Port City Podcast: Muskegon memories with John Wiedeman

John Wiedeman
(Photo: Chicago
Blackhawks)

Part of the joy of working in a storied hockey town like Muskegon is getting to know high-quality people like Ron Stephenson, who provided color analysis for me during most home games on 92.5 The Outlaw this past season.

Of course, most Muskegon hockey fans know "Uncle Ron" as one of the original local hockey legends, as he suited up for the IHL's Zephyrs in the first-ever pro game at L.C. Walker Arena. Ron made his home here on the Lakeshore after his playing career ended, and he's been part of the fabric of the town ever since, making many friends along the way.

One of those friends is John Wiedeman, who was the first radio broadcaster for the Muskegon Fury, the pro club that replaced the first edition of the Lumberjacks that skated in the IHL before moving to Cleveland in 1992. John and Ron were a broadcast team here, and they've stayed in touch ever since as John eventually settled in Chicago, where he just finished his sixth season calling games on WGN Radio for the NHL's Blackhawks.

Ron encouraged me to get in touch with John, and so I invited him to be a guest on the Port City Podcast this week. John accepted, and he shared more than 30 minutes with me talking about his memories from a career in hockey. You can be sure that some outstanding Muskegon hockey stories were included!

Thanks to John for spending part of his day with me and I hope you enjoy:

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One more reminder, as the Fifth Third Bank Riverbank Run is this Saturday, that my wife Jillian and I are running the 25K in memory of four members of her family that we lost in a domestic violence incident last summer.

We have reached our goal in donating over $2,000 to Safe Haven Ministries, which assists women and children in dangerous situations at home. Thanks to those of you who donated, and if you didn't there's still a couple of days to chip in at our secure team page!