2012-2013 media guide - Columbus Blue Jackets

BlueJackets.comtv/radio broadcast teamsjeff rimertelevision play-by-playJeff Rimer brings over three decades of broadcasting experience to Blue Jacketstelecasts on FOX Sports Ohio and has covered the NHL for more than 30 years,including calling play-by-play action on television for the Blue Jackets, FloridaPanthers and Washington Capitals for the past 20 seasons. In addition, he is a regularguest on radio programs across North America and has co-hosted the internationallysyndicated“Inside the NHL” radio program with John Davidson.A native of Toronto, Rimer began his broadcasting career with CFAC-Radio inCalgary and then spent over four years working for the Canadian Broadcast Company,including serving as the network’s gymnastics commentator during the 1976 SummerOlympics in Montreal. He also served as the sports director at CFCF-Radio in Montrealbill davidgetelevision color analystBill Davidge enters his 12th season as a Blue Jackets color analyst and fourth in thetelevision booth after providing commentary on the Blue Jackets Radio Network from 2000-09. He brings over 40 years of hockey experience as a player, scout and coach to gamebroadcasts and continues to be a contributor on the “Blue Jackets Live” pre-game show onFOX Sports Ohio.Prior to joining the broadcast team, Davidge spent the 1999-00 season as a scout for theclub. From 1995-99, he served as part-time scout/player development coach for the FloridaPanthers and was a part-time scout for the Detroit Red Wings from 1990-94.Davidge played four years of college hockey at The Ohio State University, serving as teamcaptain as a junior and senior and earning scholar-athlete recognition each season beforegeorge matthewsradio play-by-playGeorge Matthews has served as the radio play-by-play voice of Blue Jackets hockeysince the inaugural 2000-01 season. Entering his 37th season of hockey broadcasting,Matthews brings his passionate broadcast style to the Blue Jackets Radio Network andflagship stations 97.1 The Fan (WBNS-FM) and CD 102.5 FM (WWCD-FM). During the2008-09 season, Matthews was a featured subject in the NHL Network’s inauguralseries, “Voices.”His broadcasting career has also included play-by-play work for the AHL’s PEIbob mcelligottradio color analystfor eight years and hosted Canadiens pre- and post-game shows.Rimer called play-by-play action for the Capitals on Home Team Sports (HTS) andWDCA-TV from 1983-93. During that time, he also served as the sports director atWBAL-Radio in Baltimore, hosting pre- and post-game shows for Orioles baseball,co-hosted syndicated college basketball shows with Billy Packer and Maryland HeadCoach Gary Williams and was a sideline reporter for Maryland Terrapins football. Hewas awarded a regional Emmy Award for his play-by-play work and won a UnitedPress International National Broadcasting Award for his work at WBAL.Rimer and his wife, Ferrel, reside in Dublin and are the parents of son, Josh, anddaughter, Kylie.graduating with honors in 1977. After spending the 1977-78 season as a graduate assistantcoach at Miami (Ohio) University and earning his master’s in education, he was hired as anassistant coach and served in that capacity for eight years. In 1985, he was promoted to headcoach/professor and spent four seasons behind the bench and teaching. Upon retiring fromcollege coaching, he continued to teach at Miami University as a professor in the Departmentof Physical Education, Health and Sport Studies. He also worked in scouting (Detroit andFlorida), player development (Florida) and radio/TV broadcasting (Miami and CincinnatiCyclones-IHL) during that time before joining the Blue Jackets.A native of Dunnville, Ontario, he is the father of two sons, Rob and Willy J., and adaughter, Miranda. He and his wife, Jayna, reside in Dublin.Senators, as well as the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU) NationalChampionships, the Royal Bank Cup (Canada’s Junior A Hockey Championship) and theAllen Cup (Canada’s senior hockey championship). His experience in television includesa stint of national play-by-play work for Rogers Cable.In addition to his work behind the microphone, Matthews spent 23 years as a schoolteacher in his hometown of Summerside, Prince Edward Island.Bob McElligott joined the Columbus Blue Jackets broadcast team as radiobroadcaster in July 2009. In addition to his in-game duties, he serves as a host on boththe radio pre- and post-game shows, as well as club ancillary programming. He is aregular contributor on BlueJackets.com, the club’s official website, through videofeatures on Jackets TV as well as editorial content.Before moving to Columbus, McElligott spent 10 seasons serving as the broadcasterfor the Syracuse Crunch, the Blue Jackets’ American Hockey League affiliate. Inaddition to calling the action on radio and television for the Crunch, he produced aregular Crunch feature for the Blue Jackets Radio Network and called play-by-playaction during several Blue Jackets games during that time.During his time in Syracuse, the Somerset, Pennsylvania native was also the radioand television voice of the Syracuse Chiefs of the International Baseball League, hosteda weekly one-hour radio show and was a morning sports anchor on radio stationsWSEN-FM, WFBL-AM and WOLF-FM. In addition, he broadcasted Syracuse Universityfootball and basketball games for ESPN3.com, as well as a variety of college and highschool sports for Time Warner Cable.Prior to his arrival in Syracuse, McElligott worked with the ECHL’s Johnstown Chiefsand spent six years calling baseball action in the Carolina League (Single A) withKinston, Wilmington, Prince William and Salem. He and his wife, Kathy, are the parentsof sons, Matthew and Braden.37