Dave Goucher will serve as the Golden Knights' play-by-play announcer this season on AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, joined by color commentator Shane Hnidy. The team has also hired Dan D’Uva as radio play-by-play man for Fox Sports affiliate KRLV-AM. Goucher had been the Bruins' radio play-by-play man since '00, while Hnidy was the Jets' color commentator on TSN since '11. D'Uva has been the radio and TV play-by-play voice of the AHL Syracuse Crunch since '12 (Golden Knights). Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz said that the team "received about 200 applications for the radio job." He added that the team "wanted someone who was not only talented but who was a good fit for the culture of the fledgling team and might be a part of it for many years." Bubolz said that D'Uva "came highly recommended" by Crunch Owner Howard Dolgon, Lightning Owner Jeff Vinik and NBC play-by-play man Mike Emrick (SYRACUSE.com, 8/15).
BIG SHOES TO FILL: In Boston, Chad Finn wrote Goucher with the Bruins "quickly formed effortless chemistry with color analyst Bob Beers" and had a "knack for hitting the right notes in the biggest moments." During the '14 and '15 seasons, Goucher was the TV play-by-play announcer for NBCSN covering Hockey East games. CBS Boston VP/Programming Mike Thomas said that WBZ-FM will "conduct a national search for a new play-by-play voice." Thomas added that the goal is to have Goucher’s replacement "in place alongside Beers for the start of the regular season" (BOSTONGLOBE.com, 8/15). In Winnipeg, Mike Sawatzky wrote Hnidy's replacement "wasn't immediately known, but it is believed three members of the TSN stable, analysts Ray Ferraro, Jamie McLennan and David Poulin, could join the Jets TV broadcasts on a rotating basis." In addition, former Jets analyst Mike Johnson and former NHLer Trevor Kidd could also "be candidates for the position." Kidd worked on "pre- and post-game segments" on Jets broadcasts last season (WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.com, 8/15).
