The Dover Bay student used to phone in unsolicited reports on the happenings of the Nanaimo Clippers to Dan Russell's Sports Talk on CKNW in Vancouver.

Russell dubbed him Clipper Joe.

For Kenward, already an aspiring broadcaster who volunteered for both CKEG Radio and Shaw Cable, his weekly Clipper updates were a way for him to get his voice on Vancouver radio and his name known among the city's sports media.

It's time for a new nickname.

How does Canuck Joe sound?

On Monday, the 30-year-old broadcaster was hired by Team 1040 as part of the two-man tandem that will fill in for Canucks play-by-play man John Shorthouse for the 45 games he spends calling TV games on Rogers Sportsnet Pacific next season.

Kenward will call the non-Shorthouse road games, while B.C. Lions broadcaster Rick Ball will fill in for Shorthouse on the radio at G.M. Place. The NHL schedule hasn't been released yet, but Kenward expects to do 20-25 games.

"I'm really pumped," said Kenward, who has been serving as play-by-play man and director of media relations with the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants for the last five years. "It's something I've always wanted."

Ball and Kenward worked together in Kelowna during the 90s. As a 21-year-old fresh out of the broadcasting program at BCIT, Kenward took a reporter's job at SUN-FM/AM 1150 and also served as colour commentator to Ball's play-by-play on Kelowna Rockets broadcasts.

"We've sort of come full circle," said Kenward. "He originally gave me my start in broadcasting."

After riding the buses with the Giants, and the Swift Current Broncos before that, Kenward admits he's excited to experience some of the first-class perks that go along with NHL travel.

"I'm looking forward to getting a chance to call games in the NHL for the Vancouver Canucks, but I'm also looking forward to visiting cities I've never been to before, getting the experience of flying in a chartered airplane and so many other things that come with the role," he said. "There were many nights on the bus when I'd look out at the stars and wonder if all (the travel) was really worth it.

"I've really enjoyed being part of the Giants and part of a championship team for two of the last four years. That's one of the big reasons why I stuck with it."

Kenward's role with Team 1040 won't be limited to the press box.

He'll also do sports reports, pre-game and post-game interviews and fill-in talk show host.

"One thing I've really missed over the past five years is being able to broadcast in some shape or form every day," Kenward said.

His new boss, Team 1040 program director Rob Gray, says Kenward beat out "a lot of candidates" from across North America for the job.

His B.C. roots and recognition in the Vancouver market may have helped get him an interview, but Gray says it was Kenward's talent that landed him the job

"He's got a great ability to convey the energy of the live game and paint a picture of what happens on the ice," said Gray. "It was his talent more than anything . . . and everybody likes him. He's a good person, as well."

Growing up in Nanaimo also gave him an advantage, Kenward says.

"I think if I had grown up in a bigger city like Vancouver, Toronto or Calgary I wouldn't have gotten the same opportunities to get my start in broadcasting," he said. "When I was in high school I very fortunate to be able to volunteer at CKEG radio and Shaw Cable doing Clipper games and high school sports. It was a real stepping stone for me."

Vancouver Giants head coach Dan Hay says Kenward is the perfect fit to follow in the line of great Canuck announcers like Jim Robson, Jim Hughson and John Shorthouse.

"He's a hard-working, energetic and very-professional young man," said Hay "I think the people he's following have set the bar high . . . and I think he'll be able to keep that standard high."