MANKATO, Minn. – Radio Mankato and Minnesota State Athletics have announced the hiring of Matt Dean to be the next play-by-play radio voice of Maverick men's hockey.
 
Dean brings extensive radio broadcasting experience to Minnesota State, having served as the play-by-play voice of the St. Paul Saints baseball team, Triple-A affiliate of the Minnesota Twins on KFAN-Plus in the Twin Cities since April, 2023.
 
In addition to the Saints, Dean worked with North Metro TV in Blaine as a play-by-play voice and studio host for the community TV station, which covers prep sports at Blaine, Centennial and Spring Lake Park High Schools. Sports included soccer, football, volleyball, hockey, basketball, baseball and lacrosse during the school year. He also has experience working multi-camera shoots with a producer and director, replay, color commentary and studio-hosting.
 
Educated at University of Wisconsin, Dean earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Life Sciences Communications & Ag Business Management in 2015. He began his broadcasting career with the Charleston RiverDogs (Single-A, New York Yankees) in Charleston, South Carolina as Director of Broadcasting & Media Relations from 2015-19.
 
Dean takes the reins at Minnesota State after Mike Sullivan, radio play-by-play voice for the last 24 years announced his retirement from Radio Mankato in June. He called 914 Minnesota State men's hockey games.
 
"I am thrilled to take on the role of the 'voice of the Mavericks' and get started this Fall," Dean said. "Not only is it an opportunity to call Division I hockey, but also a chance to broadcast games for a top-tier program and paint a picture on the air for a passionate audience of Maverick fans in one of the best markets for college hockey in the country. I'm eager to get started and work with the terrific team at KTOE, Coach Strand and his staff, and the Athletic Department at Minnesota State. I am grateful to have been selected for the role as I step into some big shoes left behind by a legendary broadcaster in Mike Sullivan."
 
Fans can hear Dean on the airwaves of KTOE AM 1420 all season as well as online. The Mavericks begin the 2024-25 campaign at the University of Michigan on Oct. 4-5 at Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. MSU finished last season 18-15-4 and made it to the semifinal stage of the CCHA Mason Cup Tournament under first-year head coach Luke Strand.