WALLEYE SEASON PREVIEW

Walleye TV, radio broadcasts will have more pregame segments this season

10/17/2013

With the Walleye pushing the start time of games back 10 minutes to 7:15 p.m. this season, both radio and TV broadcasts will have a little more time to preview each contest.

With the extra time, the TV voice of Walleye hockey, Matt Melzak, said the Buckeye Cable Sports Network telecast will introduce various new segments while the radio broadcasts on WCWA (1230 AM) will stay the same.

“The [TV] pregame will include: Keys to the Game with coach Nick Vitucci, a fan question of the day, the starting lineups, and a player spotlight,” he said. “We’ll also have a food feature showcasing one of the new or popular food items on the menu.”

Melzak noted that Scott Paluch and Rob Wiercinski will split the duties in the TV booth as the analyst for all home games. Melzak will handle the play-by-play on TV for the home games and the radio play-by-play for the road games. Ryan Schuiling will handle the play-by-play on WCWA-AM 1230 for the home games.

Postgame includes comments from Vitucci to the media, while assistant coach Dan Watson breaks down the game along with highlights, and a look back at the spotlighted player.

Also new this season, Anthony Bellino will hand duties as the Huntington Center rink announcer, taking over for Bobb Vergiels after a 20-year run behind the microphone with the Walleye and the previous Storm franchise.

Bellino is a public address announcer for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, the Toledo Mud Hens, and both the University of Toledo and University of Michigan.

He announces football and basketball for the Rockets, and does soccer, volleyball, and baseball for the Wolverines.