“I can’t get the smile off my face,” says new Mooseheads play-by-play broadcaster

Halifax Mooseheads fans will hear a new voice when they tune into games on NEWS 95.7.

Garreth MacDonald will be taking over play-by-play duties for the upcoming season.

MacDonald said he’s been going to Mooseheads games since he was a boy, and when he decided on broadcasting as a career, he considered this to be the dream job.

“The Mooseheads mean so much to the community of Halifax, to the hockey community in Nova Scotia,” he said. “To get to be a part of that, to have the privilege of broadcasting their games to fans here in Halifax, it’s really tough to put into words just how special that is.”

MacDonald started his career as a reporter with CTV before taking the role as communications director for Hockey Nova Scotia, however he told NEWS 95.7 his passion has always been play-by-play.

He’s spent the last three years calling the Dalhousie Tigers men’s games at the Halifax Forum, but thinks things will be a little different when he moves up to the Scotiabank Centre.

“The Mooseheads are a pro organization, they’re first class, I think it will be a little different because I’m used to calling games at the Forum,” he said. “The Moose mean so much to Halifax, there’s really no atmosphere or ambience in Nova Scotia sports quite like that, so to be able to broadcast games from the Scotiabank Centre, that is going to be a whole other experience.”

The Port Hood-native moved to Halifax in 2003 to go to King’s College and said he has some big shoes to fill in replacing long-time Mooseheads play-by-play broadcaster John Moore.

MacDonald said Moore has been his mentor, someone he’s been able to consult with during his broadcasting and hockey career.

“He’s been with the team for 20-plus seasons and has set a pretty high standard in the Q for great play-by-play,” he said. “I’m going to try my best to continue that standard.”

Mooseheads business operations vice president Brian Urquhart said the team is confident MacDonald can successfully fill the position.

“It’s important to find the right person, we are known across the country for having extremely passionate and knowledgeable fans,” he said. “It was very important for the Mooseheads and NEW 95.7 collectively to find a person to fill our play-by-play role that matches the passion of those fans.”

Urquhart said MacDonald is well known in hockey circles and lives and breathes junior hockey.

“He’s a knowledgeable guy, so I think that’s going to translate to the broadcast and be a real benefit to our fans listening on NEWS 95.7.”

As for MacDonald, he can’t wait to get started in his new role.

He said the youth and talent of the club will make for an exciting first season in the broadcast booth.

“All those young stars who were so good in their rookie season last year, right now they’re another year older and stronger,” he said. “You bring veteran Maxime Fortier into that mix, as well as Filip Zadina, the CHL import this last year, that’s a pretty impressive line-up.”

The season starts September 21st with the Moose on the road in Saint John.  The team’s home opener goes September 30th at the Scotiabank Centre against Acadie-Bathurst starting at 7 p.m.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today