Ridley resumes journey to 4,000 as Tigers play-by-play voice

Bob Ridley calls a Tigers playoff game in March of 2019.

In a season that will be like no other, Bob Ridley will hit a special milestone that no one will likely ever reach again.

When the upcoming WHL regular season gets going on Friday with action in the league’s Central Division, Ridley will resume his journey to call his 4,000^th game as the play-by-play voice of the storied Medicine Hat Tigers.

At the moment, Ridley has called 3,998 games as the Tigers play-by-play voice. Ridley’s total includes 3,566 of the Tigers 3,567 regular season games, the club’s one standings tiebreaker game, all of their 411 games in the WHL playoffs and all 20 of their contests in the Memorial Cup tournament. The Tigers won the Memorial Cup as CHL champions in 1987 and 1988.

No one has called more games as the play-by-play voice of one hockey team at any level than Ridley has. He drove the Tigers team bus over most of that stretch as well, and he has been Tigers only play-by-play voice since the modern version of the team took the ice in 1970-71.

On Friday, the Tigers open their regular season traveling to Red Deer to take on the Rebels. The two sides go at it again on Saturday at the Tigers home rink in Medicine Hat now called Co-op Place to mark Ridley’s 4,000^th game.

The 76-year-old from Vulcan, Alta., called his 3,998^th game on March 10, 2020, when the Tigers downed the visiting Rebels 4-3 in overtime at Co-op Place.

Centre Ryan Chyzowski scored the winner and his second marker of the contest at the 1:46 mark of the extra frame.

To date, that was the last game the Tigers played as the WHL paused all action on March 12, 2020 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that had gripped the world.

Bob Ridley gets set to drive the Tigers bus in the 2012 WHL playoffs.

The remainder of the 2019-20 campaign ultimately got cancelled.

Originally, Ridley was set to call his 3,999^th game on March 13, 2020, when the Tigers were scheduled to take on the Broncos in Swift Current. The Broncos and Tigers were slated to meet on Saturday, March 14, 2020 at Co-op Place in what was originally supposed to be Ridley’s 4,000^th game.

Effort was made to ensure Ridley’s 4,000^th game would be a Saturday home contest. The Tigers and the crew at CHAT Television in Medicine Hat were working on some special festivities for the night.

A number of Tiger alums had marked that date on the calendar expecting to return to Medicine Hat for a milestone night that no one else in hockey will likely ever duplicate.

The Tigers were skating through their 50^th season in 2019-20, and Ridley’s 4,000^th game was expected to be a big high point for the team in that campaign.

With the way things are in the current day, it is still a big thing that Ridley’s 4,000^th game will happen. There is still a little fear that the COVID-19 pandemic might throw a wrench into things to cause a delay, but the milestone moment has as much certainty as possible in these times of happening.

Due to restrictions and lockdowns observed to varying degrees around the world to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, many people have seen milestone moments not unfold as planned. Events like wedding, graduations, reunions, championship sporting events and various other special moments have been sidelined in the pandemic.

In some cases, events like weddings and graduations have gone ahead and been celebrated in a different way.

As no spectators are allowed in WHL facilities this season, Ridley’s 4,000^th game will just have to be celebrated in a different way, and it should still be celebrated in the abbreviated campaign the WHL is holding.

Bob Ridley calls a game at The Arena in Medicine Hat.

When Ridley starts the play-by-play call of his 4,000^th game, you can be sure the tributes will pour in over various social media. You can bet a large number of people who have connections to the Tigers all across the world will go online to check out the CHAT 94.5 broadcast of that game.

It will feel all warm and fuzzy inside to hear Ridley calling his 4,000^th game.

One day, there should be a place for Ridley in the Hockey Hall of Fame. He will always be “the Dean” of major junior hockey broadcasters.

Way back in August of 2006, the Tigers held a tribute night for Ridley in Medicine Hat. Maybe when the COVID-19 pandemic comes to an end, another tribute night could be held.

The Tigers alums love going to reunions and another potential tribute night for Ridley might be the most welcomed reunion of all.

