The American Hockey League announced Monday that FOX43, the local television provider for the Hershey Bears, was named the recipient of the James H. Ellery Memorial Award.
The award recognizes outstanding coverage of the American Hockey League. This is the first time a Hershey representative has won the award since it honored a single organization in the 2013-14 season. The award honors the late Jim Ellery, who served the AHL for 17 years as league secretary and publicity director until his death in 1964.
In their third season as the media partner to the Hershey Bears, FOX43 not only broadcast ten home games but took their talents on the road in the latter portion of the 2022-23 campaign. Those broadcasts, taking place in territories like Toronto and Cleveland, set the stage for more when the postseason started.
FOX43 broadcast the last two rounds of Hershey’s run to the Calder Cup, and their coverage was picked up by larger outlets like NBC Sports Washington, MSG Sports, and NHL Network.
A Sweet Partnership Between the Bears and FOX43
The Bears were without a broadcast partner entering the shortened 2020-21 season. Other local outlets like ABC27 had picked up games in years past, spearheaded by local sports legend Gregg Mace prior to his passing in 2019. FOX43 picked up six games towards the end of the year, with Hershey’s unusual afternoon start times unique to that time fitting in well on their schedule. They’d return for ten games across their regular station as well as their antenna channel for the next two years.
A key part of their success in the playoffs was the road broadcasts in the regular season. When the station broadcasted the last two rounds of the Calder Cup Playoffs, they were prepared for more variables ahead of their tallest task: going cross country. They broadcast all four of Hershey’s road games from Palm Springs, California, nearly on the other side of the United States, including the Calder Cup ceremonies after an overtime win in Game 7.
Team Effort
There’s a lot that goes into a broadcast. FOX43’s on-screen talent includes Sports Director Todd Sadowski alongside the Voice of the Bears Zack Fisch for play-by-play coverage as well as Andrew Kalista at ice level. Both Sadowski and Kalista produce and feature during intermission spots, as well as special segments like the team’s trip to the Hockey Hall of Fame and a half-hour spot on the Calder Cup win.
Additional coverage by FOX43 includes talent like Lyndsay Barna, Evan Brooks, and Alex Cawley as well as producer Ed Albert and station manager Chris Topf.
Hershey’s in-house production team, Great Save Productions, deserves a round of applause for their effort during home games. They are responsible for three different broadcasts of each game at Giant Center: one for television, one for AHL TV, and another that is used in-arena. Their production is led by Aaron “Hank” Henry who does a lot of heavy lifting alongside the many cameramen and production staff like Kyle Mace that brings a standard game together.
Flying High
The sky is the limit for FOX43 and the Bears, who will pull the curtains to reveal their broadcast plans for the 2023-24 season closer to puck drop on October 14. The two sides have partnered to showcase big-time events at Giant Center, like the team’s signature Teddy Bear Toss as well as opening night in the past.
Even though the team has already gone coast-to-coast and saw the Calder Cup raised, the station continues to bring top-notch productions and set the bar in the AHL. This award is a reflection of their dedication to excellence and a successful partnership with the Bears.
