SYRACUSE -- A lingering question for Syracuse Crunch fans has been answered: the AHL team has named its new play-by-play announcer. He's Jason Lockhart, a 27-year-old who previously called games in the ECHL, and worked three seasons before that with the NHL's New York Islanders.
The team announced Lockhart's selection today, just under a month after previous announcer Joe Brown resigned after just one season with the team. Fans had mixed reviews on Brown's performance, especially given his relative lack of play-by-play experience, especially following a decade of games called by Bob McElligott, who left the team after the 2008-09 season for a new gig with the Crunch's former NHL parent, the Columbus Blue Jackets. (In fact, it was exactly two years ago today we reported on McElligott's departure.)
Lockhart, by contrast, may not have as much overall experience as Brown, but he does arrive in Syracuse with a solid season of play-by-play experience under his belt. Last season, he was broadcaster, color commentator and media/community relations manager for the ECHL's Bakersfield Condors. Prior, Lockhart worked for three seasons as website/publications coordinator for the NHL's New York Islanders.
Lockhart is expected to call every single Crunch game on The Score 1260 (WSKO), along with select games being televised by Time Warner Cable Sports. Earlier this season, the team announced it will be moving to WSKO for the upcoming season, after several years with Clear Channel's WHEN.