NEWS PHOTO JAMES TUBB
Will Bryant, the new voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers, takes in the first period of the Tigers' 6-3 preseason loss Sunday at Co-op Place to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
jtubb@medicinehatnews.com@ReporterTubb
It’s been a whirlwind month for Will Bryant.
The 24-year-old found out he was the new voice of the Medicine Hat Tigers and quickly packed up his car and his parents’ car to make the move from Vancouver Island to the Gas City.
It was a come-true moment that has also provided some chaos as he’s settling into his new role.
“This past few weeks have been incredible but at the same time as busy it’s been, it’s been kind of hard for stuff to sink in,” Bryant told the News on Saturday. “Last night was the first night in town in my own place and it definitely sunk in a little bit, but I don’t think it’s going to hit until after the home opener.”
He is taking over the role after the Tigers did not renew the contract of Gino De Paoli, who became the new voice of the Swift Current Broncos.
Bryant was in attendance Sunday for the Tigers’ final preseason game, a 6-3 loss at Co-op Place to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. He was announced as the new voice on Sept. 11 during the WILD 94.5 morning show. Since then, he’s received countless messages from the Tigers’ faithful wishing him luck and sharing their excitement.
“It’s one of those things I wasn’t necessarily anticipating,” Bryant said. “To me, this is just something I’ve done since I was 16, and it’s a new job in a different place. But clearly, I’m not naive to understand the importance of this franchise and how passionate the fan base is.”
Bryant has served as the play-by-play voice of the VIJHL Peninsula Panthers for the last eight seasons. He’s also been on a rotation as a colour commentator with the Victoria Royals the last couple of seasons, calling the Royals’ 4-1 win over Medicine Hat on Oct. 17, 2023.
He got the job in Penninsula after meeting the former voice while working in a gas station at the age of 16. After showing some interest in the role, the former broadcaster told Bryant to show up to the rink and he’d show him the ropes.
Bryant did show up the next few weeks and the former broadcaster was no longer there. The team gave him the headset and he didn’t relinquish it until a few weeks ago.
“The heart’s still fond for the Peninsula,” Bryant said. “I have nothing but good memories. I grew up playing hockey out of that barn. I realized hockey’s not the way it was going to be going, so let’s try the broadcasting side of things. Top down through that organization, from the ownership, the coaching staff, nothing but good memories from them.”
He’s looking forward to working with the Tigers’ coaching staff and getting to know players and their stories he’ll share on the airwaves. He’s not ready to call the broadcast booth in Co-op Place his own just yet. The Bob Ridley broadcast centre casts a large shadow he’s not looking to fill, but he’s all ears when it comes to any tips from the legend of the trade.
“I want to try and understand how he connected so well, with his audience, with the entire city,” Bryant said. “Because if you call a game, that’s one thing, but how do you make it connect, how do you make it stick with people? How do you make people want to tune in?”
He recognizes the opportunity in front of him, getting on the mic to relay the starts and stops, the electrifying hits and breathtaking saves expected from a team with championship aspirations and expectations. Bryant’s looking forward to watching the plethora of NHL talent on display every night and seeing a player like Gavin McKenna continue to grow in the WHL.
He says he’s not going to do anything extra or change anything with his call. All he wants to bring to the Medicine Hat airwaves and those looking to be part of the game from a distance is the same experience he had growing up as a kid, laying in bed with a radio tucked beside him.
” I grew up falling asleep to Canucks’ games with John Shorthouse, John Garrett on the call, literally, a box radio between my bed frame and my box spring,” Bryant reminisced. “I would pass out, wake up at 1 a.m. and it’d be whatever’s on the AM radio at that time of morning.
“All I want do is portray passion. I’d say I’m a passionate broadcaster. I’m someone that tries to portray their love for the sport through the call, and I’m excited to be doing that here in Med Hat.”
