Extra 90.5 FM is once again searching for a new Peterborough Petes radio play-by-play announcer.

Shawn Mullin, who was introduced earlier this month as the station's new voice of the Petes, is leaving the station to return to Swift Current, Sask. Mullin, who moved here in July and purchased a house, said personal family issues made it necessary he return west.

"I thank everyone in Peterborough for being so welcoming in my brief time in the community," said Mullin.

He said his decision was not job related.

"Everybody at MBC (My Broadcasting Co.) and the Petes are wonderful teams of people who I would have cherished working with. I wish them nothing but the best," he said.

Extra 90.5 manager Jef Dueck informed former radio voice Rob Snoek earlier this year the station was going in a different direction. They wanted a full-time employee to work in its sales division and broadcast Petes games.

Mullin's sudden departure has left the station scrambling to find a replacement. They've cancelled plans to broadcast the Petes pre-season opener Friday in Kitchener. Dueck hopes to have a replacement in place to do a Sept. 14 pre-season game at the Cavan Monaghan Community Centre against the Niagara IceDogs.

"In a perfect world we would find the same sort of person who could do the same sort of thing," Dueck said.

"But it's not as though those candidates are around every corner. There is a long list of capable people who could do on-air and a longer list of people capable of doing sales. The people capable of doing both roles is a shorter list. We don't really have anyone in our file of candidates who can do both at this time.

"Our longer term goal will be to move back toward that sort of a role and position but, for now, we'll be entertaining different ideas and ways to make sure we deliver everything the Petes are expecting."

Dueck said it's disappointing to see Mullin go.

"We had no complaints in the couple of months he had been here as a salesperson and we were looking forward in every way, shape and form to what the year ahead would bring," Dueck said.

Mullin had nine years of experience broadcasting Swift Current Broncos WHL games. The Broncos severed relations with the radio station Mullin worked for. He said he hopes to return to his sales role there.

mike.davies

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