Blackhawks veteran gets a chance to fill-in for Pat Foley

Pat Foley has been the voice of the Blackhawks for decades, but he announced he’ll be stepping down once this season is over. Throughout the season a variety of people will be stepping into the booth to fill Foley’s shoes. However, calling the play-by-play for Chicago’s second game of 2021-22 was a veteran journalist.

Making the transition from radio to television, John Wiedeman has a solid background as by a play-by-play announcer. He’s done the same job for WGN calling games for the Chicago Blackhawks for a long time alongside his partner in crime Troy Murray. With Murray having announced his fight against cancer he was diagnosed with, now seems like a great time for Wiedeman to try taking on a new challenge.

Overall, listening to the game Wiedeman was a great fit. He barely stuttered and followed the game just like he’d always done it. He’s a 14-year veteran in Chicago, and it showed. He was able to work well alongside Eddie Olczyk, and he’s called games for other teams as well.

Wiedeman won’t be the only person to step into the booth, but he’s probably got an edge on some other candidates for Foley’s job. The Blackhawks will look to shake up the roster of their on-air personalities as the team’s rebuild seems to be spreading out to include more than just the on-ice talent. Maybe the front office is next?

Unfortunately, Chicago lost 4-3 in OT, spoiling Wiedeman’s debut, but he sounded like he’d be a great fit for the role. It’s Chicago’s second loss in a row and the team’s season off to a rocky start. Chicago went down in an ugly loss, one that even saw a player suspended, to probable Stanley Cup contenders the Colorado Avalanche to begin the 2021-22 season.

Chicago suits up again against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second game of a back-to-back. Hopefully, the team can rally for their first win of the season, regardless of who is in the booth. As for Wiedeman, he sounded like a natural fit for when Foley steps down.