In any profession, the goal is to work your way up through every level to get to the top.
After four years in West 麻豆精选, for Chase Johnston, it鈥檚 his time to move up to the next level. On Sept. 12, the now former West 麻豆精选 Warriors broadcaster and director of business development and communications announced he鈥檚 been named the new play-by-play broadcaster for the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League.
馃毃RADIO BROADCAST NEWS馃毃
鈥� Brandon Wheat Kings (@bdnwheatkings) September 12, 2022
The Wheat Kings are proud to announce the return of Wheat Kings hockey to @QCountry91_5 and welcome Chase Johnston as the clubs new play by play voice!
Welcome to the BWK @CJohnstonBCHL!https://t.co/qF536RN6dY pic.twitter.com/CzT8Ib9ku9
Officially official. 馃 @bdnwheatkings @TheWHL pic.twitter.com/PD0Y3ckHk8
鈥� Chase Johnston (@CJohnstonWHL) September 12, 2022
Johnston first reached out to the Wheat Kings about the position in the spring, but the team didn鈥檛 interview him or anyone else as they we鈥檙e figuring out their radio in town. On the first day of Wheat Kings training camp on Sept. 2, with just three weeks until the start of the season, the team called Johnston and offered him the job.
鈥淚 think for me, once I found out it was real, it was a little emotional for me.鈥�
Coming out of BCIT鈥檚 broadcasting school in 2018, Johnston had a goal and a five-year plan. With his new job, he reached his goal with a year to spare.
Johnston got the job as the Warriors play-by-play broadcaster in 2018, when it was 鈥榓 much different time for the Warriors organization鈥�, with his first day being what鈥檚 known as 鈥楪rimmer Gate鈥� in the organization. That year was his first as a full time broadcaster and calls it one of his favourite seasons in West 麻豆精选.
During his time with the Warriors, the team went through an ownership change. When the new ownership took over, Johnston was one of only a few members to stay with the organization. With him leaving after four seasons, he鈥檚 one of the longest tenured members in the organization鈥檚 history.
Johnston said that the pandemic was a tough time because when there鈥檚 no hockey, there鈥檚 no work but he has the utmost respect for what the new ownership and coaching staff did to help him grow.
鈥淭he new ownership really helped me become a better person, a better broadcaster, a better marketer, [and] I鈥檓 really thrilled with the outcome of where I am today because there鈥檚 no way I鈥檓 probably getting hired by a western league team if it wasn鈥檛 for the guidance of the new ownership and coaching staff,鈥� said Johnston.
When Johnston needed to move in the height of the pandemic, Warriors Head Coach and General Manager Simon Ferguson brought Johnston into his house and opened his basement suite for him. Over the last year, Johnston also transitioned into a bigger role in the organization, working on the marketing and business side as well and said Team President Chris Laurie was a huge help during that learning curve.
On top of that, it鈥檚 been all about the people for Johnston.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not about the job, it鈥檚 not about the sport, it鈥檚 about the people.鈥�
Johnston mentioned one fan in-particular, who gifted him a bingo card of all of his different play-by-play calls from his broadcasts.
For Johnston, it was time to take the next step.
鈥淚 sacrificed a lot to be where I am and not a lot of people sacrifice that. There鈥檚 so many people in my position if they have a wife, they have kids that hang up the microphone and find themselves doing something else.鈥�
Over the last few months, Johnston also became the play-by-play commentator for the Okanagan Sun football team. While he鈥檚 moving on, he鈥檚 going to continue to run the Sun鈥檚 social media channels and writing for the team.
Familiar Face
In an announcement on Wednesday, the Warriors named and welcomed back Trevor Miller to the team taking over for Johnston. Miller was the team鈥檚 broadcaster from for two seasons, from 2016-18, before Johnston took the role.
In the 2018-19 season, Miller was named the BCHL Broadcaster of the Year after a season with the Trail Smoke Eaters. He just spent the last three seasons being the voice of his hometown Penticton Vees.
鈥淚鈥檓 very excited to be joining the Warriors organization once again and coming back to a place where I began my broadcasting career in the BCHL,鈥� said Miller.
鈥淭revor Miller is the best in the BCHL to take over my role,鈥� said Johnston. 鈥淚 have an opportunity that I couldn鈥檛 pass up that I believe is the right decision for my long term goals.鈥�
The Warriors have one more preseason game in Vernon against the Vipers on Wednesday, Sept. 14. The regular season begins on Friday, Sept. 23 when the Warriors take on the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
READ MORE: Season Preview: Marquee names take shape on West 麻豆精选 Warriors roster
READ MORE: 麻豆精选 teen rides across Canada over the summer
@cunninghamjordy
jordy.cunningham@kelownacapnews.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
