Voice of Bighorns to call 500th game next Saturday
March 18, 2005 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Helena Bighorns News Release
Helena Bighorns play-by-play announcer Arch Ecker will broadcast his 500th Junior A hockey game on Friday, March 25, 2005, when the Bighorns host the Bozeman ICEDOGS.
Ecker's hockey broadcasting career began in 1996 with now-defunct Butte Fighting Irish of the old American Frontier Hockey League. "We only did selected games that season because we got on board late", recalls Ecker. "The team was excited about their radio presence, and from that point on we aired every game."
Ecker's tally of 500 games includes regular season and playoff games, but not exhibition or pre-season games. "It just didn't seem right to include those games. They didn't count for the team, they shouldn't count for me", he added. He has also broadcast a number of Junior B games for both the Butte Rough Riders and the Queen City Cutthroats of the Northern Pacific Hockey League (Nor-Pac), but hasn't included those games in the total, either.
"I don't know, it just seems like a Junior A tally should only include Junior A games," he said.
Ecker, now in his ninth season, has missed a few games over the years for various reasons. "My sister's wedding, a cancelled flight, a couple of cruise vacations, and a 'regular job' obligation or two have kept me away from a few games, but on game night, there's really nowhere I'd rather be than with the team," he said.
Such is his love for the game, that when the Butte Irish folded following the 2001-02 season, he accepted an offer to become the "Voice Of The Helena Bighorns," which meant a 130-mile round trip to every home game. "I was fortunate to be able to continue doing something I love, and for such a great organization. It really feels like a family here," Ecker said recently.
He still holds down his regular job in Butte as morning show host on rock station 95.5 KMBR, as well as being an account representative for the station. His band, "Venus Alley," has been performing since 1993. Ecker sings and plays bass in the four-piece classic rocker. He still plays hockey often, playing in men's leagues in Butte, Helena, and Bozeman.
How does he balance it all? "It's not easy", he joked. "But I knew the job was dangerous when I took it!"
Asked if he remembers his first broadcast, he replied, "Oh yes, very clearly. It was November 1996; the Butte Fighting Irish were hosting the Helena Ice Pirates at the Butte Civic Center. Helena tough guy Chris Shadow (ironically, now an assistant coach in Butte) two-handed the goalie (with his stick) as he was being ejected from the game. Both benches emptied into a wild free-for-all, and the referees ended up calling the game with four minutes left to play. Butte won, 4-1."
When asked of the most memorable moments in his broadcast career, Arch had this to say: "Well, the game where Butte snapped a 33-game losing skid comes to mind first. That was pretty emotional. I remember one night the Billings Bulls arrived in Butte without their jerseys, so they wore Butte's road jerseys. Adding insult to injury, the Bulls won 10-0!"
While the commitment required to travel with a Junior A hockey team may seem obvious, it's not been without its rewards. "I have made so many friends in so many places, and still hear from many ex-players and their families. It's quite gratifying to know that what I do matters to so many," Ecker says.
It's not just the home team fans that approve, either. "I'm most proud of the letters I've received over the years from parents of opposing teams," he says. "I've always prided myself on knowing the other team as well as I know my own, at least as best I can. It's something I learned from Bob Miller, the longtime voice of the Los Angeles Kings. When I broadcast, you can tell who I'm working for, but I always try to be fair, and give credit where credit is due."
What does the future hold for Ecker? "I honestly don't know," he said. "I love the game, and I love to broadcast them. People ask me about going pro, and to be honest, I'm pretty comfortable where I am right now. If I do another 500 games, and they're all for Helena, I think I'd be perfectly content."
Bighorns President, Mike Butters, was excitedly proud when informed next Friday would be a milestone for Ecker. "There have been so many good memories of some of the game Arch has called," says Butters. "Oren (Koules, Bighorn owner) and I usually go over each game after it finishes. He lives in L.A. so he tunes into Arch for almost every game and Arch paints such a good picture of what happened that night, I often feel that he watched the game in Helena."
Butters added, "Arch is a huge part of Bighorn hockey and we are extremely proud that he will reach this milestone with our organization."
Bighorns fans can hear Ecker's next broadcast this Friday as the Big Blue takes on the Bismarck Bobcats at the Helena Ice Arena. The game can be heard on AM 1340 KCAP- Helena or by logging on to www.sportsjuice.com.
North American Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2005
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- Bozeman vs Fargo-Moorhead Tonight, Bismarck Tomorrow - Bozeman Icedogs
- Van Culin Named Ferris' CCHA Scholar-Athlete of the Year - Wichita Falls Wildcats
- Voice of Bighorns to call 500th game next Saturday - Helena Bighorns
- Indians-U18s battle was hockey at its best - Soo Indians
- Tornado win 40 games and division for sixth straight season - Texas Tornado
- Bishop earns NAHL Defensive Player of the Week - Texas Tornado
- Bulls reclaim top spot after blanking Blizzard - Billings Bulls
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