Courtesy WHBF-TV

(January 4, 2011) The Central Hockey League (CHL) announced today the four broadcasters that have been recognized as the CHL All-Star broadcast team for the 2011 CHL All-Star Game, scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena in Rapid City, South Dakota. The game's format will feature the host Rapid City Rush (the defending CHL Champions) taking on a team of CHL All-Stars.

The duo that will bring the game to fans on CHL-TV is Odessa's Brien Rea and Quad City's Brian Lavelle. Fans can watch the game on CHL-TV for just $7.00 (visit http://chltv.neulion.com./chltv/ for ordering information).

Bringing the game to the airwaves will be Rapid City's Daniel Nieves and Mississippi's Bob Bakken. The game's radio broadcast will originate from Classic Rock 100.3 FM – The Fox in Rapid City (the official radio station of the host Rush).

Rea is currently in his third season as the radio voice of the Odessa Jackalopes and has been broadcasting in the CHL for four seasons (spent one year with the Austin Ice Bats, 2007). The St. Louis native began his trek up the ranks in broadcasting with the Lake Forest College men's team in Chicago where he broadcast for two years. He has also worked for WGN Television in Chicago and KMOX Radio in St. Louis during his broadcasting career.

Lavelle is in his second season with the Quad City Mallards and his first in the CHL. Before moving up to the professional ranks, Lavelle served as the broadcaster of a pair of junior teams – the Billings Bulls of the America West Hockey League and, more recently, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League. During his time in Cedar Rapids, the Boston area native called the RoughRiders' 2005 USHL Clark Cup title victory and both the 2007 and 2008 USHL All-Star Games.

Bakken is in his third season with the Mississippi RiverKings and has covered all levels of amateur sports during his broadcasting career. Prior to joining the RiverKings, the Minnesota native served as the voice of the Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League calling the team's 2008 Anderson Cup (regular season) and Clark Cup (playoff champs) runs. Bakken also served two stints with the USHL franchise in Sioux City, Iowa for a total of 14 of 20 years.

Nieves is in his third season with the Rapid City Rush and was behind the microphone last season during the team's Ray Miron Presidents' Cup title run. Being the broadcaster and media relations director for the host team of the All-Star Game, Nieves will have many added responsibilities including hosting both the All-Star Media Luncheon as well as the All-Star Banquet. The Tavernier, Florida native joined the Rush after serving as the hockey voice of the Bowling Green State University Falcons. During his time with the Falcons, Nieves was named "Hockey Broadcaster of the Year" by the Bowling Green Radio Sports Organization three consecutive years.

blog comments powered by Disqus