With their 5-3 win over the Nashville Predators at the United Center on Sunday night, the Chicago Blackhawks were the first team to punch their ticket to the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Blackhawks took on the Predators for the third time in a span of seven days. The Blackhawks also maintained their perfect record against the Predators on the season, advancing to 4-0-0.
The Blackhawks drew first blood with an Andrew Shaw goal, his 8th of the season, at 6:34 in the first period. The goal was assisted by Michael Frolik and Niklas Hjalmarsson. However, Nashville forward Nick Spaling would tally a goal at 17:16 to tie the score before first intermission. Sergei Kostitsyn was credited with the assist.
The Blackhawks took the lead again in the second period with Bryan Bickell registering his 9th goal of the season at 2:09. Viktor Stalberg and Michal Rozsival were credited with assists. The lead was short-lived though with Shea Weber tallying his 9th goal of the season at 5:54. The goal was assisted by Spaling.
The Predators took the lead from the Blackhawks at 6:54 in the third period with a David Legwand goal, his 11th of the season. Assists went to Matt Halischuk and Weber. But at 9:37 Brandon Saad evened the score with his 9th goal of the season, assisted by Duncan Keith and captain Jonathan Toews. A mere 55 seconds later the Blackhawks captain would register a goal of his own, giving him 19 goals on the season and giving his team the lead. The goal was assisted by Duncan Keith and Shaw. Patrick Kane would put the game away with an empty net goal, his 20th of the season, at 19:29.
The win gives the Blackhawks a 29-5-4 record, while the Predators fall to 15-17-8. The Blackhawks will hit the road for a matchup against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday. Patrick Sharp is a hopeful to travel with the team.
The Blackhawks defeated the Predators for the 2nd time this week, this time with a 1-0 victory in Nashville. The only goal in the contest was registered by Bryan Bickell at the 5:31 mark in the 1st period. The goal was Bickell’s 7th on the season and was assisted by Michal Handzus. Blackhawks goalie Ray Emery made 20 saves in the game and registered his 2nd shutout of the season. The Blackhawks and the Predators will meet again Sunday night at the United Center.
Friday night was the final meeting of the season between the Manchester Monarchs and the Portland Pirates. The twelfth meeting of the season was hosted at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester. The teams also had an interesting promotion going on this season. VIP Parts, Tires, and Service hosted the VIP Cup between the two teams. Whoever came out victorious on the series as a whole won the inaugural VIP Cup. Coming in, the Monarchs needed a regulation win in order to earn the Championship.
The game got off to a chippy start, which was not all that surprising. After having played each other eleven times already during the season, there had been plenty of time for animosity to build up. The first penalty of the game came at the 2:40 mark to Justin Feser of Portland in his professional debut. However, the Monarchs could not convert on the man advantage, a pattern that would hold for both teams throughout the game.
About halfway through the first period, Chris Huxley of the Monarchs hit one of the Pirates hard into the boards. But, Boris Valabik was also on the ice and he took exception to the hit, immediately going after Huxley. Valabik landed a few punches before they both fell to the ice. With the size differential, it was not surprising that Valabik handled the situation easily. Manchester answered in their own way. Just 26 seconds after the fight, Hunter Bishop brought the puck into the Pirates zone and put it by Pirates goalie, Mike Lee. The net came off in the process, which meant that the goal would be under review. It was a good goal, though, and the Monarchs took the 1-0 lead to the first intermission.
“We talked before the game. We know their defense likes to pinch down a lot so we wanted to have a good cross support with our wings,” Bishop said of his goal and their offensive approach. “I felt like I had a good step on the guy so I decided to just take it to the net. Somehow it found a way in.”
The second period picked up right where the first left off. It was clear that there was still a lot of tension between the teams. Just three minutes in, the Pirates made it a tie game. Darian Dziurzynski set Brett Hextall up with a pass in front of goaltender Martin Jones and Hextall was able to easily put it in the net. Despite having 48 second two man advantage, the Monarchs were unable to solve the Pirates penalty kill. Instead, Phil Lane put one behind Jones to give the Pirates the 2-1 lead with about a minute and a half remaining in the period.
Manchester came out in the third showing that they were not ready to give up on getting a win. They had a couple good chances that they could not seem to capitalize on early even though they had a man advantage. Just six seconds after the penalty expired, rookie Jordan Weal tied up the game once more. He put the puck in the top of the net, over Lee’s shoulder after a pass from Brandon Kozun. That would be the closest the Monarchs got, though. Dziurzynski was wide open in front of the net for a rebound to put the Pirates up 3-2. Fesar picked up his first professional point with the assist on the goal. The Monarchs pulled Jones towards the end of the game but could not hold the Pirates off. Phil Lane scored his second of the night with the empty net and sealed the 4-2 win for the Pirates.
