Local radio broadcaster Larry Mellott, known as the “Voice of the Storm,” celebrated 30 years with CJOY radio in 2017, calling his 1800th hockey game in September at the Guelph Sleeman Centre.
The day was known as, “Larry Day”, with hockey fans waving paper life-sized Larry heads back to him to commemorate his special day.
He was gifted an official Guelph Storm jersey with "1800" on the back.
Mellott only took a minute to shake hands with the presenters and then it was back to business, with his passion of calling the Storm game.
Brad Hulme Program director for Magic 106.1, the sister station of CJOY, is a big sports fan as well. He shares an office directly across from Mellott. Hulme’s office is decked out with baseball memorabilia while Mellot’s is all hockey.
Often there is a lot of bantering going across the room as both announcers share the afternoon airwaves.
Mellott came to CJOY from a London radio station in 1974, in part because he knew the radio station did hockey play-by-play.
Norm Jary was the longtime play-by-play man at CJOY and Mellott says Jary mentored him on the key aspects of doing an accurate and exciting sounding hockey broadcast.
Jary retired in 1992 and Mellott took over.
He's asked if he has a favorite memory. Mellott chuckled and said, “Not just one, many! Calling the 1978 Centennial Cup winning game between the Guelph Platers and the Prince Albert Raiders. Broadcasting OHL championship winning games in 1998, 2004, 2014 and now back to the final this year. Broadcasting games from five Memorial Cup tournaments.”
When asked about a game day routine he said “absolutely."
He arrives at the arena two to three hours before game time, set up equipment, interview players and coaches, review lineup scratches, additions, line combinations, defence pairings and starting goalies, then watch warm-up to start to get in to game-time frame of mind.
Favorite people Mellott has met and interviewed include hockey legends Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr, Steve Yzerman, George Armstrong, Johnny Bower, Frank Mahovich, Andy Bathgate and countless others.
One outstanding non-hockey interview? Terry Fox.
"I got to talk to him and run with him when he brought his Marathon of Hope to Guelph in 1980," Mellott said.
He always participates in the annual Terry Fox run in the fall and likes to keep in shape with running.
Mellott said “the vibe of the Guelph Storm team is energetic and full of excitement. It always happens when you have a chance to win a championship."
When asked how he liked going on the road with the team he joked and said, “I have been doing this for a very long time.”
Longtime Guelph resident Larry Best has been a loyal CJOY listener. He said he “really like’s Mellott’s voice, and he does a very good job.”
He will often be watching the game on the local TV channel, but prefers the radio broadcast as her can retire to the couch where he can relax more and listen to the game.
You will find Mellot hosting the afternoon CJOY show from 2 to 6 p.m. He is also the program director for CJOY.
You can find Mellott on Twitter with the handle @stormradioguy.
