Fitzhugh made history that day in early August 2020, becoming the NHL's first full-time Black broadcaster.
"As someone who's worked in hockey for more than a decade, to be named a part of the broadcast and content team for a brand-new NHL franchise - particularly one with an organization as strong as the Kraken - is a dream come true," Fitzhugh said back then. "Getting to the NHL has always been my goal."
When Forslund was hired five months later, Fitzhugh allowed himself the occasional daydream: Filling in for Forslund on the television side when the popular play-by-play announcer was on national broadcast assignments allowed per his contract.
"I'd be lying if I didn't think about the opportunity," Fitzhugh said before Wednesday's home game against Arizona. "Only because of how good John Forslund is. In my mind, he is heir apparent to [retired Hockey Hall of Fame broadcaster] Doc Emrick. I knew he would be getting national assignments."
The daydream is real. Fitzhugh will be on the ROOT SPORTS Northwest play-by-play microphone Feb. 17 when the Kraken play a road game at Winnipeg while Forslund works a TNT game the same night.
Fitzhugh will make history again with the call, this time pairing with Kraken TV analyst JT Brown. The two will be the first all-Black broadcast pair to announce an NHL game.
"To do this with JT will be special," said Fitzhugh, who spent a good number of days this past summer doing mock broadcasts at ROOT SPORTS studios in Bellevue.
The chemistry and friendship cultivated during those summer sessions now lay a foundation for a historic broadcast in eight days. Brown made history himself when hired in June 2021, becoming the first Black in-game team analyst for an NHL team.
"I've always told people I want to be the best broadcaster, not the best Black broadcaster," says Fitzhugh. "That said, I realize in this position I could be the source for someone from South Seattle or Detroit or anywhere to say, 'Hey Mom, that guy looks like me, I can do that too.' That's an even bigger impact than JT and I doing the game together."
Fitzhugh was crystal-clear about his gratitude to the Kraken for the opportunity and the "privilege" to call Forslund a colleague: "It's humbling to be trusted with the opportunity to fill John's seat. Being able to work with John is personally and professionally so very rewarding."
"Colleagues around hockey ask me a lot what's it like to be around John Forslund. My answer is that John is a caring, genuine person. That's the best part. Once I got to know him, he was no longer John Forslund. He's Johnny."
