Counting down
Published 3:52 pm Monday, August 20, 2007
Ah yes, hockey season must be around the corner. Just two days before players report for Silvertips rookie camp and the signs are everywhere. Ran into Zack Dailey in the parking lot, then caught a glimpse of Mitch Love as he was taking off for a run, and the Tips offices were at full buzz. I think everybody is ready for the proceedings to begin.
Speaking of the Tips offices:
– Today I met Jon Rosen, Keith Gerhart’s replacement as the team’s play-by-play announcer and PR guy. Actually, I encountered him first over the phone as he got ahold of me first thing this morning, and I’ve got to say, my first reaction was, “Man, this guy sure has the voice of a radio broadcaster.” I was also impressed with how fast he got himself down to business, considering his hiring was just announced last week. In person Rosen came across as a friendly guy. He just came from doing radio for the High Desert Mavericks minor-league baseball team, which happens to be the California League affiliate of the Seattle Mariners, and given the other part of my job is covering the AquaSox we had plenty to chat about. However, I was concerned when one of the first things he mentioned was his quandry about working the “Maize and Blue” into the office decor. Michigan? I thought having to deal with Gerhart’s rabid Philadelphia sport biases was bad enough, but now this? (just kidding guys).
– Also confirmed that another member of the Tips front office, game operations manager Matt Russell, is leaving. Russell is heading to California, where his girlfriend got a job with Santa Clara University’s business school. That brings the total to six original franchise employees who left this offseason — Russell, Gerhart, head coach Kevin Constantine, trainer Bob Hamre, director of ticketing Keith Armstrong and administrative assistant Mary Brown. Quite the busy offseason for the Tips. It remains to be seen how many players (Peter Mueller? Dane Crowley? Dan Gendur? Even Zach Hamill and Leland Irving?) will also depart for the greener pastures of the professional ranks.
