The North American Hockey League’s Houston Bulls just landed their new voice for the inaugural season, bringing in Ben Canvasser as their broadcaster and play-by-play analyst. This isn’t just any hire. This team’s already sold out season tickets, with over 4,000 inquiries pouring in! Houston is absolutely starving for hockey, and now they’ve got a guy who lives to tell that exact story. Canvasser’s hiring comes as the relocated North Iowa team preps for its first puck drop in Houston. Talk about a buzz around a new squad, right?
The Voice Ready To Unleash The Bull
Canvasser isn’t just some rookie behind the mic. He grew up playing youth and travel hockey in Michigan. He’s recently been calling games for the Big Mountain Hockey Conference, including the eighth annual Big Mountain Classic, a premier American Collegiate Hockey Association showcase. This guy knows the game inside and out! What fired him up about the Bulls gig? Articulating the team’s story right from the jump. Canvasser said it himself, “Houston is such a rabid hockey town that doesn’t have a hockey team or didn’t have a hockey team for quite some time until the Bulls came.” He’s looking forward to telling the story of the “resurgence of hockey in Houston,” seeing himself as a true storyteller when he’s broadcasting. He’s also stoked to try Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex, already owning a cowboy hat and looking to snag his first pair of boots.
Building Something Special From The Ground Up
This organization is clearly building something special. They’ve already got former National Hockey League player Nathan Oystrick, who played with the St. Louis Blues from 2010 to 2011 and appeared in the NHL from 2008 to 2011, as their Head Coach. AJ Ruskowski is the Assistant and Goaltending Coach. The NAHL itself is a big draw for Canvasser, known for helping everyone reach that next level. He explained, “everybody in this organization from the players, to the coaching staff, me, the front office, everybody has a dream, and this is the league where you make those dreams really happen.” That’s the kind of passion that gets you fired up! The team unveiled their maroon, cream, and white jerseys with Texas-themed detailing back in July, and we’re expecting a full roster announcement by early September. Their home venue, the Deep South Ice Sports Plex in Richmond, Texas, is under construction, set to include 14 suites, 1,800 seats, and a second NHL size practice ice sheet.
So, when do we get to see and hear all this excitement? The Bulls kick off their inaugural season with an away matchup against the Shreveport Mudbugs on September 11th and 12th. Then, get ready, the home opener goes down at the Deep South Ice Sports Plex on October 2nd against the Lone Star Brahmas. Single game tickets will be live within the next month, and Canvasser will be in the booth, ready to make you feel every single moment. This is going to be epic!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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