John Wiedeman is an American broadcaster who is the radio play-by-play announcer for the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks.
Wiedeman grew up in Kansas City, Missouri. [1] He worked for his family's plumbing parts supply company until 1988. Wiedeman attended the University of Kansas and graduated in 1989. He decided to pursue a career in broadcasting at the age of 31. [2] Wiedeman moved to Chicago in 1992 where he hoped to find work as a sports broadcaster. He was a bartender at a comedy club in Mount Prospect, Illinois and also served as an unpaid reporter for WCSJ in Morris, Illinois to cover Chicago Blackhawks games. [3] [4]
Wiedeman served as the radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster for the Muskegon Fury (1992–1994), Worcester IceCats (1994–1996), and Cincinnati Cyclones (1997–2001). [5] He worked his way to the National Hockey League (NHL), where he served as the radio and substitute TV play-by-play commentator for the Philadelphia Flyers (1996), Tampa Bay Lightning (1997), Columbus Blue Jackets (2001), and New York Islanders (2001–2006). [6] He joined the Chicago Blackhawks in 2006 and served as the team's radio play-by-play commentator. [6] [7] Wiedeman provided commentary for the Blackhawks alongside Troy Murray on the radio, including three Stanley Cup Finals in 2010, 2013 and 2015. [6]
In 2021, the Blackhawks announced Pat Foley would retire as the team's TV play-by-play commentator after the season. Wiedeman, along with other announcers, "auditioned" to succeed Foley throughout the 2021–22 NHL season. [8] In April 2022, the Blackhawks announced that Wiedeman would retain his role as the team's radio broadcast play-by-play announcer, and would not be selected to replace Foley on TV for the 2022–23 NHL season. [9] [10] Wiedeman signed a three-year extension with the Blackhawks in April 2024. [11]
John has been awarded the following honors by the Illinois Broadcasters Association: [5]
Wiedeman and his wife, Kelly, have one daughter and one son. [5]