Press Release

(June 22, 2009) WSBT Radio Group has announced that award-winning, play-by-play broadcaster Darin Pritchett has been named the play-by-play voice of the nationally ranked Notre Dame hockey team for the upcoming 2009-10 season. Now in his 10th year at WSBT, Pritchett took over the role last February on a moment's notice due to the untimely death of Mike Lockert, who had handled the play-by-play duties for seven seasons. He remained with the Irish through the NCAA Tournament.

Pritchett will continue in his role as the main WSBT Radio sports announcer heard each weekday on "JT in the Morning" and "Weekday Sportsbeat." He will also continue to host the popular "Gameday Sportsbeat" pre-game Notre Dame football show on WSBT Radio, and, as time allows, broadcast high school sports.

Pritchett and long-time broadcast partner, Rick Carter, were honored in 2004, 2005 and 2006 by the Associated Press with a first-place finish for outstanding play-by-play broadcasting in the major market division. In 2005, the Indiana Broadcasters Association (IBA) gave the WSBT team a Spectrum Award for a first-place finish in sports play-by-play broadcasting. In 2006, the WSBT sports team received first place by the IBA for sports coverage.

A native of Petersburg, Illinois, Pritchett is a 1989 graduate of Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville where he received his degree in radio and television broadcasting. At SIUE, he served as the voice of the men and women's basketball programs on radio and television.

Prior to joining WSBT in 1999, Pritchett also worked as a sports producer for KMOX radio in St. Louis, Mo., where he worked as a producer for Cardinals' baseball, Blues' hockey, Rams' football and sports talk shows.

Notre Dame hockey can be heard this season on Cat Country 99.9 FM and on the Notre Dame website at und.com. The 2009-10 hockey season opens on Friday, Oct. 9 at home versus Alabama-Huntsville.