Blackhawks Replace Chris Vosters with Rick Ball as TV Play-By-Play Voice

To the surprise of many Chicago Blackhawks stakeholders, TV voice Chris Vosters has been let go . After two seasons of full-time work, Vosters is ultimately on his way out and being replaced by long-time hockey voice Rick Ball.

The 57-year-old Ball spent the last 10 years as the TV play-by-play voice for the Calgary Flames on SportsNet. In addition to his work with the Flames, Ball has called games for the Vancouver Canucks, Winnipeg Jets, and WHL's Kelowna Rockets. Ball also has national experience working for "Hockey Night in Canada".

"One thing we know is that our fans value deep hockey knowledge and experience, and it was important to us that our broadcast reflect those values," said Blackhawks president of business operations Jaime Faulkner. "Every year after the season concludes, we evaluate our broadcast talent in the booth for both radio and TV, and also in-studio, to determine if it is at the level our fans expect and deserve. Based on our own evaluations, as well as feedback from key stakeholders and partners, we felt we need to make a change in this role."

Faulkner goes on to discuss the struggles of replacing Pat Foley, and how big those shoes were for Vosters to fill. With Ball coming in, an established hockey voice will once again grace the TV airways during Hawks games.

"When it was first presented to me, there were probably four main factors: Original Six franchise, world-class city, young superstar centerpiece in Connor Bedard and, last but not least, Darren Pang, who I consider one of the best all-time at this job," said Ball when asked about taking the job. "So when you put those four things [together], it was a no-brainer."

The Blackhawks, along with the Chicago White Sox and Bulls, will take their broadcast rights to the newly-formed Chicago Sports Network this fall. Now, Ball and Pang will be the TV voices while John Wiedeman and Troy Murray are expected back on radio.

Here is a taste of Rick Ball on the mic for those Blackhawks fans in need of an example of his work.

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