With the win, the Pirates also became the champions of the first ever VIP Cup. The team was awarded a trophy post game. At this point in the season, every game matters for those that are not atop their division in the playoff push. After last night, four playoff spots in the Eastern Conference have been claimed. The Monarchs host the division leading Providence Bruins tonight before heading down to Worcester for a matinee against the Sharks. Manchester will search to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Pirates, with the win, reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to 7.
Wilmington, Ma— The Boston Bruins hit the ice today at Ristuccia arena for practice, before departing for Montreal. It will be an original six match up tomorrow night with both teams fighting for 1st in the Northeast division.
Jaromir Jagr’s debut was note worthy, scoring the only goal in Boston’s 1-0 win against New Jersey on Thursday night. Perhaps lost in the shuffle was the debut of Kaspars Daugavins, who was claimed off waivers from the Senators last week. Daugavins first game with Boston may not have been a memorable one for fans; after all, it’s hard to compete with Jagr. The 24-year old will look to add offensive depth where he can for the remainder of the season. That opportunity could come on Saturday night when the Bruins face-off against the Canadiens.
“It’s gonna be fun,” said Daugavins about the much anticipated match up. “It’s a big battle, every second on the ice is like a war. For a hockey player it’s more fun than having a bad game out there.”
The Jagr wild fire continues to spread in Boston and the chances of it dying down anytime soon are slim to none. Fans can’t get enough of the legendary 41-year old forward. From clamoring to buy Jagr shirts in the Bruins pro shop pre-game Thursday, to cheering every time the Czech player touched the ice. For Jagr, the learning curve is in full force, after a whirl-wind week he’s still getting to know his teammates. Expect the unexpected from the newest addition to the Bruins roster as he experiences a true rivalry in Montreal.
Post practice video from Jagr on Friday:
Other notes from practice Friday, it looks like Chris Kelly is on the mend after suffering a tibia injury. Kelly is looking to get back into the line-up and traveled to Montreal with the team.
So, what’s on tap for Bruins fans? If you’re in the greater Boston area on Saturday, why not watch the game with a few other Montreal haters. The guys over at Bruins Daily and Days of Y’Orr are hosting a viewing party at The Harp. Admission is 21+, but it’s free! For more details on the event, click here.
The match up in Montreal kicks off another busy week for Boston, no surprise as the schedules are overwhelming for all teams in the NHL. Carolina Hurricanes skate onto Garden ice Monday, follow the game Boston will be hitting the road for a Wednesday night tilt against the Devils in New Jersey.
Thursday brings the New York Islanders to Bruins ice for “Military Appreciation Night”. To show their support for the armed forces, Bruins players Nathan Horton, David Krejci and Tuukka Rask, will each purchase $5,000 worth of tickets to the game to give to local military members and their families. In addition, Patrice Bergeron will host Defending The Blue Line in his private suite as part of his Patrice’s Pals program. Defending The Blue Line is a non-profit organization, which ensures children of military members are afforded every opportunity to participate in the game of hockey.
April showers, bring May flowers, is a thing of the past. April hockey, brings May playoffs and Boston will look to skate hard and continue their current 3 game win streak beginning at 7 pm tomorrow, live from the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Jagr, Jagr, Jagr has been the most talked about name in Boston since his acquisition on Tuesday afternoon. So it came as no surprise that the 41-year old forward received cheers upon taking the ice for his first game as a Boston Bruin facing off against the New Jersey Devils.
Despite a fantastic effort on Tuesday evening from Anton Khudobin- it was Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask that got the start. While Martin Brodeur was called upon to protect the crease for New Jersey.
It was announced late yesterday afternoon that Bruins Patrice Bergeron had suffered a concussion on Tuesday night and would be out for an unspecified amount of time. While the loss of Bergeron, a key player both on and off the ice- Jaromir Jagr skated in his place with Tyler Seguin and Brad Marchand.
With no goals for either team in the first period, it was Jagr who came out strong to score his 15th of the season, first with Boston at 1:20 of the second period (unassisted). It also ended up being the lone goal of the period.
Boston led New Jersey 1-0 heading into the third period, but the Devils looked to change the tides and began the period with a more upbeat stride. Despite their best efforts, they just couldn’t rebound, giving Boston the win, Tuukka Rask the shutout and Jaromir Jagr his first point in a black and gold sweater.
