Reds Radio Memories

Voices from the past! In the late 1980s, long after the Reds 51-yr reign as the centerpiece of RI sports had ended, Chuck Wilson was the voice of local and regional sports talk on local radio.

Tom McDonough, the former stick boy for the hometown team and one of the original founders of the Reds Heritage Society, would occasionally fill in for Chuck. Thankfully, Tom maintained connections to the Reds players and officials and while filling in he would treat listeners to live on-air interviews with them and reminisce about the golden ago of pro hockey in Rhode Island.

Fortunately, Tom saved those tapes and the Heritage Society has digitized them for playback here on our website.

Part 1: Zellio Toppazzini

Tom McDonough interviews George Patrick Duffy and Buster Clegg about traveling for the Reds, whether hockey will return to the Auditorium, and the greatest Reds players and lines. Zellio Toppazzini calls in.

Part 2: Paul McNeil

Tom, George and Buster Clegg talk with Paul McNeil, who sold programs – “Get you scorecard lineups here!” – in the Auditorium lobby and was a fixture at Reds games. Listener Ronnie from Cranston calls in with a question.

Part 3: Tom Army

Tom, George and Buster talk with Tom Army, son of Reds Trainer George Army. Listener Tony in Cranston calls in with a question about Zellio Toppazzini.

Part 4: Ross Brooks

Tom, George and Buster talk with Ross Brooks, former goalie for the Reds and the Boston Bruins. Listener Bob in Warwick calls in with a question for George.

Part 5: Ray Powell

Tom, George and Buster talk with Ray Powell, one of the best stick handlers and center ice men to ever play for the Reds. Listener Dick in Bristol calls in to share his memories of the Reds.

Part 6: Ed Giacomin

Tom, George and Buster talk with Eddie Giacomin, legendary goaltender for the Reds, New York Rangers and Detriot Red Wings. Listener John in Warwick calls in.

Part 7: Chuck Scherza

Tom, George and Buster talk with Chuck Scherza, one of the most popular players to wear the red, white, and black. Listener Bob in Fall River calls in to share his memories of the famous “snowstorm game.”

Part 8: Paul Larivee

Tom, George and Buster talk with Paul Larivee, another of the Reds’ great center ice men whose voice was familiar to all of Canada as the color analyst on the French-speaking broadcasts of “Hockey Night in Canada”.

Part 9: Terry Reardon

Tom, George and Buster talk with the legendary Terry Reardon, former player, coach and general manager of the Rhode Island Reds. Listener Bill in East Providence calls in to reminisce with George.

Part 10: George Patrick Duffy

George, who provided the play-by-play of Reds games at locations throughout the American Hockey League circuit, offers up a snippet of one of his iconic call lines for listeners.

Part 11: Gil Mayer

Tom, George and Buster talk with Gil “The Needle” Mayer, the legendary 5-time “Hap Holmes Award Winner” as the top goaltender in the American Hockey League.

Part 12: Harvey Bennett

Tom, George and Buster talk with Harvey Bennett, Calder Cup champion and stalwart in the Reds goal who became the patriarch of arguably Rhode Island’s greatest hockey family.