Jack Michaels Is The New Play By Play Guy

The Edmonton Oilers have hired a new voice for the team. Jack Michaels will be the guy behind the mic. We look forward to hearing him call the games and this announcement was a big mystery to all that followed. Good luck Jack and welcome to Oil Country.

-Smokin' Ray-

Here is what the Oilers say about Jack. As per the Oilers website:

Broadcaster comes to Edmonton with over 900 hockey broadcasts on resume

Tuesday, 24.08.2010 / 9:30 AM / News By Edmonton Oilers Press Release

Jack Michaels, the Oilers new play-by-play voice.

The Edmonton Oilers today announced that Jack Michaels has been named to the position of radio play by play voice of the Edmonton Oilers. Michaels will partner with host and color commentator Bob Stauffer in delivering all Oilers games via the Oilers Radio Network and flagship station 630 CHED.


“We welcome Jack to Oil Country,” said Oilers President and CEO Patrick LaForge. “We underwent a comprehensive search to find the right voice with the right credentials and chemistry to launch this new era of Oilers Radio.”

Jack Michaels, the Oilers
new play-by-play voice.

Michaels, a veteran of over 900 hockey broadcasts, joins the Oilers after eight seasons as the radio and television voice of the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. While with the Aces, Michaels was honoured as the ECHL Broadcaster of the Year in 2004 and was selected by the ECHL to broadcast their annual All Star Game on five separate occasions. Last year’s All Star broadcast was available to over 80 million homes on the NHL Network and Fox Sports West.


“An NHL play by play job has been a dream and believe me this is now a dream come true,” said Michaels. “I know fans have keenly listened to Oilers broadcasts for three decades of fabulous moments, and frankly I can’t wait to get started.”


NHL Hall of Fame broadcaster Mike Emrick, voice of NHL Hockey on NBC said of Michaels, “I first met Jack five years ago, and was immediately struck by the quality of his call, his professionalism and his passion for the game. He’s a great young guy who has it all. There is no question he is 100% NHL ready."


Michaels’ career began after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree from Ithaca College in New York. He started as a sports reporter at Cornell University and Ithaca College and then moved on to Erie Pennsylvania and New York City as a Sports Reporter and Production Assistant. Michaels then moved full-time to the hockey world, joining the Colorado Gold Kings of the WCHL where he was the play by play voice for three seasons before moving to Anchorage, Alaska.


Michaels and Stauffer will broadcast all Edmonton Oilers games this year with the exception of 10 ‘Rod’s Classics’ games when Rod Phillips, the Oilers Hall of Fame voice for the past 37 years, will be in the play by play chair.


Edmonton Oilers hockey is presented in part by the Rexall Family of Pharmacies, Molson Canadian, ATB Financial, TELUS, Cenovus Energy and Ford.