Randy Merkley

With the Chilliwack Bruins season just starting, Chilliwack got their first experience with Randy Merkley, the new Bruins radio voice.

Following the Kamloops game on Saturday, where Randy called his first game here, the discussion boards were buzzing with high ratings. I think he's going to bring another level of passion to an already impassioned hockey town.

Before the game on Saturday he was working the rink doing interviews. At one point, while interviewing a coach, he was so involved with the interview he didn't notice that a Zamboni just about ran him over - what did bother him is that interview may have been affected by the engine noise. Great moment.

Here is a write up in the Chilliwack Progress on Merkley's arrival:

In three years of existence, the Chilliwack Bruins have rolled three different guys through the radio play-by-play role.

In year one, veteran Denny Larochelle handled the gig, followed by Dave Sheldon in year two.

This year, it’s Randy Merkley, and here’s hoping he hangs onto the job for a while, because it’s a position crying out for stability.

“Yeah, I’ll agree with that one,” said radio colour man Jacob Bestebroier, who called his first game with Merkley Saturday night. “I think that’s why Randy’s a good hire. It’s a big move for him and I don’t see him going back the other way any time soon.” More here.