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Vees voice stayin? alive as broadcasting agreement reached

As you listen to the name of Penticton Vees forward Mitch Labreche as he races down the wing, the voice calling his name will be Ryan Pinder?s.

Global Spectrum and Sun FM, recently agreed to a one-year deal to broadcast the Vees in 2008/09. With Pinder, he said there?s only a few fine details to iron out and make it official.

?I?m looking foward to another season,? he said. ?Penticton is only one of a handful of markets that will be strong. I appreciate the opportunity given to me.?

Ryan McCarthy, director of marketing for the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre and the South Okanagan Events Centre, confirmed the deal as Pinder returns for his second season.

McCarthy said that negotiations between the organization and Sun FM went well and he feels that the radio station is a great partner.

?It was difficult to work out all the numbers from when the Vees had all the broadcasting,? explained McCarthy.

With Pinder now under contract, he will be out selling radio advertising for the games with the season set to start Sept. 5 in Westside.

While the voice remains, there will be a change in that the post talk show will join the pre-game at the SOEC.

?Last year the post game was at the Barley Mill Pub,? said McCarthy. ?We just want to keep it more consistent and last year there was some dead time from when the game was on to the post game. We felt this would involve more of the public and since the team is there it?s easier for us to corral the players and get them up there for the radio.

?I think it?s going to be awesome,? added McCarthy of the new set up. ?Having everything take place at the arena where the post-game is going to be…the general public can hang out and listen to Ryan and get that connection with the players ? really be a part of the broadcast.?

McCarthy said that Roy Schultz, who was formerly employed by the Vees, has been hired as manager of hockey operations and game entertainment. According to McCarthy, Schultz has been in talks with colour commentator Al Formo and analyst Chad Campbell.

?We haven?t gotten a definite answer yet, but it looks pretty good.?

Campbell has said that he?s interested in coming back, especially because of the new arena and team. However, there has been no contact with him or Formo from Global Spectrum about rejoining the

broadcast team.

McCarthy also confirmed that they had spoken to former Vees play-by-play person Dan Marshall who is in Nanaimo. That didn?t happen because they couldn?t come to an agreement that suited Marshall.

?He?s looking more at the WHL and trying to move up in the world of broadcasting,? said McCarthy. ?He wanted to pursue some of ventures that he had been looking into.?