Trade Deadline/Trade Day is over and I haven’t personally been affected as a Devils fan by Trade Day since, well, possibly ever, mostly because Uncle Lou almost always makes minor moves at this time of the year — mostly trading away for a handful of pucks, draft picks, or picking up Ilya Kovalchuk. You know. No big deal at least on our part as a fandom of having to give up anything really important.
However, in my Sister Southern Western Division team (mouthful) the Nashville Predators — well. They (meaning the fans in this moment, but years from now, possibly the team as well) were not that lucky to get through the day unscathed. For those that don’t know, I love almost every Czech player ever, but there are very soft spots in my heart for the three main Czechs, dare I say, the holy trinity of Czechs (not counting goalies) — Patrik Elias, Petr Sykora and Marty Erat. If Sykora & Erat are/were considered hockey “twins” (the kinds of players who can connect at a level on and off the ice so great that they are ‘brothers from another mother’) then Erat and Elias are ‘older’ & ‘younger’ brother (for the sake of decorum, we won’t say which is which). My favorite Hockey’s Future article from 2001 has this gem:
In the summer Erat practiced with Patrik Elias again and the Devils “A-line” star gave him many tips how to succeed in the NHL. Martin felt he is NHL ready when he entered the Predators camp and he used the tips he got from Elias to avoid a demotion to the AHL. Martin really won a regular spot among the Predators forwards and even if he still waits for his first NHL goal, his sound offensive play with exceptional passing skills helps him to earn a solid reputation among NHL rookies. Let’s hope Martin Erat won’t wait for his first NHL career goal very long!
Marty Erat ended up being 2nd All-Time on the Preds franchise list in games played, goals, assists, and total points.
Needless to say, it felt like a punch to the chest to get the text “Marty is traded” while driving home from work. I barely get texts, let alone something that big that I had to park in a diner and go back and forth to find out what happened all while trying not to cry. It’s like losing a family member. But somehow worse… so it’s like divorcing and never getting to see an in-law that you’ve always loved as much because now everything is going to be painful and awkward when you see them.
It concerned me how badly this affected me — I mean, I’m a Devils fan. Trust me. Everyone but Patrik Elias leaves me in the end (and lets not even ever discuss what will happen in 2014 when his contract is up). It’s a litany of players; Jason Arnott, Scott Gomez (hey, hey, hey he was fine in the Devils system), Mike Rupp, Brian Gionta, Brian Rafalski, Petr Sykora, Scott Niedermayer… And those are just the ones that I liked (so it doesn’t even count Scott Clemmenson, Brian Rolston, etc).
But those were not so out of nowhere as Erat’s trade. I mean, Marty Erat wasn’t having a good season, but a lot of players aren’t in this messed up and weirdly scheduled half season. And Erat has had back problems in the past but as long as he’s not wearing his extra puffy weird back brace under his uniform that somehow always ends up exposed everything was cool so far this season. Erat and his wife have a 13-month-old son and have lived in Nashville (at least during the season) for around 12 years now.
So all these were thoughts ran through my head, freaking out, wondering what was going on with the Predators. …. and the Capitals but that’s another post for someone else to write.
It took a few hours from the original official reports for the real reason to come out. Marty Erat quietly went to David Poile 2 weeks ago and asked to be traded.
You hear that sound? It’s not me angrily breaking something in my house, it’s the sound of quiet sobbing.
I talked recently about the Devils going through a losing streak — however the Predators going into Thursday night’s game had the record of 15-14-8, 4th in the Central and they also have recently been going through their own “trade away pretty decent players (and Darcy Hordichuk who I will always love)” for awhile now. Last year while the team made it to the playoffs (and beat the Red Wings for the first time ever in the playoffs, which, lets be serious, is amazing) it was a team of rookies and newly acquired young guys.
Apparently the fans weren’t the only ones to notice such things.
“As a hockey player, [you’re] never going to get younger. You want to have a chance to play for a Stanley Cup every single year,” Erat said Thursday. “It was their choice. They [tried] to get younger, and that’s what happened there. For me, I want to play for a Stanley Cup, and that was my choice.”
And so he told GMGM David Poile that he wanted out and without telling anyone or any teammate (WHO WILL THINK OF SERGEI KOSTITYN, ERAT?) he knew his days were numbered.
Martin Erat came back for Nashville with a power-play goal at 11:36 when he redirected Josi’s slap shot from the blue line by Kiprusoff, who finished the night with 18 stops.
