John Wells (sportscaster)

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For other persons of the same name, see John Wells.

John Wells is a Canadian sportscaster. His most recent show, which ended in April 2008, was Wells And Company on CJOB radio in Winnipeg.[1] He broadcasted Canadian Football League games for over 30 years. He is the son of "Cactus" Jack Wells.[2]

Wells broadcasting career began in 1965 at Winnipeg's CKY-FM [3]. He moved to television in 1969 as sports director for CKCK-TV in Regina. He also spent nine years with CBXT.

In 1971, Wells began working for CBC Sports. At CBC, he worked at two Canada Games (1971 & 1979) and hosted the 1978 Commonwealth Games, the 1983 World University Games, and the 1984 Summer and Winter Olympics. He also worked on Hockey Night in Canada from 1979 to 1984 as a rinkside reporter and host for telecasts from Edmonton and as a studio host on the CFL on CBC from 1973 to 1983.

In 1984, Wells joined the new cable specialty channel, The Sports Network. At TSN, he hosted the 1988 Winter Olympics and was the first host of the NHL on TSN, and the first play by play man of TSN's Friday Night Football. He was also one of the orignal SportsDesk hosts. When the NBA came to Canada in 1995, Wells became the host of TSN’s pre-game show, "NBA Tonight". Wells also contributed on TSN's coverage of curling, inculding calling the early rounds of the 2001 Nokia Brier [4] and the 2003 Scott Tournament of Hearts.[5]

By 2006, Wells had been phased out at TSN after Chris Cuthbert joined the network. He moved to CJOB radio in Winnipeg, where he became the host of an afternoon show.[6] Wells left CJOB in April 2008.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "CJOB fires broadcast vet Wells", Winnipeg Free Press, April 19, 2008
  2. ^ "TSN kicks off with 50 CFL games this season", news release, The Sports Network, June 24, 2002
  3. ^ Edmonton Broadcasters - VZ
  4. ^ "Russ Howard joins TSN's curling broadcast team: Will pair with John Wells for 'Breakfast at the Brier' morning draw broadcasts", news release, The Sports Network, February 28 2001
  5. ^ CTV Media Site - TSN
  6. ^ William Houston, "Week of change on sportscasts one for the ages", The Globe and Mail", September 1, 2006