It is in this small town in northeastern Michigan that Alpena has witnessed so much success with its high school hockey team.

The Wildcats have won state championships and once upon a time, Alpena was consistently one of the state’s premier hockey programs during the 80s and 90s.

Throughout its rich hockey history, Alpena fans have jam-packed arenas across the state to support its always competitive high school hockey program.

To go with its rich tradition on the ice, Alpena has always had a special tradition of broadcasters calling all of the exciting action that the Wildcats bring to the ice each winter.

Courtesy Photo John Pines (right) and Alpena head coach Chris Limback (left) talk during a postgame interview after a high school hockey game at Northern Lights Arena.

“The announcers have really made the program special. Most teams are shocked by the coverage we get in the radio and paper. The announcers help make our program truly special. I am always amazed at how many people listen to the games and then ask me about certain events that happened during the away games. We have been blessed to have such great broadcasters,” Alpena coach Chris Limback said. “As a coach, I have missed three games due to sickness and injury. Being able to listen to the games just shows how talented our broadcasters are. I have great memories of each of our Alpena Wildcat hockey broadcasters.”

On Saturday, the Alpena High School hockey program will hold its annual golf outing beginning at 10 a.m at Alpena Golf Club. The cost to golf will be $75 for non-AGC members and $50 for members, which includes everything.

A year ago, many who were involved with the program throughout its history gathered at Alpena Golf Club to enjoy a round of golf and honor former Wildcat hockey coach Tony Byers who made an impact on the program as the most successful coach in program history.

This year, many again will join at AGC to honor the voices of Alpena Wildcat hockey, most notably, former Wildcat play-by-play announcer and current University of Michigan hockey play-by-play announcer Al Randall.

In the beginning, Randall sold the concept of calling the high school games over the radio to Jerry Winder at WHSB Radio in Alpena and former AHS Athletic Director Dutch Schroetenboer.

Courtesy Photo Kerwin Kitzman

Randall was the play-by-play announcer for the Wildcats for 19 seasons and called 464 games.

Despite not having a favorable venue to broadcast a game, Randall never complained and did a near perfect job calling all of Alpena hockey games.

Despite taking his special talent to the University of Michigan where he has broadcast Wolverine hockey games for two decades, Randall still remembers how and where it all began for him.

“The first year we could only do Saturday games and select away games. At the time the school thought it would the gate. After one season, the school decided to go for it, so beginning in 1977-78, I did the home and away games on WHSB for two years and the rest with WATZ. I still remember the first broadcast at the old Mich-e-ke-wis before the rink was enclosed. Both ends of the rink were completely open to the outside. Thin particle board panels hung on the wall by hooks from the roof. Teams changed in the warming shelter, separated by a tarp from the public,” Randall said. “Our booth was two lifeguard chairs positioned opposite the zamboni end. We wore snowmobile suits. Our notes and commercials were on mimeograph paper. When it rained or snowed, the purple ink would all run together on the bottom of the page.”

Along with Randall, one of the other iconic voices and names linked to Alpena hockey forever is the late Kerwin Kitzman.

After Randall decided to take his talents to a higher level, a new voice came in to carry on the tradition that was calling games and bringing the action to Alpena’s hockey audience.

John Pines began calling games for the Wildcats in 1996 and enjoyed a successful run, witnessing many great players, games and historic moments during his time in the booth.

“For me, the games were secondary. It was the people, coaches and players that always made it fun to be around. The players always made Alpena High School hockey great,” Pines said. “I remember a handful of special memories during my time broadcasting games. The one that I will forever remember was a double overtime goal scored by Jarret Krajniak that sent Alpena to the final four after a win over Davison. It was a tight game played at the Saginaw Dow Event Center and Davison had cleared the zone and made a line change. A pass to Krajniak who skated in a ripped a shot from just inside the blue line that deflected off the goalie’s glove and in the net. It was the greatest goal that I called because myself and my color partner Paul Kennedy just went bonkers.”

Kitzman and Pines were a team from 1996 to 1999 until Pines moved to do news at WATZ. On WATZ radio, Craig Froggett and Steve Murch worked in tandem during the 1995-96 and 1996-97 seasons.

Kitzman stayed at WHSB and continued doing the play-by-play along with color man Gordy Carlson as both stations carried Alpena Wildcat hockey for a few years until WHSB dropped it for a while.

“I’m really surprised and tickled to be honored. I never did it to be honored, I did it because I loved the team, I wanted to be a good ambassador for the program and I just tried to do it to the best of my abilities. I’m really touched that the Alpena hockey family will be paying honor to the broadcasters,” Pines said. “The thanks goes out to all of the parents and coaches who made sacrifices for the players. It was a privilege being around players. There was no one better that Al Randall. When I was preparing for my first season, Al walked us through how to be successful on the air and what to watch and look for a during a game, he was such a big help to me and my broadcast partners. I also want to thank Steve Wright at WATZ who did so much to make the broadcasts successful. I am honored and was just proud to be apart of Alpena hockey for so many years.”

For the last nine years, the voice of Wildcat hockey has been John Zawacki, known to many as Doc Z.

WHSB again picked up the hockey games and Zawacki has been calling games on The Bay since the 2010-2011 season.

“I enjoy the game and the excitement that all of the kids show being Alpena High Wildcat hockey players. I enjoy calling the games for the kids and the families and friends of each of the kids,” Zawacki said. “Darrel (Kelly) gave me the opportunity after calling football games for a few years. He wasn’t aware that I could do hockey because it is a lot different. He’s always there to help with whatever we need and is one of the biggest Wildcat supporters out there.”

The hockey team and its play-by-play announcers have gone hand in hand. Both have been consistent winners and a perfect match for each other.

From Randall to Kitzman to Pines to Zawacki to Tate Precord who filled in for short stint last season, five play-by-play broadcasters over the last 40 years have done a remarkable job bringing the action of Wildcat hockey to a listening audience, not to mention another instrumental voice of Wildcat hockey, Jerry LaFave who spent nearly 40 years as Alpena’s PA announcer and official scorekeeper for the Wildcats.

“It’s always great to be mentioned in the same sentence as Al Randall, even if the sentence is, Doc Z, you’re no Al Randall,” Zawacki said. “The fact is, the broadcasts are about the kids. They are the main part of the broadcast and our jobs are to make sure the kids are recognized in a positive fashion.”