ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues have found their replacement for Darren Pang, and they didn't have to go far in doing so.
On Wednesday, the former Blues defenseman Jamie Rivers was named as Pang's replacement as lead TV analyst to work alongside play-by-play voice John Kelly on the team's Bally Sports Midwest telecasts, signing a multi-year contract.
"I’m extremely proud and excited for this opportunity," Rivers said in a statement. "Playing for the Blues was an honor, and now being able to broadcast Blues games is an incredible opportunity. I’m excited to continue working alongside John Kelly and the rest of our amazing Bally Sports team."
"Jamie is knowledgeable about all facets of hockey and has developed a tremendous ability to communicate with viewers and listeners," Bally Sports Midwest general manager and senior vice president Jack Donovan added in a release. "Jamie loves the Blues and St. Louis and we’re excited to elevate him into the lead analyst role."
Pang was the lead analyst for the past 14 seasons in St. Louis before taking a job in June in the same role for NBCSN-Chicago to cover the Blackhawks after Bally did not renew his contract.
"I can’t wait to have Jamie join our broadcasts," said Kelly, who has been the lead Blues play-by-play announcer on BSM since 2004-05. "I've very much enjoyed calling games with Jamie the past couple of years and look forward to working with him on a full-time basis. I think he's a great choice for the role, and I know Blues fans will welcome him."
The 48-year-old Rivers, who was selected by the Blues in the third round of the 1993 NHL Draft and played for the Blues in two stints (1995-99 and 2006-07) of his 454-game career with seven teams (St. Louis, New York Islanders, Ottawa, Boston, Florida, Detroit and Phoenix), is no stranger to the broadcast booth.
Rivers called 12 games last season in Pang's absence when Pang was on assignment nationally for his duties with TNT and was on select broadcasts in the 2021-22 season, but his work with Bally Sports began as an analyst on pregame, intermission and postgame alongside Bernie Federko; he was also a co-host for the Mid-States high school championship games.
Rivers will double-duty and remain as a co-host for The Fast Lane on 101.1-FM ESPN, which is the flagship station for the Blues, a job he has had since 2019.
Not only will Rivers add double duty to his broadcasting career, he is also the founder of Synergy Hockey, a youth hockey program which provides skill training and camps for skating, passing, shooting in the region, a pipeline for the NHL.
Rivers scored 17 goals and had 49 assists and 385 penalty minutes in 11 seasons in the NHL