Fraser Rodgers is the new broadcast voice of the Prince George Cougars.
Rodgers has been hired as the team's play-by-play announcer after six seasons with the Penticton Vees of the B.C. Hockey League.
The 29-year-old native of Nanaimo replaces Dan O'Connor, who left after eight seasons with the Cats to take a similar position in the WHL with his hometown Vancouver Giants.
"It has always been a dream of mine to work in the Western Hockey League and I couldn't be more excited to join the Cougars family," said Rodgers, the Cougars' manager of broadcasting, media and team services, in a team release. "Prince George is a great hockey town and I look forward to calling it home."
Rodgers brings a championship pedigree to the Cougars, having described the plays while the Vees went on to win three Fred Page Cup titles as BCHL champions. He was behind the mic when the Vees captured the RBC Cup national title in 2012. He's lent his play-by-play voice to more than 470 BCHL regular-season games.
This past season Rodgers was picked by his peers as the BCHL's broadcaster of the year.
"We're thrilled to have Fraser join our staff and help us deliver our exciting product to our devoted fans," said general manager Todd Harkins. "His enthusiasm and dedication is evident and I think he'll do a tremendous job as our new play-by-play voice. Our hope was to find an experienced, eager professional and we believe we've found that in Fraser."
Rodgers has the job of calling all 72 regular-season games and playoffs for the Cougars' radio broadcasts on 94.3 FM The Goat, starting with the season-opener on Friday, Sept. 22 against the Spokane Chiefs. As defending B.C. Division regular-season champions the Cougars will raise their first-ever WHL banner that night at CN Centre.
The Cats' training camp starts Friday, Aug. 25.
