Skip to main site navigation Skip to main content

Thrive On: The Campaign for Utica University →

Utica University Logo
  • Academics
    • Programs
      • Utica at Florida
    • General Education
      • Current Offerings
      • Program Details
      • Themed Pathways
      • Planning Sheet
    • Honors Program
    • Utica at Florida
    • Online Study
    • Graduate Study
    • International Ed & Study Abroad
      • Study Abroad
    • Exceptional Faculty
    • Research & Experiential Learning
    • Student Support and Success
    • Schedules, Catalogs, and Resources
    • Institutes and Centers
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
    • Understanding Financial Aid
      • Value
      • Excelsior, Explained
      • University Scholarships
      • Endowed Scholarships
      • Annual Awards
      • Utica Enhanced Tuition Award
    • Applying For Financial Aid
    • Tuition and Fees
      • Tuition and Fees - Undergraduate Campus
      • Undergraduate Online Tuition and Fees
      • Florida Programs Tuition and Fees
      • ABSN Program Tuition
      • Graduate Tuition and Fees
    • Net Price Calculator
  • Admissions
    • First-Year Admissions
    • Transfer Admissions
      • Articulation Agreements
    • Florida Admissions
    • Graduate Admissions
    • International Applicants
      • International Inquiry Form
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Visit
      • Utica University Campus
      • Virtual Tour
    • Apply Now
    • Contact Us
    • Accepted Student Info
    • High School Counselors
    • High School Bridge Program
  • Community
    • Living on Campus
      • Student Living
      • Campus Engagement and Student Activities
      • Dining
      • Greek Life
      • Campus Safety
      • Utica University Campus
    • Satellite Locations
    • Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Bias Incident Reporting
      • Community Connections
      • DEI Collaborative
      • DEI Events
      • Dialogue on Race and Equity
      • LACRELA
      • Our Staff
      • Pronouns
      • DEI Reading Guides
      • Utica University Stance Statement
      • Wilcox Center
    • The Utica Area
      • Hotels and Restaurants in the Utica Area
    • Utica Stories
    • About Utica
  • Athletics
    • Intercollegiate Athletics
    • Esports
  • News & Events
  • Alumni
  • Giving
  • Apply Now
  • Directory
  • About
  • Library
  • Logins
  • COVID-19
Utica University

An Announcement of His Own

  1. Utica Community
  2. Utica Stories
  3. An Announcement of His Own
Utica University men’s hockey team defeated Wilkes University 7-4 Saturday in the UCHC Championship Final.

Staff

After 22 years in the box, Paul Lehmann steps down as Pioneers announcer

Story Topics
  • Athletics
  • Staff
  • In the News

After a 22-year tenure as beloved announcer for Utica’s men’s ice hockey team, Paul Lehmann is stepping down after Saturday’s NCAA matchup.

For 22 years, Paul Lehmann has been the voice of the Utica men’s ice hockey team. Today, as the team prepares to take on the University of New England Nor’Easters in one of the biggest games in program history, Lehmann is also marking a milestone: his retirement. He’ll serve as announcer for the last time at Saturday’s NCAA quarterfinal game at the Adirondack Bank Center.

We chatted with Lehmann, who is also Utica University’s chaplain, about his favorite Pioneer hockey memories, music, traditions—and the Coach Gary Heenan moment he’ll never forget.

Lehmann in the booth
You were Director of Student Activities back in 2000, when the hockey program started. How did you land this side gig?

Back in the late 90s, I was one of the biggest advocates for establishing an ice hockey program at Utica. I figured I should put my money where my mouth is, so I offered to be the P.A. announcer for the games. Back then at the Aud, you had maybe a few hundred people at each game, tops. It was a completely different environment.

Did you have any experience in sports announcing back then, or did you just wing it?

I had done a couple Colgate basketball games, and for years I’d heard Joe Caprio do the Colgate hockey games. I stole a lot of stuff from him, and made up the rest. I used to bring a six-CD changer and that’s how we would play the music. Of course we use the Comets’ sound and lighting system now, which is much more advanced!

Did you have any idea how much the ice hockey program would grow?

It was what we all hoped for, and it’s all a credit to [Coach] Gary Heenan. He promoted the heck out of his games. I remember seeing him early in the morning outside the Aud, putting signs out on the median for that weekend’s game, and going to civic events promoting his team. He was relentless. But that’s what got us to thousands of people coming to games regularly and where the program is now.

As the program grew, your voice really became synonymous with Utica ice hockey games.

That surprised me, too. I remember once, a few years after starting, I called in sick because I had a bad cold. A few minutes later, I got a call from the team trainer. He promised to deliver hot tea and cough drops to me in the box as long as I came in. That’s when I realized people had started expecting a certain sound, a certain style at games. They noticed when I wasn’t there.

Music has always been a huge part of Utica ice hockey. What songs are most meaningful to you?

It has to be “Two Step” by Dave Matthews Band. It’s very unique for an entrance song. You have to start it 7:49 so it builds to a crescendo when the team hits the ice. And “Chelsea Dagger,” the goal song. These traditions — they’re all Gary things. From the beginning, he really understood that it’s more than a hockey game. We’re really putting on a show.

It actually makes me proud to know how much Manhattanville fans hate us, since stoking rivalries is a big part of the announcer’s job.

What are your favorite memories from your time as announcer?

Anytime we beat Manhattanville [College]. It actually makes me proud to know how much their fans hate us, since stoking rivalries is a big part of the announcer’s job. And the on-ice proposals were always fun. I remember one in particular. It was intermission after a brutal couple of periods, and Gary was fuming. The couple takes the ice, and the team captain was supposed to skate out and bring them flowers. I’ll never forget Gary slamming the bouquet in the player’s chest and gritting his teeth [like], “Get out there and give 'em these damn flowers!” [laughing].

So, why are you leaving such a fun job?

As I become more active in my church and in my new role as general manager of the Hamilton Theater in Hamilton, there are just too many scheduling conflicts. It’s not fair to the team to have someone there on-and-off. They deserve their own announcer to be at every game, and fans deserve to know what they’re going to hear. But I’ll miss it, for sure. It’s been a really, really great ride.

More Stories

Julian Damashek
Faculty

Dr. Julian Damashek examines connection between aging water infrastructures and antibiotic resistance

Antibiotics are considered by many to be the peak of 20th century medical innovation, ushering in a new approach to...
Rendering of the outside of Bull Hall following the construction of a state-of-the-art Crime Scene Lab.
On Campus

New Crime Scene Lab to provide students with state-of-the-art, hands-on learning in incident response

Utica University continues to take its students into the future with the announced construction of an expanded, multidisciplinary Crime Scene...
Esports at Utica University
In the News

Utica University Partners with FITGMR to Enhance Esports Program

Utica University is pleased to announce its partnership with FITGMR, a performance and player development company in esports, to provide...
All Stories

I would like to see logins and resources for:

For a general list of frequently used logins, you can also visit our logins page.

Utica University Logo
FacebookTwitterInstagramYouTube
  • Academics
  • Tuition and Financial Aid
  • Admissions
  • Community
  • Athletics
1600 Burrstone Road, Utica, NY 13502
Map & Directions
(315) 792-3006
Contact Us
  • Institutional Effectiveness
  • Bookstore
  • Disability Learning Support
  • Student Right to Know
2022-2023 College of Distinction2022-2023 New York College of Distinction2022-2023 Business College of Distinction2022-2023 Education College of Distinction2022-2023 Nursing College of Distinction2022-2023 Career Development College of Distinction2022-2023 Equity & Inclusion College of Distinction2021-2022 Military Friendly School

US News Award for Social Mobility