Broadcast
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Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network
Cable 14
HAMILTON BULLDOGS HOCKEY NETWORK -
BROADCASTER BIOS
DEREK WILLS (Right)
Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network Play-By-Play Announcer
A native of Port Colborne, Ontario, Derek Wills has been the 'The Voice of the Hamilton Bulldogs' since 2001.
Currently in his ninth season as the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network Play-By-Play Announcer, and fifth as the head of the broadcasting and communications department, Wills has called a number of historically significant games such as the AHL's Conference Finals on three occasions (2002, 2003, 2007), the Calder Cup Finals twice (2003, 2007), and the second-longest game in AHL history (Game 2 of the 2002 Calder Cup Finals). Wills was also selected to provide the play-by-play for the exclusive radio broadcast and league-wide online broadcast of the 2004 AHL All-Star Game in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In 2004-2005, Wills was named winner of the American Hockey League's prestigious James H. Ellery Memorial Award, in the radio category. The Ellery Awards are presented annually by the AHL to recognize one member of the radio, television, and print media deemed to have provided the most outstanding coverage of the league.
Entering the 2009-2010 season, Wills had called 720 consecutive regular season and post-season Hamilton Bulldogs games, the longest current streak for any broadcaster in the AHL.
On January 25th, 2010, Wills made his National Hockey League debut, filling in for legendary Buffalo Play-By-Play Announcer Rick Jeanneret and working with Colour Commentator Harry Neale in the Sabres' 3-2 loss to the Canucks at General Motors Place in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Wills, 33, currently resides in Stoney Creek, Ontario with his girlfriend, Jen.
AL CRAIG (Left)
Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network Colour Commentator
A native of Toronto, Ontario, Al Craig is currently in his eighth full season as the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network Colour Commentator.
Now in his 40th year in the broadcasting industry, Craig has worked at radio and television stations in Timmins, Ontario, Pembroke, Ontario, Charlottetown, P.E.I., and St. John's, Newfoundland. Craig also became the most recognizable sports broadcaster in Hamilton during his 23 years at 900 CHML. Serving as the Sports Director for the majority of his long tenure with the station, Craig covered a wide variety of sports and leagues including the National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, Canadian Football League, Canadian Soccer League and the Ontario Hockey League. Craig has also covered a number of historical sporting events, including the 1972 Canada - Soviet Summit Series, the 1987 and 1991 Canada Cup's, the 1992 and 1993 World Series, won by the Toronto Blue Jays, the 1997, 2003 and 2007 Calder Cup Finals, as well as numerous World Championships in a number of different sports.
In 1996, Craig became the first Hamilton Bulldogs Play-By-Play Announcer, calling numerous regular season and post-season games including the first game in franchise history, and every post-season game as the team advanced to the Calder Cup Final in their inaugural season. Craig rejoined the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network in 2001 on a part-time basis, before becoming Derek Wills' full-time Colour Commentator for all home games and select away games at the start of the 2002-2003 season.
Craig has captured a number of awards for his work, including the Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice ‘Sportscaster of the Year' Award. Craig, 60, resides in Grimsby, Ontario with his wife Cathy, and has two sons - Ted and Grant.
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In partnership with Cable 14, Mohawk College and TALK 820, all 38 Hamilton Bulldogs' home games at Copps Coliseum and six away games will be televised on Cable 14.
Cable 14 will air live broadcasts of 13 of club's 38 home games at Copps Coliseum. In addition, in a joint venture with Mohawk College and TALK 820, Cable 14 will broadcast the 25 Hamilton Bulldogs' home games at Copps Coliseum not being shown live in their entirety as 'Dogs-in-an-Hour at 11:00 p.m. on the night of the game.
Cable 14 will also carry Rogers Television's live coverage of six Hamilton Bulldogs versus Toronto Marlies games at Ricoh Coliseum. The first of the six games was shown on Cable 14 on Sunday, October 4th at 4:00 p.m.
All regular season and post-season broadcasts can also be heard live on the Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network (Talk 820, www.hamiltonbulldogs.com).
Play-By-Play Announcer Todd Crocker, Colour Commentator Norm Miller and Host / Reporter Laura Leigh will call all 13 of Cable 14's live broadcasts of Hamilton Bulldogs home games in 2009-2010, while the call of Hamilton Bulldogs Hockey Network Play-By-Play Announcer Derek Wills and Colour Commentator Al Craig will be heard on all of Cable 14's 'Dogs-in-an-Hour broadcasts this season.
AHL TONIGHT ON CABLE 14's 2009-2010 HAMILTON BULLDOGS LIVE BROADCAST SCHEDULE:
DATE |
VISITOR |
HOME |
TIME (ET) |
ARENA |
Sun., Oct. 4th, 2009 |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
Toronto Marlies |
4:00 p.m |
Ricoh Coliseum |
Fri., Oct. 9th, 2009 |
Rockford IceHogs |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Fri., Oct. 30th, 2009 |
Abbotsford Heat |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Sat., Nov. 14th, 2009 |
Syracuse Crunch |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:00 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Fri., Dec. 4th, 2009 |
Toronto Marlies |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Sat., Dec. 5th, 2009 |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
Toronto Marlies |
4:00 p.m. |
Ricoh Coliseum |
Sun., Dec. 13th, 2009 |
Abbotsford Heat |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
4:00 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Fri., Jan. 8th, 2010 |
Lake Erie Monsters |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Fri., Jan. 15th, 2010 |
Rochester Americans |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Sat., Jan. 23rd, 2010 |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
Toronto Marlies |
7:00 p.m. |
Ricoh Coliseum |
Sat., Feb. 6th, 2010 |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
Toronto Marlies |
7:00 p.m. |
Ricoh Coliseum |
Sat., Feb. 13th, 2010 |
Abbotsford Heat |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:00 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Sun., Feb. 28th, 2010 |
Toronto Marlies |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
6:00 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Fri., Mar. 5th, 2010 |
Chicago Wolves |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Fri., Mar. 12th, 2010 |
Grand Rapids Griffins |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Sat., Mar. 20th, 2010 |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
Toronto Marlies |
4:00 p.m. |
Ricoh Coliseum |
Thu., Apr. 1st, 2010 |
Toronto Marlies |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:30 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Sat., Apr. 3rd, 2010 |
Rochester Americans |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
7:00 p.m. |
Copps Coliseum |
Sat., Apr.10th, 2010 |
Hamilton Bulldogs |
Toronto Marlies |
4:00 p.m. |
Ricoh Coliseum |
For more information on Cable 14, visit www.cable14.com
