“Penticton Vees fourth goal, his third of the tournament, scored by number 17, Matteo Co-stan-teeeeee-neeeeee. The assists to number 30, Devlin O’Brien, and to number 27, Quin Hutson. Time of the goal – 11 minutes, one second.”
When Joey Pitt announces a goal during Penticton Vees games these days, he doesn’t wait for feedback from fans, especially considering there are only a handful of team officials and scouts in attendance due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead, Pitt controls that feedback in games played during the pandemic.
“We’re a little more hands on in terms of what we pump through the speakers. During the regular season, I have a giant 20-page script for every game, so I’m pounding out ads the entire time,” he explained. “But this year, it’s a totally different game, so rather than waiting for goals and penalties, I get to pump in the fake crowd noise.”
While the game is still pretty much the same at ice level, inside the South Okanagan Events Centre control room high above the ice, Pitt’s tasks have increased exponentially.
NHL fans will recall watching games from Edmonton and Toronto during the playoffs, with the ‘ohs’ and ‘aws’ of fans coming through despite the fact the arenas were empty.
The Vees and SOEC have adopted that concept for their audio team during home games in 2020-21, appealing more to the web, radio and Hockey TV listeners and viewers than the handful of scouts in the stands.
“We use a program called Virtual DJ. We have the finger controls modified for various songs during the season. I have mine jimmied up with various crowd noises,” explained Pitt, in his second full season as PA announcer. “We ripped them out of various EA NHL games.
“NHL ‘08 and NHL ‘20 are the two main crowd-noise sources for the Vees this year.”
With no live crowd to rely on, Pitt has to keep a close eye on the game to trigger reactions, and fire up players at ice level.
“We have our six ‘O’s’ for various saves, scoring chances and hits. We also have two noises for when the puck goes in the net – a regular goal and a bit more of an amped-up one for overtime or a late goal,” he explained. “We also have a few boos for home penalties and away goals, and a couple cheers for when the Vees clear the puck, gain the zone or the goalie makes a save.”
Pitt has computer buttons to push at any time through the game to elicit crowd noise.
“I try to anticipate what a crowd would react to – if there was a crowd here. If there’s three thousand people here at the Events Centre, every time the puck goes near the net, you’re going to get an ‘Oh’. Whenever the Vees clear the puck on a penalty kill, there’s going to be a cheer. If Yanni (Perets, Vees goalie) makes a great save, there’s going to be a cheer when he covers the puck,” he said. “So you have to anticipate all those things, as well as try to find a ‘Go Vees Go’ chant, and things like that.
“We’re trying to basically replicate what would be here if we had a full crowd. Obviously we don’t, so I’m doing the best I can.”
When it comes to that ‘Go Vees Go’ chant, Pitt offers up a tidbit of insider information.
“Our 'Go Vees Go' chant is actually an old 'Go Leafs Go' chant that we distorted a little bit, so you can’t tell nearly as well,” admitted Pitt. “If you’re listening to the Vees audio and you hear a 'Go Vees Go' chant – just know they’re Toronto fans.”
According to Pitt, he has the best job in the arena – even if he is announcing to a near-empty building.
“Whenever I’m announcing a goal, I like to pump in some crowd noise to give the impression people are happy about it. And it helps get the boys going,” summarized Pitt. “If they’re feeling good in their hearts, they’re playing good on the ice. This is just as much fun as it would be with a crowd – maybe even more so.
“Honestly, I’m having a blast."
The Vees, 9-1, finish off their Okanagan Cup schedule the first weekend of November, playing in Vernon Friday, Nov. 6 at 6 pm, and entertaining the Vipers Saturday Nov. 7 at 6 pm at SOEC.
