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The Blackhawks announced Rick Ball as the team's new play-by-play announcer for the 2024 season.
Ball, 57, will join analyst and former Hawks goalie Darren Pang on the new broadcast hosted by first-year RSN Chicago Sports Network in October.
Ball joins the Blackhawks after serving as the Calgary Flames' play-by-play announcer for the last 10 years. He has also called national broadcasts of "Hockey Night in Canada" since 2011 and has been an announcer on the show since 2013.
“We are delighted to have Rick join the Blackhawks broadcast booth alongside Darren Pang as we begin this exciting new chapter in Blackhawks television with our new broadcast venture, Chicago Sports Network,” President of Business Operations Jaime Faulkner said in a press release. “An established voice in the hockey world, Rick brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to our broadcasts. Coupled with Darren’s exceptional energy and expertise, we believe we are providing Blackhawks fans with the best in-home watching experience in the NHL."
Ball will replace Chris Vosters, the Blackhawks play-by-play announcer since April 2022. Vosters succeeded legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Foley, who left impossible shoes to fill after serving as the main Blackhawks play-by-play broadcaster for 14 years from 2008-22.
Vosters came from an all-encompassing background in sports broadcasting that wasn't entirely centered on hockey. He started in the industry calling minor league baseball games, high school football and basketball. He had also covered three Olympic games before landing the gig with the Blackhawks.
To his credit, Vosters had previously called college hockey games with the Big Ten Network, appearing on broadcasts for the 2019 Frozen Four and Hockey Day Minnesota on Bally Sports.
“We would also like to thank Chris Vosters for his time as play-by-play announcer, and we look forward to continuing discussions surrounding opportunities with our new network. Chris is a phenomenal broadcaster with a big career ahead of him, and we are excited for him to continue to showcase his immense talent through his content with Stadium as well as his broadcasting work with other national, multi-sport entities,” Faulkner said
Ball made the tough decision to move to Chicago from his native land in Canada. But his appreciation for the Blackhawks franchise and partnering with Pang helped drive his decision to make the lateral.
“I am thrilled to join the Chicago Blackhawks broadcast booth at such a monumental time in the organization’s history. My family and I are extremely grateful to the Wirtz family for giving me the opportunity to join such a storied franchise. It will truly be an honor to call games for an Original Six team and to work with someone as incredibly talented and respected as Darren Pang,” said Ball.
Daniel Weinman was crowned winner of the 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event on Monday, taking home a record breaking $12.1 million in winnings. Weinman had to outlast the other 10,043 entrants to take home the prize and get his hands on his share of live poker’s largest ever prize pool – a staggering $93,399,900. As well as taking home the prize money, 35-year-old Weinman also got his hands on the WSOP Main Event bracelet. The huge bracelet contains 500 grams of 10-karat yellow gold, as well as 2,352 various precious gemstones.
Daniel Weinman won the World Series of Poker's main event world championship on Monday in Las Vegas, earning $12.1 million along the way. Playing in the tournament for a 16th year, Weinman was tops in a deep pool of 10,043 players vying for $93.39 million. His victory came after just 164 hands at the final table. "I was honestly on the fence about even coming back and playing this tournament," the 35-year-old Atlanta native told reporters afterward. Weinman's final table featured Jan-Peter Jachtmann, who landed in fourth place and took home $3 million, as well as Toby Lewis, who finished seventh and secured $1.42 million. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the main event's entry pool far outpaced the previous record of 8,773 set in 2006. "I've always kind of felt that poker was kind of going in a dying direction, but to see the numbers at the World Series this year has been incredible," Weinman said. "And to win this main event, it doesn't feel real. I mean, [there's] so much luck in a poker tournament. I thought I played very well." Steven Jones finished second, securing $6.5 million. And Adam Walton settled for third and a $4 million prize.
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