Jiminy Christmas!

  Thanks Brooksy

Brooks Announces Retirement, Honored by Blazers
September 22, 2004 - (Courtesy of the Oklahoma City Blazers)

John Brooks, the “Voice of the Blazers”, announced the 2004-05 season will be his final season doing play-by-play for the Oklahoma City Blazers, the team’s front office announced at a press conference today. Brooks was also today honored with the announcement that he will be inducted into the Oklahoma City Blazers Hall of Fame. The Blazers and the city of Oklahoma City have officially designated March 11, 2005 as “John Brooks Night.” On that evening, Brooks will become the second member of the Oklahoma City Blazers Hall of Fame. The number 27 will be retired in Brooks’ honor, representing the 27-year career of Brooks as “Voice of the Blazers.”

The 66-year old Brooks is entering his 27th season as the play-by-play voice of professional hockey in Oklahoma City. He began his tenure as the voice of Oklahoma City’s professional hockey teams in 1965 as the first voice of the Oklahoma City Blazers.

“One aspect that I haven’t ever had to worry about since I’ve been here is the play-by-play,” said Blazers head coach Doug Sauter. “John is always prepared, knows his hockey and has been excellent to work with over the past nine seasons. He will be missed by the fans. He will certainly be missed on the bus during road trips as his presence always added another element. It will be hard to say farewell, but John has decided that it is his time. Without a doubt, he is Blazers Hockey.”

“Throughout his exceptional career, John Brooks has been an outstanding representative of both the Oklahoma City Blazers and the entire Central Hockey League,” said CHL President Brad Treliving. “The knowledge, enthusiasm and passion for the sport of hockey John has displayed over his many years of service will surely be missed by all those fortunate enough to have enjoyed his broadcasts.”

“Brooksy was always a true professional and certainly deserves to be in the Blazers Hall of Fame,” said Blazers Hall of Fame Member Joe Burton. “If I told him something in confidence, he always kept it to himself. He made the game exciting for everyone to listen to. He helped promote the franchise and keep people connected, not only in Oklahoma, but also in the hometowns of the players on the team. A great compliment to John is that my dad, upon his visits to Oklahoma City, would often bring a radio to listen to the games while he was in the building.”

In addition to his accomplishments with hockey teams in Oklahoma City, Brooks also served as play-by-play voice for the University of Oklahoma football and basketball teams for several seasons in the 1980’s. The six-time National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Oklahoma Sportscaster of the Year has called events ranging from football, basketball and hockey to track and field, college baseball and world-class table tennis.

Brooks will remain a fixture with the Blazers organization even after his tenure as play-by-play voice has ended. He will serve as the broadcaster for future television broadcasts of Blazers hockey and will maintain his presence with the team hosting his weekly show, “Strictly Hockey…Blazers Style” during the season.