Chuck Kaiton
Encyclopedia
Charles "Chuck" Kaiton is the radio play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes
of the National Hockey League
. He has been with the team since 1979–80 season, their first in the NHL while they were still the Hartford Whalers
.
, and then, in 1975 moved on to broadcast sports at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
. In 1979, he was named Wisconsin's Sportscaster of the Year. That same year, he made the jump to the NHL, joining the Hartford Whalers. He has been with the team ever since, following them to North Carolina
in 1997–98. In 1986, he was elected president of the NHL Broadcasters Association, another job he has held ever since.
Unlike most broadcasters, who typically work in tandem with an analyst or color commentator
, Kaiton normally calls games alone. However, John Forslund
, the Hurricanes television play-by-play broadcaster, will join him when he is not needed for a broadcast. This only typically happens during the postseason.
Kaiton is widely considered one of the best broadcasters in the league. Much of his notoriety comes from having been heard across much of the eastern half of North America on Hartford's WTIC
for most of the team's run in New England. His trademark is the use of large words, such as triskaidekaphobia whenever any number 13 comes up, as well as his exuberant play calling in the most exciting moments of the game. He is quite unbiased in how he does this, often calling opposing teams' goals as loudly as Hurricanes' goals.
However, his most well known trait is the proper pronunciation of player names, as opposed to using the Anglicized version most broadcasters use. He ensures accurate pronunciation of names by talking to the players themselves. For instance, while most broadcasters pronounce Sergei Samsonov
's name SAM-so-nov, Kaiton uses the accurate sam-SO-nov.
Kaiton has always wished to help fans better understand the idiosyncrasies
of the game. To achieve this end, he has a segment during the second intermission of every broadcast called "Kaiton's Corner", where he answers questions e-mailed by fans. These questions range from rules clarifications to game history to which stadiums are best for broadcasting and anything that anyone can think of. True to his broadcasting style, he always asks that fans give him their preferred pronunciation of their name.
In 2004, Kaiton was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
. This award, considered the equivalent of a Hall-of-Fame induction for broadcasters, is given for outstanding contributions to hockey broadcasting.
On June 19, 2006, the Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup
. At the time, Kaiton had called every game of the Whalers/Hurricanes' NHL existence (they had come over from the World Hockey Association
in 1979, the same year Kaiton became their announcer). At the end of the seventh game, Kaiton told the story of his career and the entire franchise to that point when he made the call, "9,393 days of frustration, and on the 9,394th day of NHL existence, the Carolina Hurricanes—the Whaler organization 'til '97—have won the Stanley Cup!"
The Hurricanes usually pipe a feed of Kaiton's radio broadcasts through the concourse of the RBC Center so fans won't miss any action while away from their seats.
fan, even though he is from just outside of Detroit. He is an avid fan of cigars, and was quite pleased to be able to have one with the Stanley Cup at the Hurricanes 2006 Championship Parade.
He currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina
with his wife, Mary. The couple have three sons, Nelson, Chuck and Russell.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League , and play their home games at the 18,680-seat RBC Center...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
. He has been with the team since 1979–80 season, their first in the NHL while they were still the Hartford Whalers
Hartford Whalers
The Hartford Whalers were a professional ice hockey team based for most of its existence in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A.. The club played in the World Hockey Association from 1972–79 and in the National Hockey League from 1979–97...
.
Career
Kaiton began his broadcasting career in 1969 at his alma mater, the University of MichiganUniversity of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, and then, in 1975 moved on to broadcast sports at the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
. In 1979, he was named Wisconsin's Sportscaster of the Year. That same year, he made the jump to the NHL, joining the Hartford Whalers. He has been with the team ever since, following them to North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1997–98. In 1986, he was elected president of the NHL Broadcasters Association, another job he has held ever since.
Unlike most broadcasters, who typically work in tandem with an analyst or color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
, Kaiton normally calls games alone. However, John Forslund
John Forslund
John Forslund is the television play-by-play announcer for the Carolina Hurricanes. He has been with the team since 1991 and has been calling games since 1995....
