Seattle City Wire

ROOT SPORTS has signed a five-year agreement to carry games for the Seattle Kraken.

The Kraken is the National Hockey League's newest franchise, scheduled to begin playing games in the 2021-22 season at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle.

ROOT SPORTS is a regional sports network in the Pacific Northwest.

Tod Leiweke | LinkedIn

"Our partnership with ROOT SPORTS gives our fans around the Pacific Northwest a home that is already familiar to them," Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Kraken, said in the release about the deal. "Their experience with the Seattle Mariners made them a great choice to build a broadcast that will be unique for our fans. Additionally, their broadcast distribution will help us ensure that Kraken games will be on at every sports bar around the Pacific Northwest."

Veteran NHL broadcaster John Forslund will join the organization to cover the games for ROOT.

Forslund's career began in 1991, calling games for the Hartford Whaler/Carolina Hurricane franchise. He also broadcasts national games for NBC Sports, a role he will continue outside of his duties with the Kraken.

ROOT SPORTS is a joint venture between AT&T Sports Networks and the Seattle Mariners that will broadcast 75 games.

The network's reach extends into Oregon, Alaska, Idaho and Montana in addition to the state of Washington, the Seattle Kraken organization said.

AT&T sports also carries NHL franchises, Vegas Golden Knights and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

ROOT serves as the home of the Mariners, Kraken, Seahawks, Portland Timbers, Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Big Sky Conference.

As a broadcaster, Forslund will join fellow announcer and radio play-by-play personality Everett Fitzhugh.

"John Forslund is one of the best broadcasters in sport. He always brings fresh perspective, and having him as a voice of our franchise is a big win for us and for our fans," Leiweke said. "He will play a role in introducing hockey to new fans and become a team ambassador for us."