New Smokies Radio Voice

The question I've been asked most since announcing my departure (outside of whether or not I bought a winter jacket yet) is who would be replacing me. We now have an answer.

Here is the press release from Mountain FM:

"We are pleased to announce the appointment of Jon Zacks to the positions of BCHL Smoke Eaters Play by Play Announcer, Sports Director & Overtime Host.

He replaces Shawn Mullin who is off to Swift Current’s The Eagle to do mornings & be the play by play voice for the Swift Current Broncos in the WHL.

Jon joins us from Moose FM in Fort St. John BC, and spells his first name weird. Jon has 3 years play by play experience calling junior & senior hockey.

He will join the team in the next couple of weeks, and will be made to use an H."

I didn't think spelling Jon like that was all that strange...

I personally got the chance to listen to some of Jon's work and talk to him for a while on the phone. He's talented, enthusiastic, experienced and ready to jump right in as soon as he can get here from his other job. He is also coming from the same place that groomed Ryan Pinder for the great job he does in Penticton. For all of those who had such kind things to say to me over the weekend I appreciate it, but the coverage of the Smokies will not suffer. Jon is going to be his own guy, he'll do a terrific job and Trail fans won't miss a thing.

Congrats Jon and I'll be listening as a fan to your broadcasts this year.

As for the blog, Jon will be starting his own blog with his own look. I felt selfishly that I'd like to keep this blog as is for an archive of my experience in Trail. Call me sentimental (I'm guilty of that) but I'd like to be able to look back on it years from now and sort of relive these days. A new blog also gives Jon a chance to forge his own identity with Smokies fans online. As soon as he gets it started I'll post a permanent link to it and my new Swift Current Broncos blog at the top of this page.

Again thanks to everyone for the kind words over the past couple of weeks. It has been overwhelming. Jon is in for a real treat working with a world class radio station, hockey club and fan base.