After 17 years of putting on the headset, travelling by bus across Western Canada, and eating countless slices of post-game pizza, Fraser Rodgers has become "Mr. 1,000."
The Penticton Vees' play-by-play commentator reached a milestone in the booth on Saturday, Oct. 5, as he called his 1,000th game in a Vees' 4-3 victory over the Vernon Vipers at Kal Tire Place.
"When I started this 17 years ago, I didn't of milestones or think I'd be doing it for this long," Rodgers said. "It is kind of wild to think about 1,000 games."
Rodgers' achievement in the booth didn't go unnoticed, beyond even his friends, family, and old work colleagues from across the nation.
Before the Vees' showdown in Vernon last weekend, head coach Fred Harbinson mentioned the play-by-play commentator's pending milestone to the team during his pre-game speech, calling on them to "win it for Fraser."
And then 鈥� following a thrilling come-from-behind Penticton victory 鈥� defenceman Brock Reinhart did the honours of giving Rodgers the game puck, in honour of his achievement.
"It meant a lot to me for them to do that," Rodgers said. "It may have been the second game puck I've ever received in my life, but this was the most meaningful...especially knowing we won, too."
Rodgers' career dates back to the fall of 2007 when he was calling Junior 'B' hockey games in Victoria.
Stops in Melfort, Sask., and Powell River preceded the start of his first stint in Penticton, which came ahead of the Vees' 2011-2012 championship campaign.
After a seven-year run in the Peach City, the play-by-play man headed north and became the voice of the WHL's Prince George Cougars.
Rodgers returned to the Vees' booth in 2022 to call games that featured the likes of future NHL draft picks Bradly Nadeau and Aydar Suniev.
As for his favourite all-time moment in the booth?
Rodgers couldn't help but think of May 2024, when the Vees scored three goals in less than five minutes to stun the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in Game 7 of the Interior Conference Finals.
"I don't think I'll ever be part of a game like that ever again," Rodgers said. "When the Vees did what they did, it was the loudest I'd heard the SOEC in a long time."
In conservation with Black Press ahead of his 1,001st game on Friday, Oct. 11, Rodgers said Hockey Night in Canada's Jim Hughson, Chris Cuthbert and the late Bob Cole were among the broadcasters he looked up to as a kid.
His inspiration on the microphone comes from outside the hockey world, too.
An avid football and baseball fan, Rodgers says Seattle Seahawks radio commentator Steve Raible, Toronto Blue Jays voice Dan Shulman and Monday Night Football's Joe Buck are also individuals he looks up to.
While reflecting on his close to two-decade career, the voice of the Vees said he was grateful for the kind words and messages he received in the aftermath of his 1,000th game.
"It's been nice to get that recognition," Rodgers said. "You don't expect to get it, but that's when everything started to really sink in."
Rodgers can be heard locally during every Vees game on Bounce Radio 800 AM. He also serves as the club's vice president of business operations.
