 under International Hockey League 2 (IHL 2)
Bloomington PrairieThunder News Release
Veteran broadcaster Ed Hammond will return as the radio voice of the Bloomington PrairieThunder when the team begins play in the new International Hockey League this season, it was announced Thursday.
"I had so much fun last year that I was really pleased when the PrairieThunder asked me to come back for a second year," said Hammond, who broadcast all 76 of the team's games in its inaugural season last year on Bloomington radio station WTRX-FM (93.7), which will again be the flagship station for PrairieThunder hockey this year.
"The PrairieThunder is a quality organization that is run in a first-class manner. It was a real pleasure to work with (general manager) Jerry McBurney and (head coach) Derek Booth and the players. They are all first-class people, whose number one goal is to make the team among the best in the IHL."
Hammond, a native of Chillicothe, has been a fixture behind a radio or television microphone in Central Illinois for the last 33 years. He is currently the morning news anchor on WMBD-AM radio in Peoria.
He previously broadcast Peoria Rivermen hockey games, Bradley University women's basketball games, Illinois Central College men's and women's basketball games, the Peoria Pirate and Roughriders indoor football games, along with numerous high school football and basketball games.
Hammond is also the current public address announcer for the Peoria Chiefs baseball team at O'Brien Field.
"We are happy that Ed has accepted our offer to return as the Voice of the PrairieThunder," said Bryan Bloodworth, the media relations director for the PrairieThunder.
"Ed not only does an excellent job with his play-by-play call of the game, but he also works hard to introduce the players to the fans through his pre-game and between-period interviews. While he's a PrairieThunder fan, there isn't a more professional, unbiased radio play-by-play announcer in the league than Ed when calling a game."
The PrairieThunder opens the regular season Oct. 20 at Flint. Its first home game is Oct. 26 at 7:05 p.m. against the Fort Wayne Komets at U.S. Cellular Coliseum.
Season-tickets for PrairieThunder home games are on sale and priced at $560 for the Club section; $460 for premium seats (rows A and B); $380 for general seating (rows C through V) and $325 for upper level (rows W,X,Y and Z, excluding the bar rail).
There are also various partial season-ticket packages, starting as low as $95, on sale. Individuals interested in purchasing season tickets should contact Patrick Kelly at 309-434-2664.
International Hockey League 2 Stories from August 23, 2007
- Hammond to return as 'Voice of the Thunder' - Bloomington PrairieThunder
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