Director of Broadcasting and Communications
Simonetta joined the Checkers in August of 2025 as the team's director of broadcasting and communications. He provides play-by-play commentary of all Checkers games, home and away, across the Checkers media network.Before coming to Charlotte, Simonetta held the same title with the Checkers' ECHL affiliate and another member of the Zawyer Sports and Entertainment group, the Savannah Ghost Pirates. As the team’s inaugural broadcaster for its first three seasons, Simonetta called 216 regular-season games as well as the 2024 Warrior/ECHL All-Star Classic on NHL Network. He also appeared on NHL Network and locally in the Charlotte market on WCNC for two games during the Checkers’ appearance in the 2024 Calder Cup Finals, providing play-by-play for Game 4 and color commentary for Game 5.
Prior to joining Savannah, Simonetta spent three seasons in the same role with the USHL’s Lincoln Stars. The native of Carol Stream, IL, is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Profile
HometownCarol Stream, Ill.
College and Major
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Journalism
Favorite sports team
Chicago Cubs
First hockey game
11/2/1997 — Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Chicago Blackhawks
If you could create a menu item for the Red Line Club, what would it be?
A Chicago-style hot dog!
Favorite memory with the Checkers
Hopping on the air for Games 4 and 5 of the Calder Cup Final in Abbotsford
Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?
One horse-sized duck