Former Oilers Radio Voice Will Call Stanley Cup Finals

Originally Published: May 27, 2010 4:55 PM CDT

Bobby Lewis
Oklahoma Sports Mobile Journalist

CHICAGO – Thursday was Stanley Cup media day at the United Center in the Windy City. While less of an over-the-top festival than media gatherings for other sporting events, i.e. the Super Bowl, the afternoon is still an opportunity for first timers to gush about how excited they are to be four victories way from hoisting arguably the most recognizable trophy in all of sports.

That includes former Tulsa Oiler, Tim Saunders.

“It’s been 12, 13 years in the league. A lot of years bouncing around the minor leagues before that,” Saunders said in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “On this stage, at this moment, it’s pretty special.”

Saunders won’t be skating in this year’s Stanley Cup Finals but will be right in the middle of the action as the radio play-by-play voice of the Philadelphia Flyers.

This year’s Flyers club made the playoffs thanks to a shootout win on the final night of the regular season. They beat one of the best goaltenders in the league, made sports history by rebounding from a 3-0 deficit to down the Boston Bruins, and now find themselves in the Cup Finals for the first time since 1997.

“It’s a movie script nobody’s buying because there’s no way it’s believable,” he chuckled. “It’s just an incredible run and they’re hoping they can put the finishing touches on it this round.”

Saunders has called over 100 Flyers playoff games since joining the team in 1997 but got his start behind the microphone in the Sooner state. Saunders called over 100 Tulsa Oilers games from 1993-1995 and still keeps in touch with the organization.

“Tulsa was the first step, the first team that gave me the opportunity to call games full time,” said Saunders. “Jeff Lund, the general manager at the time who now owns the team today, is one of my closest friends. I call him now the morning of every playoff game because he’s good luck.

“I’ve got special feelings for Jeff and the Tulsa Oilers. I’ve been pretty fortunate to get to this point.”

His journey from the CHL to the peak of the sport is a dream come true for Saunders. The Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks will drop the first puck at the Stanley Cup Finals on Saturday, May 29th at 7 p.m.

“This is why we do this, to get to call games on this stage,” Saunders said. “Every announcer dreams of making that call, that their team won the Stanley Cup. I’m no different.

“This was the goal from Day 1.”

The Tulsa Oilers will be holding Stanley Cup watch parties all throughout the series at River Spirit Casino in Tulsa. For more information, contact the Oilers front office: at (918) 632-7825 or (918) 632-0006.