By Matt Sepic, KWMU / AP
St. Louis, MO – The St. Louis Blues announced Thursday they will once again broadcast hockey games on KMOX radio. The Blues had been on KTRS since the 2000-2001 season.
Team chairman Dave Checketts says because KMOX has a more powerful signal, the move will bring the games back to a wider audience.
"Quite simply, when you're trying to rebuild an audience and bring people back to being St. Louis Blues fans, I could not be happier about any announcement," Checketts said Thursday.
Checketts says the team signed a multi-year contract with KMOX, but he would not say exactly how many years. It marks a return of pro sports to that station. Last season KMOX lost Cardinals baseball to KTRS after 51 seasons.
Also on Thursday, the Blues introduced St. Louis businessman Tom Stillman as a minority owner of the team. Stillman, 55, owns a beer distribution company called Summit Distributing in Earth City. He is also the son-in-law of former U.S. Sen. John Danforth.
"We have always had the intention of adding local ownership since we purchased the club," Checketts said. "We are happy to have found Tom Stillman, who embodies what St. Louis is all about.
Stillman said he is happy to be part of the ownership group.
"I think very highly of Dave Checketts and his partners in their efforts to rebuild the franchise," Stillman said. "I am quite confident the future of the St. Louis Blues has never looked brighter. This a great time to be a Blues fan and a part of this organization.
The Blues have missed the playoffs for the second straight season.