Zickel intends to make C's fans feel right at home
Play-by-play voice to bring Canadians' games to airwaves from U.S. locales
Tyler Zickel is the new play-byplay voice of the Vancouver Canadians, and a new challenge comes with the position.
The C's are set to begin the minor-league baseball season in May based out of Hillsboro, Ore., due to border restrictions brought about by COVID-19. It's unclear when the Toronto Blue Jays' high-a farm club might get back to playing games out of their traditional Nat Bailey Stadium stomping grounds.
The Canadians didn't play any games last summer, with the pandemic wiping out the 2020 minor-league campaign in its entirety. Helping keep brand awareness in Vancouver until the C's can play at The Nat again will fall to the likes of Zickel, 30, a San Diego native who's also been named the team's media relations manager.
“I feel that responsibility. I love a challenge,” Zickel said.
The Hillsboro Hops, who are one of Vancouver's rivals in the new six-team high-a West League, have agreed to share their Ron Tonkin Field ballpark with the C's.
Zickel comes to the club with insight into the Jays' farm system. He had been the road radio broadcaster the last three seasons for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Toronto's double-a affiliate since 2004.
Before that, he had worked with the Lake Elsinore Storm, then a high-a affiliate of the San Diego Padres in the California League, for three seasons. He was their director of digital content, as well as calling some games.
When last season with New Hampshire didn't happen, Zickel took on a non-baseball job in the Portland, Ore., area and one of his contacts from his Storm days put him in touch with C's president Andy Dunn.
Zickel replaces Rob Fai, who had been the C's play-by-play voice for 14 seasons. Fai left the ball club last summer for other media opportunities. He's currently doing a Vancouver Canucks post-game show for Hubcast Media on Youtube, as well as a Sportsbar Radio podcast for Equity Guru.
“I'm sure there will be a lot of fans missing Rob,” said Zickel, who had a chance to connect with Fai various times via their Jays connections, “but, at the same time, all I can really do is be myself and try to bring my passion and my love for the game of baseball to the broadcasts.”
Sportsnet 650 will carry C's games, as will Canadiansbaseball.com.
Vancouver is set to open league play May 4 on the road against the Tri-city Dust Devils. Their Hillsboro home opener is May 11 against the Spokane Indians.