The newest and hottest Senior hockey league, Southeast Michigan’s Interstate Hockey League, announced this weekend that they’ve landed a radio home for their inaugural season, Michigan Regional Sports Network (MRSN).

MRSN will broadcast a Saturday night ‘Game of the Week’ for the entire IHL season, and is “open to more coverage in the future if the product is well-received.”

MRSN is a Flint, Michigan based internet sports broadcasting network, having a large following in Mid/Southeast Michigan and much of Ontario (Canada). The stream-based radio station has picked up some legitimate exclusive deals in the past, including being the home of the Canadian Junior Football League’s London Beefeaters, the NJCAA Men’s Basketball District Championships, and former home of the Federal Hockey League’s Port Huron Prowlers and St. Clair Shores Fighting Saints. On top of that, MRSN also carries the Women’s Football Alliance, Michigan High School Football, and local High School/College baseball and basketball.

MRSN even has the ability for listeners to “call” a number linked to the station to listen to the station without using data or internet.

MRSN Owner/Founder Donald Mathews reached out to IHL Commissioner Drake MacKenzie after hearing about the league’s pursuit to bring old-school, local hockey back.

“I talked with their Commisioner, and he was very enthused about the possibility,” said Mathews “We wanted to get back more involved in hockey. Hockey is popular for us.”

Commissioner Drake MacKenzie was eager to get a broadcast affiliate for the league when we talked to him a month ago, and says this partnership is “huge, on three levels”.

“It’s more credibility. Now I can go up to our guys and tell them our games will be on the radio on Saturday nights. Not many hockey leagues can boast that,” said MacKenzie “For the fans, it’s great. Can’t make it to a game? On vacation? Doesn’t matter, you can still listen to hockey from anywhere.”

The final level for MacKenzie, dealt with his expansionistic views

“Think of that. Your [Bus League Hockey’s] article got us contacted by people in New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut,” said MacKenzie “Having games broadcasted will help us reach people worldwide.”

This isn’t MRSN’s first time being the radio home of local hockey. Aside from the FHL, MRSN has also been home to the Flint Firebirds (OHL), Michigan Warriors (NAHL), University of Michigan – Flint (ACHA), and Flint Junior Generals (NA3HL).

The station is currently interviewing a few candidates to be their IHL broadcaster, and Mathews hopes to have someone in place by mid-August.

With this announcement, the IHL has begun talking with the Fond du Lac Bears of the Great Lakes Hockey League to allow for the MRSN broadcaster to call the cross-league battle between the Bears and the Hadley Neppesings.

Having expressed an interest in broadcasting himself, the chance to work with a local partner especially interested MacKenzie.

“When I was little, I used to make tape recordings of me calling video games, and that was my dream for years,” said MacKenzie “I’ll take advantage of this, and at least give it a shot.”

We look forward to the future of this partnership, and the growth of both the IHL and MRSN. If you have an interest in playing or calling for them, please reach out to either entity at their assigned links.