The life of any professional sportscaster can be a bit of a lonely one, constantly on the road. Sure you’re surrounded by countless athletes, coaches and media people but it also means a different hotel room every night and missing out on a lot of events back at home. It’s the trade off…getting paid to watch and cover live sport doesn’t come cheap.
So any time there is an opportunity to ‘peel back the curtain‘ on sportscasting, I jump at it. Not only is it an opportunity for current sportscasters to get a look at a fellow play-caller, but it’s also a great chance for those thinking about getting involved (or more involved) to see what it really takes to be a high level sports broadcaster, on the road with teams across the country.
Marlon Martens is the play-by-play voice of the Western Hockey League’s Victoria Royals. The WHL is a feeder league of prospects for the NHL and Martens has had the chance to cover and call games involving some current day NHL’ers. Recently, DUBNetwork did a feature on Martens while he was on the road with his team. The article focuses on the Royals, Martens’ career and situation in Victoria.
The Victoria Royals are in the midst of their longest road trip of the year and DUBNetwork caught up with the radio voice of the Victoria Royals Marlon Martens to discuss life on the road. Martens has been the play-by-play broadcaster for the Royals since their first season in 2011 and has logged many miles travelling with the team these past six years.
Growing up in the Lower Mainland of BC, Marlon enrolled in the radio program at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) to begin his career in broadcasting. Martens recalls, “I had worked in Merritt as color commentator for the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL. From there I graduated from BCIT in 2001.” He then caught an opportunity to move to Lethbridge and work for the local radio station there while being involved with the Hurricanes. “I was in Lethbridge for close to ten years. On the radio I did mornings, middays and afternoons as well as hockey play-by-play and color commentary. I even did the music in the rink. I wore many different hats but always related to radio.”
To read the full feature, click here.
