• Boston Bruins
• WBZ radio
• Scholastic Play By Play Network
• Sportscaster Camp of America
• Major League Baseball
• Memphis Grizzlies'
• The Wheeling Nailers
• Providence Bruins

Can you say, ‘Gooooooal?’

Growing up, most children dream of scoring the winning goal for their hometown team, pitching a perfect game, or hitting a three pointer at the buzzer. Dave Goucher's childhood dreams were a little different. Goucher, 36, dreamed of narrating these games on the radio. And that's just what he does today as the play-by-play announcer for the Boston Bruins on WBZ radio.

"I grew up listening to and watching the Bruins. If someone asked me to list the jobs I wanted, this would be at the top," says Goucher.

The Scholastic Play-By-Play Network, which runs nationwide broadcasting camps for teenagers across the country, didn't exist when Goucher was a kid in the 1980s, but he did come across an advertisement for a co-ed sportscasters camp in Long Beach, CA, the Sportscaster Camp of America. It was open to all ages. He attended it between his junior and senior years at Boston University, and it was a life-altering experience.

"Don't bring your swim trunks or tennis racket because it's not that kind of camp," says camp founder Roy Engelbrecht, 60.

The camp launched 22 years ago with 23 campers when Engelbrecht was looking for a radio announcer for the UC Irvine basketball team after acquiring the broadcast rights. When audition tapes with dogs barking in the background came pouring in, he realized that a lot of people had the passion for announcing but didn't know how to go about making a viable career of it.

"You can't get a job in the business without a tape and can't get a tape without a job in the business," says Engelbrecht.

Each day of the 5-day camp starts in the classroom, where Goucher and other former campers who've gone pro lecture about pre-game preparation and announcing styles. After that, the campers head off to a Major League Baseball® game or a pro basketball summer league contest to sit in the press row and step up to the mike. Everyone receives instant feedback from instructors during time-outs and breaks.

Engelbrecht's facility boasts a full television studio so attendees can practice their catchphrases on camera. All campers (about 40 per week) have makeup applied before the camera rolls on a set that wouldn't seem out of place on ESPN. Everyone leaves with a demo tape of television and radio calls, and joins the ranks of more than 2,300 alumni, including Entertainment Tonight's Mark Steines, Memphis Grizzlies' radio announcer Eric Hasseltine, and Goucher.

"It was vitally important. It gave me that push that I needed. I was 21 years old and I [left the camp] thinking 'I can do this,'" Goucher recalls.

He began announcing that very year, while still in college, and quickly, his direct and simple style began to win over fans. His goal was always to paint the clearest possible picture for listeners.

"Location, location, location. Who has the puck and where does he have it? Your listener can't see a thing," says Goucher of the basics that are stressed at the Sportscaster Camp of America.

After two seasons announcing for the Wheeling Thunderbirds (now the Wheeling Nailers) in West Virginia, Goucher spent 5 seasons with the Providence Bruins, the minor league affiliate of Boston.

In 2000, he got the call to the big show and has been the regular play-by-play announcer for the Bruins ever since.

"At camp, I learned to give listeners a balanced broadcast. It should be informative, exciting, and entertaining, I always try to be all three," says Goucher.

He also learned that with a little hard work, it's possible to talk your way into getting the best seat in the house.

 

Posted on August 21, 2006