The Albany River Rats' bus was involved in an accident early this morning on its way back from the team's game in Lowell last night and former Devils radio announcer John Hennessy was among those injured. The accident occurred on the Massachusetts Turnpike "just before 3:30 a,m." according to a press release put out by the Carolina Hurricanes. The team's original bus broke down, which caused a delay. The replacement bus is the one that crashed. There was apparently bad weather up in Massachusetts l
The team confirmed that players and staff members were taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass. for treatment and the majority of the passengers are now returning to Albany. The team said "four players and one staff member" remained in the hospital to be treated for "serious, but non-life threatening injuries."
Hennessy, who now does the radio for the River Rats, was the staff member who was injured and remains hospitalized.
Hey TG - Former Devil Geordie Kinnear was on that bus too!
Posted by: Don Ferlazzo | February 19, 2009 at 12:02 PM
best wish's go out to all of them.
any word on the players involved?
Posted by: Lucas S | February 19, 2009 at 12:07 PM
The Devils radio broadcast was lightyears better with Hennessy and Randy V. than with Matt and Sheri. I wish Hennessy a speedy recovery and a call up to our big team.
Posted by: 89fan | February 19, 2009 at 12:08 PM
Nobody better blame this on Marty's Mask too.
Posted by: MoonDragn | February 19, 2009 at 12:12 PM
When was Hennessy our radio guy? Does anybody have a picture of him or a link to where there is one? I dont remember him.. nontheless i hope everybody is ok!
Posted by: mikeschoenf | February 19, 2009 at 12:14 PM
I hope John Hennessy and the injured players get well soon.
Posted by: Matt M. | February 19, 2009 at 12:15 PM
2002-2004. Hennessy called the 2003 Cup win on the radio.
Posted by: JJ | February 19, 2009 at 12:33 PM
River Rats players hospitalized with serious injuries are Nicolas Blanchard, Joe Jensen, Casey Borer, Jonathan Paiement. Along with radio commentator John Hennessy.
Story from one of our local Albany newspapers can be found here:
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=771676
Posted by: Bill | February 19, 2009 at 12:38 PM
He was there for the 05-06 season too.
Posted by: Steve Lepore | February 19, 2009 at 12:38 PM
John Hennessy received his call-up to the Devils when Mike Miller had cancer in his vocal cords. When Miller returned, the Devils kept Hennessy as a studio guy-third wheel-insurance policy. Of course, all that changed when Miller, Velischek, and Hennessy left in favor of Matt Loughlin and Sherry Ross.
Hennessy now does color with River Rats PR director Owen Newkirk on most of the team's broadcasts. Nothing against Loughlin, but I think Hennessy has more natural play-by-play ability.
Miller has done play-by-play for the OHL's Windsor Spitfires this season. As for Velischek, he's teaching French and German at Pingry in Central Jersey.
Posted by: Captain Cornholio | February 19, 2009 at 01:06 PM
All the best to those injured. Hey TG, I never really understood why Randy and John were let go by the Devils. Do you have any insight as to why that happened?
Posted by: skeeter | February 19, 2009 at 01:13 PM
When Mike Miller, the Devils radio play-by-play guy got vocal-cord cancer, Hennessy was called up from the Rats (then a Devils affiliate) to take his place. Eventually, Miller returned, but soon after left to become the General Manager of the ECHL Toledo Storm. Hennessy then came up again, this time on a more permanent basis, until Matt Loughlin (with Tom Chorske) took over.
See the history of Devils announcers here: http://devilsdaily.com/articles/devils-broadcast-history-timeline
I wish all the best to the Rats players and their announcer. Even though the Devils are no longer affiliated with the minor-league team, I still have a soft spot in my heart for the Albany River Rats.
Posted by: Scott E | February 19, 2009 at 01:17 PM
Captain.. you are the man! I am glad to hear miller is doing ok!
Posted by: mikeschoenf | February 19, 2009 at 01:23 PM
I am the great Cornholio!
Posted by: Captain Cornholio | February 19, 2009 at 02:05 PM
Hope John has a quick recovery....did a great job fillin' in for Mike. A hello to all the members of the Mike Miller Fan Club (MMFC) we still listen!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONktdSDzyIY
Posted by: njteech | February 19, 2009 at 03:19 PM
I hope they all get well soon. The weather was kind of bad in NJ so I assume it was worse in MA.
Posted by: Pat D'Amico | February 19, 2009 at 03:35 PM
Schenectady Gazette reporter Phil Janack has some updates on his blog. He interviewed Hennessy in the 12th update:
http://www.dailygazette.com/weblogs/janack/2009/feb/19/rats-injured-bus-crash-update-12/
Get well, Rats!
Posted by: Shtikl | February 19, 2009 at 06:10 PM
repetitive strain injuries have been historically linked with repetitive office tasks such as typing and data entry, some forms of repetitive strain injuries can be specifically attributed to working in manufacturing, on an assembly line or in any job where a regular and significant amount of carrying above shoulder height is required.
Posted by: Repetitive Strain Injuries | February 24, 2011 at 12:31 AM
It's good to hear that no one was seriously injured. I hope Hennessy is doing better now.
Posted by: Carol | May 01, 2011 at 12:08 PM