12-year-old boy calls Sharks-Blues game on radio

ST. LOUIS -- Wyatt Nelson's radio play-by-play debut Tuesday was so good it caught the attention of Emmy-winning broadcaster Mike "Doc" Emrick, the voice of hockey on NBC.
Wyatt, the 12-year-old native of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, made famous by the "Discover Card Day with the Cup" video that shows him doing hockey play-by-play for his blind father, Gerry, in the stands at a Western Hockey League game, was part of the St. Louis Blues radio broadcast for Game 2 of the Western Conference Final against the San Jose Sharks.

When Wyatt's 15 minutes of fame were finished, Emrick called the budding broadcaster to offer some words of encouragement.
"[Emrick] is one of the guys I quite like and want to be when I am calling a game," Wyatt said. "That was really cool."
Gerry Wyatt also spoke with Emrick. During that conversation, the pride he has in his son was evident.
"Doc, this kid has made me cry more times than I dare tell you," Gerry said.
With his mom, Shannon, and dad nearby, Wyatt called part of the first period from the KMOX radio booth with play-by-play announcer Chris Kerber and analyst Kelly Chase.

The Discover video of Wyatt doing play-by-play for his dad at Saskatoon Blades games went viral and caught the attention of Chase, who played for Saskatoon from 1986-88 before playing in the NHL for 11 seasons, mostly with the Blues. Chase and St. Louis general manager Doug Armstrong invited the Nelson family to the game and gave Wyatt the opportunity to call part of it on KMOX, a 50,000-watt superstation that reaches all the way to Saskatoon, according to Gerry.
Perhaps the highlight of Wyatt's first-period work came when his voice raised in pitch and in volume when St. Louis goaltender Brian Elliott made one of his nine saves in the period.
"My favorite part was the call when Elliott made that big save in the first period," he said. "'Elliott with the flash of the pad.' I love making that call."
Wyatt did not get to break out his patented goal call; the only goal of the first period, by San Jose forward Tommy Wingels, came before Wyatt took over the play-by-play duties.
"I wanted to have a goal call, but whatever," said Wyatt, wearing a Blues sweatshirt with a growing collection of signatures of famous St. Louis players on it.

As Wyatt handled even more interviews after his radio debut, his dad struggled to put into words what he felt about one of the high-water marks for Wyatt.
"At 12 years old, I don't think I could have done what he just did, not in front of that many people and on the air. Calling a Western Hockey League game is one thing; the NHL is something entirely different. I'm so proud of him. I think he just rocked it."
Kerber, who helped Wyatt across some rough patches in the broadcast, said it was an experience that will remain with him long after Tuesday.
"I just think it is a neat moment," Kerber said. "As a broadcaster, you are the eyes and ears of so many people. For a young kid to be the eyes of his dad, I think it is a bonding moment every time they talk. You can see it. It was a real neat moment and, frankly, that is what we do in this business and that's what you love."