After a league-wide survey, the 2016-17 BCHL Broadcaster of the Year is former Penticton Vees play-by-play man Fraser Rodgers.
Rodgers spent six seasons on the microphone broadcasting Vees games with his call going out live on EZ Rock 800 AM in Penticton as well as on HockeyTV pay-per-view. He stepped away from his post after the end of this past season.
As in the past five seasons, each BCHL play-by-play voice cast a vote for the award.
“First and foremost, it’s very humbling and flattering getting this recognition knowing it’s my peers that voted,” said Rodgers. “There are so many good broadcasters in this league. When you look at the lineage of other guys that have won, it’s humbling to have my name there. I’m grateful for this award.”
The native of Nanaimo, B.C. native filled a variety of roles within the Vees organization including media relations, sales and social media coordination. In addition to calling games, he was responsible for all Vees pre- and postgame coverage including game summaries and updates to his blog, The 3 Vees.
This past season was especially busy for Rodgers as the Vees hosted the Sun Life Financial Western Canada Cup at the South Okanagan Events Centre where he was responsible not only for the broadcast crews for each of the 13 games but also for media relations and as a member of the organizing committee. This came after the Vees went to Game 7 in each round of the BCHL playoffs, including overtime in Game 7 of the Fred Page Cup Finals where the prevailed 1-0 over the Chilliwack Chiefs.
Rodgers is the sixth individual in the past seven seasons to earn this award. Other recent winners include:
2016: Alex Rawnsley, Powell River Kings and Dan Marshall, Nanaimo Clippers
2015: Dan Marshall, Nanaimo Clippers
2014: Marcus Fitzgerald, Chilliwack Chiefs
2013: Evan Hammond, Alberni Valley Bulldogs
2012: Dan Marshall, Nanaimo Clippers
2011: Eddie Gregory, Coquitlam Express
