Preds Announce Broadcast Team for 2017-18 Season

Nashville, Tenn. (August 23, 2017) - The Nashville Predators announced Wednesday the full broadcast team as the club enters its 20th season in 2017-18. The eight-person television and radio broadcast team is comprised of familiar faces, with the addition of new members to the crew.
Beginning this season, Predators alumnus Chris Mason will join play-by-play voice Willy Daunic during Preds television broadcasts, serving as the color analyst on FOX Sports Tennessee. The former Preds goaltender isn't the only familiar face back in the fold - former defenseman Hal Gill will join the Voice of the Predators Pete Weber in the booth as the radio color analyst for broadcasts heard on 102.5 The Game and the Predators Radio Network.
"I think the athlete in me just wants to be around the game, be around a winning team and be around that fun atmosphere that we certainly saw in the playoffs last year," Gill said. "Of course, there are going to be down times too, and hopefully I can be someone to bridge the gap between the bad times and the good times. I think that's the ultimate goal for anyone around a hockey team - you want to win and you want to be around a fun atmosphere and a hockey atmosphere."

"I love the team atmosphere of being part of the broadcast," Mason said. "Just being part of a team again, with everyone working toward making a good show and doing a good job, that's what I'm looking forward to most about this job. I feel very honored that they thought highly enough of me to be able to transition from radio to television."
The additions of Mason and Gill are just two of a number of changes to the team's broadcasting lineup following the most successful campaign in franchise history. Also new to the broadcast team this season is Kara Hammer, who will serve as the club's rinkside reporter during home games at Bridgestone Arena. Formerly a sports reporter with WKRN in Nashville, Hammer will join Daunic and Mason for the game broadcast, while Lyndsay Rowley and Terry Crisp will host Predators LIVE! pre- and postgame shows on FOX Sports Tennessee; Rowley will also remain with the club on the road, serving as the rinkside reporter and pre- and postgame show host. The Predators' regular-season television schedule on FOX Sports Tennessee will be announced at a later date.
On the radio side, Weber and Gill will call the action, while Darren McFarland returns to host pre and postgame programming, as well as intermission reports. Former Predators Associate Coach Brent Peterson, who had served as radio color analyst alongside Weber, will join McFarland during the pre and postgame shows. Mark Howard takes on a new role this season, hosting in-arena game breaks during each intermission as well as special 20th season vignettes.
"With the popularity of the team after the run to the Cup, people want more information on the Nashville Predators and now we have more talent and more outlets to get that information out," Nashville Predators Senior Director of Broadcasting and Entertainment Bob Kohl said. "With the added broadcasters, there's room for more in-depth coverage, whether it be through web, social, radio or television; not very long ago we were simulcast only on radio and television and now we have all these great additions to accommodate the need."