MINNESOTA WILD HIRES BOB KURTZ TO BE FIRST-EVER RADIO VOICE
Wild Hockey Fan
[June 20, 2000] -- SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- The National Hockey
League's Minnesota Wild announced today it has agreed to terms on a
three-year contract with Bob Kurtz to be its first-ever radio play-by-play
announcer. As per club policy, terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Kurtz, 53 (6/19/47), will be heard on WCCO Radio (830 AM), the official
flagship station of Minnesota Wild hockey. He will be employed by the Wild
and, along with his play-by-play duties, be fully integrated into the Wild's
communications, sponsorship, marketing and community relations' efforts.
"I'm extremely excited about the opportunity to return to the Twin Cities
with the Wild," said Kurtz. "The NHL is back in Minnesota and I'm looking
forward to being a part of it."
The Detroit, MI-native had spent the past 11 years (1989-present) working
with New England Sports Network (NESN) in Boston, MA. With the network, he
broadcast an array of sports including Boston Bruins hockey, Boston
University hockey, the Hockey East Game of the Week and the American Hockey
League. Kurtz has also spent the past eight years doing play-by-play on NESN
for Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox.
"We are thrilled to add someone with the experience and professionalism of
Bob Kurtz to our broadcast team," said Minnesota Wild President Tod Leiweke.
"He is someone who knows hockey and is very familiar with the passion and
excitement the state of Minnesota has for the game."
Kurtz has strong Minnesota ties having served as the lead television
announcer for the Minnesota North Stars for seven seasons on KMSP (1979-84)
and KXLI (1987-88). He also performed play-by-play duties for the Minnesota
Twins on KMSP from 1979-86, and could be heard on University of Minnesota
hockey, football and basketball broadcasts in 1988-89. During that same
year, he worked as the Sports Director at KSTP radio (Minneapolis/Saint
Paul) overseeing both the morning sports shows and sports talk show.
"Bob Kurtz is an exceptional play-by-play announcer whose Minnesota roots
will bring a unique perspective to our broadcasts," said Pat O'Connor,
Broadcast Manager of the Minnesota Wild.
A graduate of Michigan State University, Kurtz returned to his alma mater to
call Spartans hockey, football, baseball and basketball from 1974-79. He has
also done several free-lance play-by-play assignments with The Baseball
Network (1994-95), the Detroit Tigers (1990), the St. Louis Cardinals
(1987-88), and WJR Radio in Detroit.
WCCO (830 AM) will broadcast all Minnesota Wild hockey games, including all
pre-season games, regular season contests and Stanley Cup Playoff games
(where applicable) as part of an exclusive three-year radio agreement signed
in February. Beginning with the 2000-01 inaugural NHL season, WCCO Radio
will be the official flagship station of the Minnesota Wild through the
2002-03 campaign. A 50,000-watt clear-channel station, WCCO Radio covers 88
counties, including 13 in the Twin Cities metropolitan area and 75 non-metro
counties in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and South Dakota. In the evening it
can be picked up in over 28 states and three Canadian provinces.
Kurtz, will join the Wild in August. He and his wife, Lorri, have two sons,
Paul and Danny.
The Wild begins play at the Xcel Energy Center as part of the Northwest
Division of the NHL's Western Conference this October. For more information
on the Minnesota Wild please call 651-222-WILD (9453).
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HockeyGuy
http://www.hockeyguy.ircx.com
hock...@mlsports.com
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John
owner) have an investment in the Wild?
Glad to see a Wild newsgroup! I just found it. Now that the team finally has
a few players I better stop by here to find out what's going on.
John
Former MN Fighting Saints and MN North Stars fan
"Wild Hockey Fan" <wildh...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:_PW35.451$j51....@news.uswest.net...
: MINNESOTA WILD HIRES BOB KURTZ TO BE FIRST-EVER RADIO VOICE
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Jason
niteowl
Jason <tig...@soncom.com> wrote in message news:3955...@news.sihope.com...
> Anyone know what Doug MacLeod is up to nowadays?
>
>
>
I think he's doing games for the Coyotes....but don't quote me on it.