From left to right: Terrie Lindsay, Krzysztof Macias, and Rob Lindsay. (Submitted photo/Rob Lindsay)

By Nolan Kowal

Perfect match

P.A. announcer having blast as billet for Raiders forward Macias

Oct 12, 2023 | 3:10 PM

Rob Lindsay is a familiar face and voice around the Prince Albert Raiders organization.

He started working with the team 24 years ago as the guy with the microphone in the crowd giving away prizes before transitioning into the public address announcer role which he still holds today.

This year, Lindsay and his wife Terrie decided to take their involvement with the team to another level.

“My wife Terri said to me a number of years ago, ‘Should we billet, should we billet?’ And it’s like, ‘Well, we’re kind of busy and I’m a shift worker.’ Hummed and hawed about it over the last couple of years and then I guess she kept on me even more and more,” Rob Lindsay said.

“Then this year I said ‘Okay okay I’ll get ahold of Dean Friedt who’s in charge of billeting.’ So I shot him a quick text and actually it happened so quick, it’s amazing.”

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A few days later Lindsay and his wife were matched up with Raiders import draft pick Krzysztof Macias of Poland. Rob Lindsay cooked him a special meal to welcome him to Canada for the first time.

“I barbecued him the biggest steak the first night for supper, potatoes on the barbecue. It was a beautiful fall day,” Lindsay said. “We got to know him quite well and he’s fit in very well with our family and I appreciate Curtis (Hunt) and Dean Friedt for finding us a great billet that’s a perfect fit for me and my wife.”

(Submitted photo/Rob Lindsay)

Lindsay added that he’s learning some Polish words as a bonus and that there’s really not much of a language barrier at all.

“He speaks darn good English because his mom is an English teacher in Poland and she speaks amazing English. We keep in touch with her quite a bit,” said Lindsay, adding that the Macias family plans to come to Prince Albert sometime in the new year to take in a game or two at the Art Hauser Centre.

And Lindsay said he’s picked up on a new sport thanks to the young forward.

“I’m teaching him football, NFL, and CFL. He taught me some tennis,” said Lindsay, who has two sons of his own. “I wasn’t much of a tennis fan but he is. He said he’s played some tennis all over in Poland and he watches it quite regularly. So we sit and we watch tennis…never thought I’d say that.”

“He becomes part of the family absolutely, with everything.”

On the ice, Macias has been impressive so far this season. He recorded a hat trick in a 6-2 win over Red Deer and sits second on the team in scoring with six points in seven games.

“Very good skater, very smart. That’s one thing you can’t teach is hockey smarts. Well, he’s got it, Lindsay said. “Boy, I’ll tell you what…I think he’s on his way.”

For Lindsay, who works as a police officer in Prince Albert when he’s not at the rink, his connection with Macias is just the latest highlight in a lifetime of memories with the green and gold.

“The Raiders have been a part of my life for 24 years now,” Lindsay said. “Looking forward to many many more. I’ve seen a lot of great moments over the years.”

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nolan.kowal@pattisonmedia.com