Have you ever wondered what goes into being a public address announcer at the VFW Sports Center? Come with the Sheriff’s Patrol if you would like to find out. We will take you behind the microphone with Jared Bjerke, as he tells the Patrol what it entails to be a Bobcats PA announcer. Jared took over for Corey Wiccum, who resigned. According to Bjerke, he has no intention to go anywhere else, because he loves being the PA voice of the Bobcats. Jared was hired to be a master of ceremonies, but filled the PA role when Wiccum left. Bjerke has several responsibilities, such as reminding fans to pay attention to activities on the ice at all times. He has to announce penalties, game night sponsors, and the starting lineup for both the visiting and the home teams. When it becomes a back and forth game, sometimes it becomes quiet in the den, so Jared has to remind fans to make some noise, which he says he does not mind. Bjerke says when it is time to announce the three stars of the game, they usually go by the stats. For example, in the Bobcats’ four to three win over the Blizzard, they went with the Patrol’s featured guest, JM Piotrowski, because he had the game winning goal. As far as when another team has to be honored, the PA voice has a tough time with it, because he loves to see the Bobcats do well, and come up with a winning effort on the ice, but it is part of the game, according to Bjerke.
