Ralph Strangis is a play-by-play commentator, who has covered a variety of sports, but most notably has been the commentator, along with Daryl "Razor" Reaugh, for the Dallas Stars ice hockey franchise of the National Hockey League since the team's move to Dallas in 1993.
Strangis has worked as a commentator for ESPN, Fox Sports, and the Westwood One Radio Network. He also commentates for games broadcast on NHL Radio, which have included regular season, playoff, and World Cup games.
Before this, he was a play-by-play man for the American Wrestling Association on ESPN.
Strangis honed his play-by-play skills in Minnesota and Wisconsin, starting with his first paying radio job at the age of 16. He later worked on local cable television stations doing play by play for a wide variety of high school and college sports. Strangis is especially remembered for his broadcasts of Bloomington Kennedy and Bloomington Jefferson high school hockey that appeared on Bloomington Educational Cable.
Although he had quite a bit of broadcast experience, his tryout as color commentator on the Minnesota North Stars radio network was a longshot--with other better-known sportscasters getting more air time during the auditioning process. As the story goes, five prospects split up a game as guest commentators alongside Al Shaver, then voice of the Minnesota North Stars. The two better-known talents each took a period and then the three longshots split up the third--with Strangis going last. When Al Shaver was asked who he liked the best, he chose Strangis. Ralph shone in his audition, with the perfect ability to complement Shaver's play-by-play with insights from the players and his own intimate knowledge of the game (Ralph played goalie, I think). When the Stars moved to Dallas, Shaver decided to retire, which gave Ralph the chance to move into the play-by-play chair.
Ralph and Razor have achieved a cult-like following in the city of Dallas. In a recent poll conducted by the Dallas Morning News, his most famous line was voted the most memorable moment in Dallas history. "Hull scores! Yes! Yes! Yes! The Stars win the Stanley Cup, the Stars win the Stanley cup!"
Strangis is active in the Dallas/Ft. Worth Metroplex. He serves as a motivational speaker, discussing his successful bout with alcoholism and drug addiction. He also appeared in the play Don't Dress for Dinner at a theater in Coppell, Texas, where he currently resides along with his wife Stephanie and daughter Savannah.
In the 2006 film Glory Road, Strangis has a speaking role as a courtside broadcaster.
