Sound Tigers’ Fuehring debuts behind NHL microphone
In the greatest moment of his professional life, Bridgeport Sound Tigers broadcaster Alan Fuehring had a few friendly faces and names and skating styles with whom to share it.
Longtime New York Islanders radio voice Chris King has missed a few games due to COVID-19 protocols. Fuehring, voice of their AHL affiliate, got the call Saturday night to work the Islanders’ 3-2 shootout win over the Philadelphia Flyers at Nassau Coliseum. In a week full of NHL debuts related to the Sound Tigers, his was the first.
“It was a lot of fun looking back at the players whose names I called my first year or two in Bridgeport,” said Fuehring, who arrived in 2016.
“Scott Mayfield, Adam Pelech, Ryan Pulock: Having those guys as part of my first call, it made it a little easier. If you can’t see a number or a face, maybe during a wall battle, it helps knowing their tendencies, how they skate.”
Mayfield and veterans Andrew Ladd and Thomas Hickey were among the many who Fuehring said reached out to congratulate him.
“I had no idea those guys even cared about me making my debut.”
Making the night even more special was the man in the neighboring booth.
Fuehring grew up outside Peoria, Ill., and interned for the Rivermen, who were then an AHL team. Their broadcaster was Brendan Burke, who’s now the play-by-play man on the Islanders’ television broadcasts. The MSG+ broadcast showed Fuehring on the air at the start of the second period.
“He’s been my mentor for 10 years now,” Fuehring said of Burke.
“Not only getting to that point, but him there calling the same game, I’m super-appreciative.”
Fuehring said he felt well-prepared going into the game, though he realized what he was about to do as the start approached.
“I looked around right at the opening faceoff and took it all in,” Fuehring said; he thought, “OK, you made it. You finally got a game. Nobody can take that away.”
Greg Picker, the Islanders’ regular color commentator, was next to Fuehring for Saturday’s game, and Fuehring appreciated the help and insight Picker brought. Fuehring had worked an occasional game with someone else over the past 10 years, perhaps the occasional scratched player, but this was the first time he’d been alongside a true color commentator, he said.
mfornabaio @ctpost.com; @fornabaioctp