GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes on Friday fired
play-by-play television announcer Curt Keilback, the voice of the
NHL franchise for the past 27 seasons.
Keilback said he was told by team officials that his contract
was not being renewed.
"I certainly didn't see it coming," Keilback told the East
Valley Tribune. "To all of a sudden to be told just out of the
blue, 'That's it. You're done,' is devastating."
Calls to the Coyotes seeking comment on the move were not
immediately returned, but Keilback's name had been removed from
their broadcasting team Web site by Friday night.
The move follows last month's front-office shakeup after the
Coyotes suffered through their worst season since the franchise
moved from Winnipeg to Phoenix in 1996.
On April 11, the Coyotes fired general manager Mike Barnett,
director of hockey operations Cliff Fletcher and assistant general
manager Laurence Gilman.
Keilback had worked in the organization's TV and radio booths
since the team joined the NHL in 1979 as the Winnipeg Jets and had
called nearly 2,400 NHL games.
The press box at Jobing.com Arena here is named after him.