Here’s one solution to future power outages in western Washington: access the boundless energy of Seattle Kraken radio broadcasters Al Kinisky, Mike Benton and Everett Fitzhugh (left to right in above photo).
The silver lining of this week’s power-sapping wind storm was spending an evening beside my radio during Wednesday’s Kraken-Nashville Predators game.
For Kraken followers like me among the 500,000 without electricity, in-person attendance and the TNT TV broadcast were out of reach. So I turned on my gas fireplace, lit candles, gathered fox terrier April and cavalier Sailor on top of my recliner blanket, and pulled the portable radio close.
No matter that this was an early-season weekday game against a non-traditional, non-division opponent. On flagship KJR-FM and across the multi-state Kraken Audio Network, Fitzhugh and Kinisky brought high wattage from before the opening faceoff. They also thoughtfully acknowledged the hardships suffered by so many of their listeners.
Turning Actions Into Words
Fitzhugh has the unexplainable talent possessed by hockey play-by-players of almost instantaneously translating what he sees into vivid word pictures. But there’s more. You can almost hear the smile on Fitzhugh’s face during the broadcast. When Kraken coach Dan Bylsma flipped a puck to a lucky fan, Everett wondered if he’d ever use a silver Sharpie to sign it first. Later, he and Kinisky exchanged memories of snagging a puck or a baseball while sitting in the stands.
With no score past the midway point, Fitzhugh compared the defensive struggle to a tug-of-war where the midpoint red ribbon on the rope hadn’t moved. Kinisky hilariously described the game as “tighter than a rat caught in a drainpipe.” Kinisky earlier had more seriously advised Seattle to produce more shots than the 24 taken in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to the Rangers.
Late in the middle period, Fitzhugh alerted his audience, “Sprong scores! Ding dong, welcome back Daniel Sprong!” Kinisky added, “You could feel this offensive pot bubbling over.”
While Fitzhugh was suitably excited about a big goal for his team scored by a just-acquired player, his vocal range never lost control or clarity. This contrasted with Seahawks radio voice Steve Raible at the end of Sunday’s NFL win over San Francisco. When Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith scrambled for the winning TD, Raible – who’s 70 and a former TV news anchor – screamed so loud his voice cracked like a pubescent teenager.
Referring later back to the Sprong goal, Fitzhugh turned a clever phrase, calling it “His second ‘first goal’ as a Kraken.” Sprong had played 82 games in Seattle over two seasons before being reacquired Nov. 8 from Vancouver. Nitpick: it would have been nice to also share details about the “first” first goal the Dutch winger scored for the Kraken. (It came just after the trade deadline on March 22, 2022 against the Arizona Coyotes – ‘member them?)
Connecting Conversational Threads
The Kraken have marketed theme nights as “Common Threads.” Common threads also apply to how the broadcasters wove earlier comments with later events. For instance, Fitzhugh mentioned that the Kraken had taken 27 SOG after two periods, validating Kinisky’s pregame advice. They also mentioned the red ribbon on that tug-of-war rope had started to move in Seattle’s direction.
The duo proved even-handed. Fitzhugh made use of the Nashville half of his game notes, explaining that Predator Luke Schenn was one point from 200 for his career. When Nashville appeared to score a 3rd period goal, Kinisky correctly predicted it would be nullified for having been kicked in. Bonus points because Al added, “If the Kraken had scored this way, I would have said the same thing.”
Broadcast engineers scored too, piping the referee’s original announcement of a video review, and later the ruling of no goal, into the broadcast. Listeners heard the decision the same moment fans inside Climate Pledge Arena did. Referee penalty calls were similarly piped in, a nice touch. Nitpick: it would be fun to also hear the PA announcements of goals and assists.
Respecting Taboos
Fitzhugh defied superstition with two minutes left and Seattle ahead 3-0, explaining the Kraken would improve to 5-1 on the current six game homestand. He wouldn’t defy superstition, however, to mention that goalie Joey Daccord was working on a shutout.
It’s long been considered a hockey jinx to mention a shutout before it happens, much as baseball announcers are loathe to bring up an in-progress no-hitter. Not that Everett didn’t realize what was at stake; as soon as the final horn sounded, he reported, “Joey Daccord’s first shutout of the season, fourth of his career!” A winning performance on the ice, and in the booth.
Mike On The Mic
Stick tap as well to pregame, postgame, and intermission host Mike Benton. Between the 1st and 2nd periods, Benton played excerpts from his interview with Seattle general manager Ron Francis. The GM joked that he recently accepted the Hockey Hall of Fame selection chair position because of the higher pay (it’s a non-paying volunteer position). Benton’s segments are uniformly crisp and informative.
Broadcast line changes: for Seattle’s road game Monday in Anaheim, both Fitzhugh and Benton will have new temporary roles. Since regular TV voice John Forslund will be absent calling a national Amazon Prime broadcast in Canada, Fitzhugh will fill Forslund’s TV slot. Benton will slide in alongside Kinisky on radio play-by-play.