Everett Fitzhugh

Everett "Fitz" Fitzhugh (born 1989) is an American sportscaster who is the radio play-by-play announcer for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League. Fitzhugh, upon his hiring by the Kraken, became the first full-time African American broadcaster in NHL history and is the only Black play-by-play announcer at any professional level of North American ice hockey.[1] He is a native of Detroit.[2]

In addition to his duties as a Kraken broadcaster, Fitzhugh is also appearing at public speaking engagements and in promotional videos for the Kraken. Tod Leiweke, the Kraken's CEO, personally reached out to Fitzhugh. Leiweke received "a glowing recommendation" for Fitzhugh from retired NBC NHL announcer Mike Emrick.[3]

Fitzhugh attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Bowling Green State University. He has been the play-by-play announcer for the ECHL's Cincinnati Cyclones and for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League, and the play-by-play announcer and color commentator for the Bowling Green Falcons.[2][4] Fitzhugh has also served as the Cyclones’ Director of Media Relations, and received the ECHL Award of Excellence for Media Relations in 2017, following the completion of his second year in the League. He was also on the crew for the 2018 ECHL All-Star Game on NHL Network. In 2018, he announced play-by-play for a Washington Capitals preseason game against the Boston Bruins.[1][4]

References
  1. "Seattle Kraken hire NHL's first Black team broadcaster Everett Fitzhugh". Root Sports Northwest. 7 August 2020. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  2. Falkner, Mark (10 August 2020). "'Dream come true:' Detroit's Everett Fitzhugh first Black NHL team broadcaster". The Detroit News. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  3. Baker, Geoff (7 August 2020). "'You never set out to be the trailblazer': Kraken's Everett Fitzhugh embraces opportunity as NHL's first Black team broadcaster". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  4. Reyes, Lorenzo (19 August 2020). "'If he could do it, I can do it': How the NHL's first Black team announcer inspires the next generation". USA Today. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
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