The Chicago Blackhawks have officially announced Rick Ball as their new play-by-play announcer for the 2024 season. Ball, 57, will be joining analyst and former Blackhawks goalie Darren Pang on a newly established broadcast hosted by RSN Chicago Sports Network, set to debut in October.
Ball’s extensive experience includes a decade-long tenure as the play-by-play announcer for the Calgary Flames, along with calling national broadcasts for “Hockey Night in Canada” since 2011, becoming a regular announcer on the show in 2013.
“We are delighted to welcome Rick to the Blackhawks broadcast booth alongside Darren Pang as we embark on this exciting new chapter with our broadcast venture, Chicago Sports Network,” said Jaime Faulkner, President of Business Operations, in a press release. “Rick is a well-established voice in the hockey world, bringing a wealth of experience and knowledge to our broadcasts. Together with Darren’s exceptional energy and expertise, we believe we are offering Blackhawks fans the best in-home viewing experience in the NHL.”
Rick Ball will be stepping in to replace Chris Vosters, who has served as the Blackhawks’ play-by-play announcer since April 2022. Vosters had taken over from the legendary Hall of Fame broadcaster Pat Foley, who had been the voice of the Blackhawks for 14 years, from 2008 to 2022.
Vosters’ background in sports broadcasting is broad and not solely focused on hockey. He began his career calling minor league baseball games and high school football and basketball. He also covered three Olympic Games before joining the Blackhawks. Vosters had experience in college hockey as well, calling games for the Big Ten Network and participating in broadcasts for the 2019 Frozen Four and Hockey Day Minnesota on Bally Sports.
“We would also like to thank Chris Vosters for his time as our play-by-play announcer and look forward to exploring further opportunities with our new network. Chris is an outstanding broadcaster with a promising career ahead, and we are excited for him to continue showcasing his talent through his work with Stadium and other national, multi-sport entities,” Faulkner added.
Rick Ball made the significant decision to move from Canada to Chicago, driven by his appreciation for the Blackhawks franchise and the opportunity to work with Darren Pang.
“I am thrilled to join the Chicago Blackhawks broadcast booth at such a pivotal moment in the organization’s history. My family and I are incredibly grateful to the Wirtz family for this opportunity to be part of such a storied franchise. It is truly an honor to call games for an Original Six team and to work with someone as talented and respected as Darren Pang,” said Ball.
Ball’s appointment is a notable change for Blackhawks broadcasts, promising to bring his rich experience and enthusiasm to enhance the viewing experience for fans. The collaboration with Darren Pang is highly anticipated, as the new broadcast duo aims to provide top-tier commentary and insights for Blackhawks games.
