Haney novice to game when hired 8 years ago

By Chris Umpierre
Fort Myers News Press

Before the club's inaugural 1998-99 season, the Florida Everblades invited the
public to try out to become the team's public address announcer. But Mark
Miller, who was the Blades' director of marketing then, wasn't pleased with the
tryout.

He phoned Mark Haney, a 96K-Rock disc jockey. Doing a K-Rock remote on Fort
Myers Beach, Haney zipped to Germain Arena to make some calls during a Blades'
scrimmage.
"I walk onto the ice and I'm sunburned, I'm getting sand on the ice ...," Haney
said. "Mark said, 'Just say one word, say 'Icing.' I said icing and he goes,
'OK, you're hired.' "

Haney, 39, has been the Blades' P.A. announcer for the franchise's eight years.
Miller, who was fired by the team last year, had a four-word answer for why
Haney has lasted so long.

"It's the pipes, man," Miller said.

Haney's deep baritone voice and catchy calls are familiar to Florida fans. Haney
and Stan Nawalaniec host "The Stan and Haney Show" on K-Rock. Miller admitted
that the P.A. announcer contest was all for show.

"Truth be known, the contest was just to get free ink out of you guys (the
media)," Miller said. "I wanted (Haney)."

Haney didn't think he'd be with the team this long. He had never been to a
hockey game, much less announced one, before Miller called. Haney struggled
during the team's first-ever game in 1998. He introduced Florida's backup goalie
as "guard Marc Magliarditi."

"That was probably my most infamous moment," Haney said. "But that was the first
game. I figured the game out a little bit since then."

Alaska Aces P.A. announcer Bob Lester used some poor judgement and as a result
made headlines on Nov. 1 when he was fined $2,500 for comments he made during a
game. Lester chided an opposing player during a fight. That player,
Bakersfield's Kevin Kotyluk, was injured during the fight.

"Anybody who does this job and makes a comment like that, they're idiots," Haney
said. "All you have to do is go to the ECHL rule book. A lot of people don't
understand this but the P.A. announcer is considered an off-ice official in the
eyes of the league. It's clearly defined in the rule book what you can and can't
say."

Haney said the best part of being an announcer is sitting at ice level,
especially after a fight.

"Whenever you get five and five (minute penalties) for fighting, you get to hear
all the yapping going back and forth with the guys in the penalty box," he said.
"It's pretty interesting."

Haney said it's been "a really rewarding experience" with the club.

"It's been a great time, especially working with (Florida general manager) Craig
Brush," Haney said. "And the season ticket-holders have treated me so well since
day one. Anytime I miss a game, like if I'm sick or something, they come up to
me and say, 'Where were you? We're glad you're back.' "

A LONG ROAD

The Florida Everblades (6-3) will begin a six-game, eight-day road trip at 7
tonight against the Greenville (S.C.) Grrrowl (6-4). That game will be broadcast
on WWCN-AM (770). Here is a look at the other five games on the trip:

Wednesday: 7:05 p.m. at Columbia Inferno
Friday: 7 p.m. at Charlotte Checkers
Saturday: 7:05 p.m. at Greenville Grrrowl
Sunday: 7:05 p.m. at South Carolina Stingrays
Tuesday: 7:05 p.m. at South Carolina Stingrays

Originally posted on November 22, 2005


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