After 30-Plus Years, J.D. Mathers Returns to Broadcast Booth

HERSHEY, PA – Former Bears play-by-play announcer J.D. Mathers looks down at the ice while doing color commentary during Sunday night’s game. (Kyle Mace – Chocolate Hockey)

Hockey Hall of Famer Frank Mathers name is legendary with Hershey Bears fans. The longtime team President, General Manager, Coach, and player helped to set the standard of excellence for Hershey Bears hockey.

Another Mathers is sure to be remembered by Hershey fans as well and this past weekend he returned to the broadcast booth for the first time in over three decades. Former Bears announcer and Frank’s son, J.D. Mathers, sat in with Bears announcer Scott Stuccio during Sunday’s broadcast.

J.D. was the Bears play-by-play announcer for two seasons, calling the Bears Calder Cup championship in 1980. The whole thing was Mathers’ first experience behind the mic.

“The first time I ever did it we were in Maine,” Mathers said Sunday night. “Mike Emerick was the guy who helped me set up. I really had no clue what I was doing.”

Mathers was thrown into his play-by-play role by his dad. “One day my dad said ‘We don’t have a radio announcer. You are going to do it.’ I thought it was a great idea.”

Fans will remember J.D. for his enthusiastic style on air, but they might also remember that only the third period of home games were broadcast. His father felt that broadcasting the entire game would hurt attendance because people would stay home to listen on the radio. That practice has long since ended.

“It was fun,” he said about his experience Sunday night. “What Scott has to do is so completely different. He’s on his computer, he’s on his phone, he’s updating this, he’s sending that. It’s way more sophisticated than 1980.”

J.D. now runs the The Warwick Hotel and Restaurant in Hummelstown and is still a regular at Bears games. Despite his time away from the broadcast booth, his love for the sport is still the same.