Broadcasters offer to call Humboldt Broncos games

Some of the most recognizable voices in hockey want to help honour former Humboldt Broncos announcer Tyler Bieber next season.

Bieber was one of the 16 people killed when the bus carrying the Broncos collided with a semi on April 6.

Les Lazaruk, play-by-play voice of the Saskatoon Blades attended Bieber’s funeral Thursday.

He said he was sorry he wasn’t able to meet Bieber.

“I wish I had reached out and talked to many of these people, the broadcasters of the many Saskatchewan junior league teams because they’re all young guys, they’re all looking to get ahead in this business,” Lazaruk said.

He said he wished he could’ve been more of a mentor to people like Bieber and others like him — and that’s one of the ways Lazaruk will honour the memory of Bieber.

He said he got the idea while attending the funeral and looking up to the Bolt FM radio booth where Bieber would have called the games.

“It would really be something to be able to do something in his memory, why not do it in the best way I know how and that’s to use my talent as a broadcaster.”

He said he would volunteer to call a Broncos game for free and help mentor the next young broadcaster to get their start in Humboldt.

Lazaruk took to Twitter to find 57 other broadcasters to call the other games in the season and that’s when the idea really took off, with many other well-known names offering their voices to the cause.

“Some admittedly with no experience but are so touched by the idea that they want to be involved in some way, shape or form,” Lazaruk said. “And go to the other end of the spectrum and we’re talking about as high-profile people as you can find in hockey.”

He said a few of the names who have reached out to him are Elliotte Friedman, Chris Cuthbert, Gord Miller and Dave Randorf.

“It’s humbling, it’s overwhelming, it’s way, way, way beyond my expectations.”

He’s also reaching out to people who began their careers calling Humboldt games, including Saskatoon MP Kevin Waugh.

…58 regular-season games in 2018-19 and I hope 57 other broadcasters step up and do the same in #TylerBieber's memory…especially the former @HumboldtBroncos broadcasters. @BrianMunzTSN @ClarkStork @branden_crowe, etc.

— Les Lazaruk (@Bladesvoice) April 12, 2018