Voices of the Totems

Bill Schonely was the original Totems' play-by-play man. He called the action for the Totes for ten seasons and was witness to the team's glory years including back-to-back Lester Patrick Cup championships in 1967 and 1968. After the 1969 season, Schonely left the Totems to call games for the short-lived Seattle Pilots baseball team. The following year he went on to become the voice of the NBA Portland Trailblazers, a stint that lasted nearly 25 years.

The following sound bytes come from one of the most amazing games in Seattle Totems' history. On April 20, 1968 the defending league champion Totems were facing off against the Portland Buckaroos in game two of the WHL finals. The boys in kelly green had dug themselves a big hole by falling behind 6 to 2. The game was in the bag for the Bucks. But then came the third period. And Bill Schonely was there:

Gary Morrell Voice of the Totems, 1968-69. KIRO 710AM.

For one season Gary Morrell did play-by-play for the Totems. Unfortunately, no clips are available for Gary as of yet. Gary, who had a successful career as play-by-play man for both the NHL's Los Angeles Kings and Pittsburgh Penguins as well as hosting his own national sports talk radio show in ESPN's infancy, suffered from a genetic heart disease called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). He passed away of HCM in 1991.

Cougfan.com - a website dedicated to the Washington State University sportsfan - has a feature on Gary's twin brother Chuck, who was a star fullback for WSU as well as a Hollywood actor, and the Morrell family's battle with HCM.

Joe Daggett Voice of the Totems - 1969-1974. KING 1090AM, KIRO 710AM.

For many Totem fans, Bill Schonely was the true voice of the Totems having covered the Totes throughout their glory years (1958-1968). But in the less-than-glorious 1970's, Joe Daggett made listening to Totem games enjoyable with his own inimitable style. These excerpts of Joe Daggett come from a Totems-Buckaroos' tilt played January 22, 1972 on KIRO Radio 710 AM . The broadcast was recorded using a Sony reel to reel tape recorder with a microphone held up by my brother to the family's radio console. Enjoy.

Opening faceoff.
Portland's Guyle Fielder almost scores.
Portland's Barry Long hits the goal post.
Portland's Schmautz scores.
Seattle's Jim Peters scores.
Post-game show. Joe interviews WHL legend Guyle Fielder.

Robb Glazier Voice of the Totems - 1974-75. KIRO 710AM.

Robb Glazier joined the Totems in 1972 as the team's director of sales and advertising. When Joe Daggett left to call games for the World Hockey Association's Phoenix Roadrunners in the 1974-75 season, Glazier took over as the Totems' play-by-play man. The following clips come from a game versus the Salt Lake City Golden Eagles sometime in the 74-75 season.

Seattle's Dave Wisener scores.
Seattle's Dan Seguin scores.