Oilers’ McCall accepts job in SPHL

TULSA, Okla. – A fixture of the CHL and the Tulsa Oilers is off to start a new chapter in his hockey career. Oilers Broadcaster Steve McCall, who was featured in a story on Pro Hockey News in February, has accepted a job with the Mississippi Surge of the SPHL.

McCall will take over as Vice President of Communications for the defending SPHL champions based in Biloxi after being the longest tenured broadcaster in Oilers history. He was recently named the CHL’s Soul of Service Award recipient for 2010-11, his second time to receive the award. He has also received the CHL PR Director of the Year Award. Over the past seven years, Tulsa fans have come to know McCall’s trademark catch phrases as he called the action on radio and internet broadcasts. Among one of his more popular phrases was his sign-off, during which he told fans that ‘the zamboni is headed home.’ Other calls that fans enjoyed through the years included his playful nicknames for on-ice altercations, calling a fight a ‘fracas’ or more cleverly a ‘donnybrook.’ “Steve has done a great job for us and we wish him the best in this new opportunity in his career,” Oilers General Manager Taylor Hall said. “With his enthusiasm we know he will be successful in the future.” According to McCall, his new job will not include broadcasting duties. “I think I’m going to have other responsibilities at the home games,” McCall said recently. “I’m fine with that, it’s a chance for me to move on into the administrative/ executive side of things, it’s a good trade off for me,” he added. The new job will allow him to implement some programs that saw success in Tulsa. One such program is the Hockey Happy Hour, a weekly show during the season where McCall interviews Oilers Head Coach Bruce Ramsay and a featured player while interacting with fans in attendance at a local restaurant. The community spotlight feature gave a platform for local charities and organizations to inform listeners of their events. Some of his favorite memories from his time in Tulsa include the first hockey game played in the BOK Center, when 16,982 fans packed the sparkling new arena to watch the Oilers take on the Oklahoma City Blazers and United States women’s Olympic hockey team member Angela Ruggiero suiting up for the Oilers along with her brother Bill Ruggiero in 2005. “The Today Show came out and did a feature piece, it was interesting to watch that process and we had writers here from all over the country that night,” McCall said of Angela’s professional debut. As a hockey fan, McCall enjoyed seeing the Stanley Cup in Tulsa and meeting Tulsa hockey pioneer Sonny Wakeford. Wakeford was a center for the Oilers from 1928-1942 and was the first Oiler to have his jersey retired. He remained in Tulsa until his death at the age of 101 in 2009. “Having met Sonny Wakeford and having known him in the last years of his life was an absolute treasure,” McCall said. McCall said what he’ll miss the most about Tulsa is the people he’s met, but says he‘ll still talk to them. “I’ve met some very dear friends here, but with the way the communications world is today we’ll stay in touch,” he said. “It’s a little easier to stay in touch these days than it has been in the past.” In joining the SPHL he’ll reunite with former friends, as McCall says he knows people in most of the front offices around the league. “I’m going to be able to re-connect with a lot of friends,” he said. “In the hockey business it’s a small world which means I’ll be able to stay in touch with Bruce and Taylor and everybody in Tulsa too.” The Oilers will be having a going away party for McCall at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 7 at Savastano’s Pizza. Fans are welcome to attend. He will begin his new job with the Surge on July 18. “We’re glad to be bringing someone with Steve’s experience to the Surge,” team owner Tim Kerr said. “He will be a strong addition to our staff as we continue to grow our organization. Contact the writer at: john.hall@prohockeynews.com