, the Hurricanes television play-by-play broadcaster, will join him when he is not needed for a broadcast. This only typically happens during the postseason.
Kaiton is widely considered one of the best broadcasters in the league. Much of his notoriety comes from having been heard across much of the eastern half of North America on Hartford's WTIC
WTIC (AM)
WTIC is a 50,000-watt radio station operating out of Hartford, Connecticut, broadcasting news and talk radio. Its signal, located at 1080 kHz, can be picked up throughout southern New England by day and over several states as well as parts of Canada by night...
for most of the team's run in New England. His trademark is the use of large words, such as triskaidekaphobia whenever any number 13 comes up, as well as his exuberant play calling in the most exciting moments of the game. He is quite unbiased in how he does this, often calling opposing teams' goals as loudly as Hurricanes' goals.
However, his most well known trait is the proper pronunciation of player names, as opposed to using the Anglicized version most broadcasters use. He ensures accurate pronunciation of names by talking to the players themselves. For instance, while most broadcasters pronounce Sergei Samsonov
Sergei Samsonov
Sergei Viktorovich Samsonov is a Russian professional ice hockey forward who is currently an unrestricted free agent.- Playing career :Samsonov was drafted by the Boston Bruins eighth overall in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Boston drafted Joe Thornton first overall in the same draft...
's name SAM-so-nov, Kaiton uses the accurate sam-SO-nov.
Kaiton has always wished to help fans better understand the idiosyncrasies
Idiosyncrasy
An idiosyncrasy is an unusual feature of a person . The term is often used to express eccentricity or peculiarity. A synonym may be .-Etymology:...
of the game. To achieve this end, he has a segment during the second intermission of every broadcast called "Kaiton's Corner", where he answers questions e-mailed by fans. These questions range from rules clarifications to game history to which stadiums are best for broadcasting and anything that anyone can think of. True to his broadcasting style, he always asks that fans give him their preferred pronunciation of their name.
In 2004, Kaiton was awarded the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
Foster Hewitt Memorial Award
The Foster Hewitt Memorial Award is an award named after Foster Hewitt and presented by the Hockey Hall of Fame to members of the radio and television industry who make outstanding contributions to their profession and the game of ice hockey during their broadcasting career...
. This award, considered the equivalent of a Hall-of-Fame induction for broadcasters, is given for outstanding contributions to hockey broadcasting.
On June 19, 2006, the Hurricanes won their first Stanley Cup
2006 Stanley Cup Playoffs
The 2006 Stanley Cup playoffs for the National Hockey League championship began on April 21, 2006, following the 2005–06 regular season. The sixteen teams that qualified, seeded one through eight from each conference, played best-of-seven series with re-seeding after the conference quarterfinals...
. At the time, Kaiton had called every game of the Whalers/Hurricanes' NHL existence (they had come over from the World Hockey Association
World Hockey Association
The World Hockey Association was a professional ice hockey league that operated in North America from 1972 to 1979. It was the first major competition for the National Hockey League since the collapse of the Western Hockey League in 1926...
in 1979, the same year Kaiton became their announcer). At the end of the seventh game, Kaiton told the story of his career and the entire franchise to that point when he made the call, "9,393 days of frustration, and on the 9,394th day of NHL existence, the Carolina Hurricanes—the Whaler organization 'til '97—have won the Stanley Cup!"
The Hurricanes usually pipe a feed of Kaiton's radio broadcasts through the concourse of the RBC Center so fans won't miss any action while away from their seats.
Personal
Kaiton grew up an avid Chicago BlackhawksChicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
fan, even though he is from just outside of Detroit. He is an avid fan of cigars, and was quite pleased to be able to have one with the Stanley Cup at the Hurricanes 2006 Championship Parade.
He currently lives in Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
with his wife, Mary. The couple have three sons, Nelson, Chuck and Russell.