Ken Daniels
A Speaker for Change

Career Highlights

Ken Daniels’ broadcast resume includes being a national TV voice on Versus/NBC and Amazon Prime Monday Night Hockey in Canada, two Olympic games, a local and national sports broadcaster for CBC TV (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation), Toronto Maple Leafs Radio play-by-play announcer, and now in his 3rd decade as the play-by-play voice of the Detroit Red Wings. 

His Olympic experience landed him a role as the “Olympic host” in the NBC Movie of the Week: On Thin Ice -The Tai Babilonia Story. He also appeared in a film with Tony Danza, The Philadelphia Phenomenon, and was a play-by-play voice for the CBS/CTV television program, Due South.

Daniels has won six regional play-by-play EMMY awards, including in 2019 for the Jamie Daniels Foundation “ONE TIME TELEVISED SPECIAL FOR THE ROAST OF BRETT HULL”, is a longtime active member of Detroit Sports Media and won the Ty Tyson Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting. Daniels’ book “If These Walls Could Talk: Detroit Red Wings” (Triumph Books) was released in October 2017.

Off the Ice

In 2016, Ken tragically lost his son Jamie to addiction, and he has since become a leading voice against predatory practices in the addiction treatment industry. 

Nine months after Jamie’s death, and no longer hiding behind the shame and stigma that addiction presents, Ken went public with Jamie’s story. It was a voice in the back of Ken’s head (who he believes was Jamie) who said, “Dad, it’s okay.” 

Jamie died due to a patient brokering scheme designed to bilk the insurance industry in the recovery business. In the state of Florida – where Jamie had gone for treatment – the practice has been especially rampant, as indicated through numerous FBI and state investigations, which has led to multiple arrests and convictions. Although laws have since been passed to curb these predatory practices, these crimes are still occurring today.

On the Stage

Ken delivers keynote speeches to remove the stigma of addiction and to educate and empower others in an effort to prevent this (and insurance fraud, which is also common) from happening to anyone else.

Drawing from his own personal journey and the challenges faced by countless families, Ken is committed to bridging the gaps between communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers. His advocacy goes well beyond the podium by actively collaborating with local leaders and experts to spark meaningful dialogue and systemic change. By highlighting both the emotional and practical realities of addiction, Ken strives to transform public attitudes—replacing judgment and misinformation with understanding and proactive support.

He and his family have established the Jamie Daniels Foundation, which not only supports individuals and families who are struggling with addiction by providing the education, resources, professional guidance, and support they need to make long-term recovery possible, but has also emerged as a leader in prevention and advocacy.

A Father's Mission

The Jamie Daniels Foundation

The Jamie Daniels Foundation was established to support individuals and families who are struggling with addiction. One life lost is one too many. The foundation focuses on education, resources and HOPE.

Over time, the foundation has grown by forging strong, strategic partnerships with numerous colleges, universities, and community organizations. These collaborations have not only broadened the reach of its educational initiatives but have also enhanced its recovery and stigma reduction programs. By working closely with academic institutions and local partners, the Foundation has been able to develop and implement innovative programs—from advanced collegiate recovery services to community-driven prevention efforts—that empower individuals to overcome the challenges of addiction. This expanding network underscores the collective commitment to transforming lives, ensuring every person has access to the resources and support they need for a hopeful future.

Jamie Daniels Foundation: Key Initiatives

Prevention

Create partnerships to educate and support communities in the prevention and misuse of drugs.

Recovery

Provide support for adolescents and young adults seeking recovery so they can strive to reach their full potential.

Stigma Reduction

Promote an accurate understanding of Substance Use Disorder to reduce the barriers associated with seeking help.

“Through these interconnected strategies, Jamie’s Foundation has woven together prevention, recovery, and advocacy to create a network of support that spans from local school districts to major universities. This work has made a deep impact on countless lives, ensuring that Jamie’s memory remains a beacon of hope—a reminder that the pain of loss can be transformed into a legacy of strength, healing, and community resilience.”

Ken Daniels, Jamie's dad

Some of our Successes!

  • Early Prevention Program for Parents 
  • Production of video and educational material for parents of elementary school children with state-wide distribution
  • Distribution of Drug Deactivation and Disposal Packets
  • 2000+ pouches distributed, w/capacity to destroy 90,000+ pills
  • “I am Me” App for Mental Well-being
  • 150,000 Students Impacted
  • Collegiate Recovery Programs: Reaching ⅓ of all college students in Michigan
  • Helped to Establish Adolescent Recovery Clinic for 18 & under (regardless of ability to pay)
  • Multiple Public Speaking Events
  • State and National News Stories
  • Fundraising Events like Celebrity Roasts and Comedy Nights, including:
    • Celebrity Roast of Mickey Redmond
    • Celebrity Roast of Scotty Bowman
    • Celebrity Roast of Brett Hull
    • Roast & Toast of Tomas Holmstrom & Nick Lidstrom
    • Comedy Night of Hope ’22
    • Comedy Night of Hope ’23
    • Hot Stove ’22
    • Host Stove ’25
    • Blossoms of Hope
  • Ken Daniels and Lisa Daniels-Goldman testified during the criminal trial and sentencing of Dr. Ligotti, who engaged in a Substance Abuse Treatment Fraud Scheme
  • Lisa Daniels-Goldman testifies before Congressional subcommittee on substance use disorder
  • Jamie Daniels Foundation given “Visionary Award for the Advancement of Collegiate Recovery” by the Association of Recovery in Higher Education (ARHE)
  • Ken Daniels honored by the Detroit Historical Society
  • Lisa Daniels-Goldman: Honoree at the FAN Women Honoring Women Gala
  • Lisa Daniels-Goldman honored as a Pillar in Business, Education, and Philanthropy by the Bates Street Society

Participate in our Annual Fundraisers for the Jamie Daniels Foundation!

This event raised over $300,000 in support of the recovery center for the Jamie Daniels Foundation in 2019. Read more about our past events on our news page!

Gallery

Author

Autobiography


In his book, "If These Walls Could Talk," Daniels shares his life of broadcasting...

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON


"To my beautiful son, Jamie: his life story never got to be written, but his 23 years could have filled 300 pages with joy, caring, laughter, and loyalty, as his years did for us."

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