“Goals For Mental Health” WHL style, other notes

WHL goal cellys in Canada mean more money for mental health.

The WHL will take part in a new fundraiser for mental health in the shortened 2020-21 campaign.

On Wednesday, the WHL announced it was taking part in the “Goals For Mental Health presented by RE/MAX” fundraiser for the Canadian Mental Health Association in Western Canada.

As part of this fundraiser, RE/MAX will be donating $15 to the CMHA for every goal scored by the 17 WHL teams located in western Canadian markets.

The WHL plans to announce ways for fans to take part in the campaign as the upcoming season goes on.

The fundraiser will be delivered in support of the CMHA’s Talk Today program, which will have new digital integrations for the 2020-21 regular season.

The WHL has worked with the CMHA to deliver Talk Today programming in all 22 WHL markets since January 2017. Talk Today includes an educational component for WHL players providing mental health training specific to suicide awareness.

The training helps teach individuals the importance of talking about mental health, how to acknowledge signs of suicide, seek help when they’re in need of support and connect others in need of support to suicide first aid resources.

Each team is also linked to a CMHA mental health coach, who can provide support and mental health resources to individuals in need.

Talk Today is a mandatory program within the WHL’s Players First support services programs. The WHL’s Players First programs provide educational, mentorship and support services that touch on many issues including bullying, mental health, leadership and extensive health and safety initiatives.

• On Monday, it was revealed that Alan Miller will be stepping down as the general manager of the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors to become Hockey Canada’s new director of player personnel within the Program of Excellence. Miller will start his position with Hockey Canada this coming Monday.
• On Wednesday, the Medicine Hat Tigers announced their leadership group for the 2020-21 campaign. Overage centre Ryan Chyzowski was named the team’s new captain. Overage centre Brett Kemp and overage defenceman Cole Clayton will be full time alternate captains. Corson Hopwo and Lukas Svejkovsky, who are both 19-year-old right-wingers, will share responsibilities as the third alternate captain.
• On Wednesday, the WHL announced the first game of the regular season in the U.S. Division will see the Portland Winterhawks take on the host Tri-City Americans in Kennewick, Wash., on March 18. The Winterhawks are slated to play their first two home games at the Accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, Wash., on March 21 and 26. The Accesso ShoWare Centre is home to the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds. The location for the Winterhawks other 10 home games are listed as still to be determined.
• On Wednesday, the WHL announced its games will be streamed on WHL Live on CHL TV. Back on Feb. 16, the CHL announced Verizon Media Platform would be its streaming partner for this season. For WHL games, a season pass will cost fans $59.99 or a 24-hour pass will cost $6.99. As fans aren’t allowed to attend WHL games this season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many were looking for information regarding live streams for games. You can find more information on WHL Live on CHL TV by clicking right here.
• Tickets are on sale for the February jackpot for the Saskatchewan Amateur Football Mega 50/50 lottery. The funds from this 50/50 lottery will go to support the CJFL’s Saskatoon Hilltops and Regina Thunder and the WWCFL’s Saskatoon Valkyries and Regina Riot. One prize will be drawn per month, and the remaining draw dates are Sunday, February 28, 2021, March 31, 2021, April 30, 2021 and May 31, 2021. Tickets can be purchased by clicking right here, and purchasers must be in Saskatchewan in order to buy tickets.
• Last Friday, the junior A Alberta Junior Hockey League received approval from the Government of Alberta to resume its 2020-21 regular season under the protocols of a new return to play plan. All AJHL teams will use weekly private PCR testing through DynaLIFE Medical Labs to test for COVID-19. The testing runs through the end of the season. If a player or staff member of an AJHL team tests positive for COVID-19 at any point in the remaining season, the team will be required to isolate and suspend in person activities for 14 days. The AJHL last had games take place on November 14, 2020. A start date and updated schedule are still to be announced. On Sunday, the Canmore Eagles elected to opt out of returning to play the current AJHL season leaving 14 out of the circuit’s 15 teams to continue on.

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