Will Bryant will make his play-by-play commentary debut on Saturday. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

MEET THE VOICE

Will Bryant debuting as the new voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers

Sep 20, 2024 | 12:33 PM

Will Bryant was working at a gas station near his Vancouver Island home in 2016 when he met a player and commentator for the local minor hockey team and heard of an opportunity that would change his life.

The then-16-year-old learned the North Saanich-based Peninsula Panthers were looking for a play-by-play caller, something that Bryant had been interested in trying out.

So, Bryant went to the rink after the next game and met the camera operator, who told him to come back the next week to meet the team owner.

That’s when he got his chance.

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At the time, the Panthers players themselves were doing all the commentary so they were happy to give Bryant a shot for the third period.

The team was impressed and he was invited back.

Not knowing any better, Bryant showed up to the next game five minutes before puck drop thinking he would be trained and shown the ropes.

But the person he was meant to learn from was a no-show and he had to rise to the moment.

“They threw the headset on me and said, ‘call the game’, and I’ve doing it ever since,” Bryant told CHAT News.

After building up his skills and experience for several years, the British Columbian crossed the border and travelled far from home to take on a new challenge as the voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers.

He starts this weekend.

“I’m excited to be able to be a part of this team, be a part of this community,” Bryant said Friday.

“I find myself in the fortunate position to be the one telling the story of this team, and it’s a story that’s had its highs, it’s had its lows, and I’m excited to share that story.”

Bob Ridley was the voice of the Tigers for many years before his retirement in 2022 after calling 52 seasons and over 4,000 games.

Bryant met with Ridley in the Co-op Place broadcasting booth in a passing-of-the-torch moment to get some tips and tricks.

The incoming commentator said he spent time “getting a better understanding from Bob as to how and sort of what went into his preparation in terms of not just endearing himself to the community, but making people want to tune in.”

“How do you make people want to tune in? How do you make people want to come back? And how do you, in that same breath, make yourself a part of the community and a part of the team? And that’s something that that Bob shared some really great insight towards.”

For Bryant, it’s important that listeners who turn on the gameday broadcast stay engaged.

“They want to hear passion. They want to hear love for the game, because they love the game and they love the team.”

Bryant will make his play-by-play debut on Wild 94.5 radio for the home opener on Saturday at 7 p.m. when the Tigers take on the Edmonton Oil Kings.

“It’s Medicine Hat’s team and I’m excited to be on this journey with them.”