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United States Mike Benton is an award-winning broadcaster with over 15 seasons of experience, currently serving as a key voice for the Seattle Kraken and former play-by-play announcer for the Everett Silvertips.
Mike Benton served as the Director of Broadcasting and Public Relations and the 'Voice of the Silvertips,' handling regional play-by-play coverage on KRKO 1380 AM and 95.3 FM, hosting the weekly 'Silvertips Hockey Show,' and overseeing media relations, digital media, and community outreach.
Mike Benton was named to the radio broadcast team of the Seattle Kraken as the radio pre-game, post-game, and intermission host for the NHL franchise.
Mike Benton was announced as the new play-by-play announcer for all regular season and postseason radio broadcasts of the Everett Silvertips on FOX Sports 1380.
Mike Benton’s play-by-play broadcasts for the Everett Silvertips were also carried on Classic Country 1520 KXA.
Mike Benton was recognized by the Alaska Broadcasters Association for his play-by-play work with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL. He also launched the 'Aces Insider' radio talk show and the 'AcesDTV' digital video channel for the team.
As the original voice of the ECHL’s Stockton Thunder, Mike Benton served as the club's Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations from 2005-13, earning the league's Media Relations Award of Excellence in 2009 and being selected three times for the ECHL All-Star Game.
During his time in Stockton, Mike Benton contributed video and written web reports for the Edmonton Oilers.
While with the Stockton Thunder, Mike Benton also produced video and written web reports for the San Jose Sharks.
Mike Benton worked as an on-air sports host and anchor with KESP AM-970 in Modesto, Calif.
Mike Benton served as a correspondent for SiriusXM NHL Network Radio.
For two years, Mike Benton worked as a color analyst and rinkside reporter with Sportsnet at the Vancouver Canucks YoungStars Tournament in Penticton, B.C.
Mike Benton's first opportunity with a professional sports team, where he called middle innings of play-by-play and assisted with media relations.
Mike Benton worked for the Dayton Dragons, the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, where he called middle innings, hosted pre and post-game shows, and assisted with front office duties.
Mike Benton contributed content to The Hockey News.
Mike Benton anchors the pre-game, intermission, and post-game coverage of all Seattle Kraken games on the team’s radio flagship 93.3 KJR-FM.
Mike Benton, a native of Southern California and graduate of Azusa Pacific University with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, began his broadcasting career gaining real-world experience at the college radio station, covering men’s and women’s basketball and football games for KAPU and local television outlets. This early exposure to various sports provided him with foundational skills and confidence in live broadcasting. A pivotal moment in his early career was a connection made at a sportscasting camp with renowned broadcaster Roxy Bernstein, which led to his first professional opportunity calling middle innings for the High Desert Mavericks while still attending APU. After graduating, Benton continued to pursue his passion, moving to Ohio to work with the Dayton Dragons, the High-A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds, where he expanded his skills beyond play-by-play to include pre- and post-game show hosting, program story writing, and media relations.
Benton’s career progressed significantly when he returned to California, taking on roles as Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for the Stockton Thunder (ECHL hockey) and Lightning (arena football) from 2005-2013. During this period, he earned the ECHL’s Media Relations Award of Excellence in 2009 and was selected three times as a radio broadcaster for the ECHL All-Star Game. He further contributed with video and written reports for the Edmonton Oilers and San Jose Sharks, and worked as an on-air sports host and anchor for KESP AM-970. His dedication to hockey broadcasting continued with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL, where he was recognized by the Alaska Broadcasters Association for his play-by-play work, launched the “Aces Insider” radio talk show, and developed their digital video channel, “AcesDTV.” Benton has accumulated over 1,000 career games called in professional hockey across radio and television, demonstrating his extensive experience and commitment to the sport.
In 2015, Benton joined the Everett Silvertips of the Western Hockey League (WHL) as the Director of Broadcasting and Public Relations, becoming the “Voice of the Silvertips” for six seasons. His tenure included calling the team’s Western Conference title run in 2017-18 and the longest game in Canadian Hockey League history in the 2017 WHL Playoffs. He also hosted the weekly “Silvertips Hockey Show” and managed media relations, digital media, and community outreach efforts. In 2021, Benton achieved a significant career milestone, joining the National Hockey League (NHL) as the in-game host for the Seattle Kraken, anchoring pre-game, intermission, and post-game coverage on 93.3 KJR-FM. This role represents the culmination of years of dedicated work and his lifelong dream of broadcasting for an NHL team, solidifying his position within the top tier of professional sports broadcasting.
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