The final piece to the Seattle Kraken broadcast team on radio flagship station, 950 AM KJR and the Kraken Audio Network was made official on Thursday, solidifying a team that will deliver comprehensive coverage each Kraken home and road game, along with additional listening content designed for on-demand availability on KJR’s home on the web, www.www.sportsradiokjr.com, and on the iHeart Radio app.
Dave Tomlinson, announced today on air with Dave “Softy” Mahler and Dick Fain during the 3:00pm hour, will join the Kraken broadcast team as full-time color analyst teaming with radio play-by-play voice Everett Fitzhugh each game night for Kraken play-by-play coverage, and Mike Benton who serves as network studio host.
950 KJR’s Ian Furness will contribute with exclusive “Meet the Kraken” segments, serving one-on-one conversations with each member of the Kraken roster.
The Kraken can heard on Seattle Sports Radio 950 KJR AM, 102.5 KZOK FM, the station’s websites, or iHeartRadio.com and its app.
Kraken Audio Network on Twitter
About the broadcast team:
EVERETT FITZHUGH – RADIO PLAY-BY-PLAY
A main ambassador for the NHL’s newest franchise and a visible presence in the greater Seattle region, Fitzhugh was hired by the Kraken in September of 2020 and will serve as play-by-play voice for all broadcasts along the Kraken Audio Network, and is also seen in hosting and emcee roles across the Kraken website, community panels, and news conferences.
Prior to coming to Seattle, the native of Detroit spent five seasons as play-by-play voice of the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, also holding the role of Director of Media Relations and Broadcasting, handling broadcast, media relations, digital media, and team services responsibilities. The 32-year old branched out as a team spokesman, and was present across local and national television and radio, and print coverage.
During his time in Cincinnati, he made his NHL broadcast debut in a guest radio play-by-play role when the Washington Capitals battled the Boston Bruins during the 2018-19 pre-season, was named to telecast coverage for the 2018 ECHL All-Star Classic on NHL Network, and earned the league’s top media relations award in 2016-17. His rise up the hockey ladder began at Bowling Green State University where he handled play-by-play for the school’s hockey program, while graduating in 2011 with a degree in Sports Management, followed by stops in the United States Hockey League with Youngstown and the league’s headquarter office.
DAVE TOMLINSON – RADIO COLOR ANALYST
Tomlinson brings decades of experience in the game, teaming with Fitzhugh as color analyst for all broadcasts along the Kraken audio network and not moving too far from his previous stop in the NHL.
Prior to joining the Kraken broadcast booth, Tomlinson served as radio color analyst for the Vancouver Canucks, in addition to filling numerous on-air roles for 13 years with TSN 1040AM, including color commentator and panelist for the World Championship and World Junior Championship, co-host for radio programming, and during 2017-18 as a color analyst for Winnipeg Jets telecasts.
A native of North Vancouver, his playing career included three stops in the National Hockey League as a center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Jets, and Florida Panthers, including 15 years across minor league levels and in Europe. Tomlinson graduated from Boston University with a degree in Marketing, where he competed for four seasons for the Terriers program from 1987-91.
Did you know? Tomlinson’s handy-work is stamped on the reboot of the Mighty Ducks television series, “Mighty Ducks: Game Changers” streamed on Disney-plus, where he worked off camera as a skating tutor for lead characters and consultant for production.
MIKE BENTON – NETWORK STUDIO HOST
Benton brings 16 years of versatile broadcast experience in hockey to the airwaves for all Kraken broadcast coverage, filling network studio host role as anchor for all pre-game, intermission, and post-game show coverage. He will also continue to deliver written and podcast coverage onwww.sportsradiokjr.com, along the iHeartRadio app, and contribute with Kraken updates across KJR programming.
Benton’s most recent on-air experience includes six seasons locally in the Puget Sound with the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League as the team’s play-by-play voice, weekly radio show host, and their chief contact for digital media activities. Hewas behind the mic for four of the team’s U.S. Division titles, the 2018 Western Conference championship, a Silvertips win in the longest playoff game in CHL history (five overtimes at 151:36).
Prior to the Silvertips, he earned a state broadcasting award as broadcast voice of the Alaska Aces (ECHL) for two seasons, spent eight seasons with the Stockton Thunder (ECHL) as broadcast voice and director of broadcasting and media relations, and was behind the mic for three ECHL All-Star Game radio broadcasts. Benton has also been heard as a correspondent for SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and in TV color analyst and rinkside reporter roles Vancouver Canucks YoungStars Tournament in Penticton, British Columbia.
A childhood resident of Puyallup and Kirkland, he graduated with a degree in communication studies (journalism) from Azusa Pacific University in 2004.
CONNECT:
Everett Fitzhugh | Twitter:@TheVoiceFitz
Dave Tomlinson | Twitter:@HockeyDaveT
Mike Benton | Twitter:@Benton_Mike