CALUMET---It’s never easy following a legend.

That’s what Ken Kal did in Detroit some 25 years ago when he took over as the radio play-by-play voice of the Detroit Red Wings. He took the seat that had been filled for generations by Bruce Martyn, who along with Joe Louis Arena P.A. announcer Bud Lynch, were the voices of Red Wings hockey.

Kal was in Calumet Thursday to take part in the Kraft Hockeyville game between the Red Wings and the St. Louis Blues. He was at the Calumet Colloseum at 11:00 in the morning as the teams did their morning skates. That was eight hours before game time, but Kal said he was “behind” and was trying to catch up on his preparation.

Nevertheless, Kal took time from his work to do several interviews with Upper Peninsula media outlets, including the Radio Results Network.

“This just brings you back to your hockey roots,” Kal said. “Just to be able to drive into town, the whole town’s out here, the kids take it off from school. They get to see their Hometown Heroes, the Detroit Red Wings. A lot of these kids probably won’t ever come down to Detroit, if they’re living up here their whole life. So it was great that the Red Wings could come to them.”

Kal says broadcasting at the small, 700-seat Calumet Colloseum, was different.

“The action is faster when you’re low to the ice,” Kal said. “Obviously, the press box here is six or seven rows from the ice. Hockey, as we know, is a fast sport.

"As you go upstairs, or in a broadcast booth like at a big stadium Little Caesars Arena, things slow down as you go up higher. As a play-by-play guy, it’s a little easier to call. When you’re at ice level, almost, you have to be on your toes.”

As for Martyn, Kal says he remains grateful to what he learned from the legendary broadcaster.

“Bruce has been my idol ever since I was eight or nine years old listening to Red Wings hockey,” Kal said. “Bruce just turned 90 years old, he lives in Florida, I had a chance to talk with him recently, and he’s doing well. Just to be able to follow in his footsteps, a Hall of Fame broadcaster, one of the best in the business. I’ll never be Bruce Martyn, but I’m happy to be in his saddle.”

Kal is at the mic for his 36^th season, counting 11 at the University of Michigan before his 25 years in Detroit. He and his broadcast partner, Paul Woods, called the action in Calumet Thursday night, but there was no rest for them or the Wings, as they head to Toronto for a home-and-home series.

Click the AUDIO button above to hear Jack Hall's interview with Ken Kal.