Griffins radio announcer Bob Kaser wins 10th broadcast excellence award

The Michigan Association of Broadcasters (MAB) honored longtime Grand Rapids Griffins radio announcer Bob Kaser during its 2018 Broadcast Excellence Awards on Wednesday night in Lansing.

Kaser’s call of the Griffins’ 4-3 shootout win against Cleveland on Dec. 29 was awarded “Best” in the Play-By-Play Sports category for Commercial Radio Market 2, which includes radio stations in Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing and Tri-Cities. The award is based on the criteria of presentation and production values.

This is the fourth consecutive year and the 10th time in the last 18 years Kaser’s broadcasts have been recognized by the MAB. Griffins hockey on Newsradio WOOD 106.9 FM & 1300 AM also won “best” awards for 2016, 2015, 2012, 2006, 2003, 2002 and 2001, along with “merit” awards for 2017 and 2004.

Kaser, the Griffins’ vice president of community relations and broadcasting, made his NHL broadcasting debut during the 2016-17 season, doing radio play-by-play for 13 Detroit Red Wings games and calling one telecast on Fox Sports Detroit. He broadcasted a pair of Wings games earlier this season.

Now in his 19th season as the Griffins’ play-by-play voice, the Kalamazoo native received the American Hockey League’s 2009-10 James H. Ellery Memorial Award for excellence in radio broadcasting. During his tenure as director of communications and broadcasting for the International Hockey League’s Kansas City Blades (1990-2000), Kaser was awarded the Bob Chase Award as IHL Broadcaster of the Year for the 1993-94 and 1997-98 seasons.