“I was happy for Marty. He’s such a big part of the Predators. This is his home. This is where he’s been a big, integral part. He had more joy in his game today. We talked about just going forward and not looking back,” stated Nashville Predators coach Barry Trotz. “I thought his line was really good today. His line was the catalyst for us today. They went head-to-head against their big line. Mike Fisher got a couple [goals] and Marty was really instrumental with three points. I was happy to see him break out a little bit and have a smile on his face.”
Sometimes the trade breaks your heart.
Sometimes the game breaks your heart.
And sometimes it’s just like the duet between Pink & Nate from .fun where he sings to her:
I’m sorry I don’t understand Where all of this is coming from I thought that we were fine…
The Blackhawks fell to the St. Louis Blues 4-3 on Thursday night at the United Center. The loss gives the Blackhawks a 27-5-4 record, while the Blues improve to 19-14-2 on the season with the win.
After a mostly quiet first period, the Blues struck first with Adam Cracknell scoring his first goal of the season at 16:03. The goal was assisted by Chris Porter and Ryan Reaves.
The Blackhawks would tie the score in the 2nd period, however, behind a Jonathan Toews goal at 3:18 (his 18th of the season), assisted by Brent Seabrook and Patrick Kane. After 5:45 Brandon Saad registered his 8th goal of the season, creating a three-game scoring streak. The goal was assisted by Toews. The Blackhawks outshot the Blues 16-5 in the period.
After 3:30 in the 2nd period Cracknell scored his 2nd goal of the night and the season, tying up the game. The Blues would take the lead back from the Blackhawks at 7:06 when David Backes scored his 4th goal of the season. The goal was assisted by Jay Bouwmeester and Alexander Steen. But, the Blackhawks would tie the score back up at 15:29 with Viktor Stalberg’s first goal in 14 games (7th of season). Michal Rozsival and Bryan Bickell were credited with assists.
The tie remained through regulation and overtime forcing a shootout. The shootout saw successful attempts from Toews, Chris Stewart, Kane, and Andy McDonald. Next you, Andrew Shaw and David Perron both failed to get the puck in the net. Marian Hossa and Steen would score before misses by Brandon Saad and Vladimir Tarasenko. New Blackhawk Michal Handzus would get the call next, although he did not register a goal, allowing Kevin Shattenkirk to take the game with the final shootout goal in the sixth round.
The Blackhawks’s next match-up will be against the Predators Saturday in Nashville.
Every hockey player hopes to get a shot to play professionally. It’s the dream that they are all chasing. Some players find their path straight to the NHL after having been drafted. But for many, it is a lot of hard work, dedication, and an unwillingness to give up. It is not an easy path, but any player who has taken it thinks it is worth it. Working hard for a dream makes it all that much better when the dream comes true.
A 6’1 defenseman, Derek Joslin was drafted back in 2005 in the fifth round by the San Jose Sharks while playing in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s. He finished out his four seasons in the OHL and joined the Sharks AHL affiliate at the end of his junior seasons. However it was not until he joined the Worcester Sharks for his rookie season in 2007-2008 that he was finally successful in recording his first professional goal. However, one of his most memorable moments was probably scoring his first NHL goal with San Jose.
“It was an amazing feeling. There are a couple things you dream about growing up,” Joslin said, thinking back to his first goal. ”One is obviously making it to the NHL and winning a Stanley Cup, the other is scoring your first NHL goal.”
While he is still looking to stick in the NHL permanently and make a run for the Stanley Cup, Joslin can definitely say that his first NHL goal was not one he will forget. It came against goaltender Andrew Raycroft and the Dallas Stars during the second period on December 13, 2010. Unfortunately, San Jose lost to Dallas in a shootout. Despite that, it is something he will never forget.
“San Jose does a great job when you score your first goal,” Joslin said. “They take the puck and make it into a bit of a trophy. It has the date and the time you scored and who assisted on it. I still have that trophy back home at my parents house.”
After having been involved in the Sharks organization since the 2005 draft, it had come as a surprise when San Jose traded Joslin to the Carolina Hurricanes during the 2010-2011 season. He had made a lot of friends and was comfortable in the system. It was his first season not spending any time in the AHL, but unfortunately, he was also scratched from the line-up quite a bit. Going to Carolina, where he did not know anyone, would be a tough adjustment at first.
“It was mixed emotions. But it opened doors for me in Carolina and I got to play more regularly,” Joslin said of his feelings on the trade. “It was nice to get a fresh new start.”
During the following offseason, the Hurricanes re-signed the defenseman to a two-year deal. However, Joslin was sick at the beginning of the season and had a hard time getting back to the NHL playing level. The Hurricanes went through a mid-season coaching change that ended up getting Joslin some playing time at a different position. Though he had always been a defenceman, he earned some time filling in at forward. It was not something he expected, and probably not a role he would look to have again, but it was good experience and he tried to help the team in any way he could.
“I played a couple games up front and Kirk (Mueller) liked what he saw and I ended up playing 15-20 games as a left winger,” Joslin said. “It was a different experience. But I still think I’m more valuable as a defenseman than a forward.”
Most players probably would not expect to find themselves back with the AHL team it all started with after leaving, but that is exactly what happened for Joslin. During the summer of 2012, he signed with the Vancouver Canucks. He had spent the entire season until being traded with the Canucks’ AHL affiliate, the Chicago Wolves. In an interesting move, the Canucks reassigned Joslin from Chicago to the Worcester Sharks. It is the first time he has been in teal since the 2010-2011 season. On the one hand, he had not heard any trade rumors circulating. In that sense, it was a surprise. It was not a surprise completely, though.
“I always kind of had a feeling that somewhere down the road I might end up with a Sharks jersey on again though,” Joslin said of the move. “I had some good years here and left with good terms with the organization and I still talk to a lot of people in the organization. I wasn’t surprised by that part.”
Before joining the Worcester Sharks for the end of the season, Joslin skated in 53 games this season with the Chicago Wolves. He is getting a chance at an unexpected time to return to the coaching staff that shaped him at the start of his pro career. It was easier to come back to Worcester in some senses than it had been to go to Carolina. There are a few names that are still around from his last stint in Worcester, including former San Jose roommate, John McCarthy and Nick Petrecki. He is also getting a chance to play with off-season training partner, James Livingston. Having familiar faces can make all the difference in a transition, especially late in a season.
“It’s been a nice smooth transition for me because the coaching staff is all the same from when I was here before. It didn’t take me long to get refreshed with the system the Sharks play,” Joslin said. “The guys have been great. It’s the exact same system as it was when I left. So, it hasn’t taken me much to settle in.”
Even though he has settled in quickly in Worcester, he knows that he cannot get comfortable. The NHL is the ultimate goal for him and he does not see any reason to stop working towards that goal. Since his last stint in Worcester, he says that he has come a long way. He has had the chance to play with different coaches with different systems. Those different experiences have rounded him out as a player. He knows what his personal keys to success will be going forward.
“I think the key is to stay focused and not get too comfortable,” Joslin said, determinedly. “I have to make sure I work on those things and keep an open mind. I need to be ready when that opportunity does arise.”
The key is to never give up on your dreams. Being in the AHL has been fun and a great experience for Joslin. As a good two-way player, he is valuable to his team. He is a player that can be responsible in his own end but can also lend offensive help on the power plays. It seems like only a matter of time before he finds his way to the NHL again. It just takes the one team with the right system that he fits into perfectly.
Riley Wetmore, senior captain of the UMass Lowell River Hawks. Photo by Krista Perry.
The UMass Lowell River Hawks may have only won five games just two season ago, but don’t call them just another Cinderella story. For a team that prides itself on playing gritty, team-first hockey, their story is less about fairy tales and more about working hard for one another.
With the stage set for the Frozen Four in Pittsburgh next week, the ‘Hawks are focusing on making their time in the Steel City a weekend trip. Lowell will face Yale at 4:30 p.m. on April 11 and look to leave it all on the ice. That means eliminating distractions, according to Head Coach Norm Bazin.
“They’re focused on the ultimate goal, and it’s my job to continue toward that effort,” said Bazin, who was named 2012 and 2013 Hockey East Coach of the Year. “It was certainly a season full of ups and downs…The second stretch was vital. These guys came out with strong results, and road trips to Maine and Vermont ending in sweeps was a heck of a start to a great run.”
Bazin said his team isn’t looking past any opponents in Pittsburgh, but feels confident in their record on the road.
“All four teams have equal opportunity to bring home a trophy … We are thrilled but we’re focused on what we need to do. These guys have been business-like in their approach and we are the best road team in the country. We play with discipline, we play hard, we play fast and that gives us opportunities to be successful on the road,” he said.
Senior Captain Riley Wetmore said he and his teammates are doing their best not to get wrapped up in the hardware they’ve already brought home: a Hockey East regular season championship trophy, a Hockey East playoff championship trophy and the two wins in the NCAA regionals in Manchester, N.H. last weekend.
“We’re just focused like we have been all year. We were happy with the Hockey East Championship but didn’t have time to celebrate it. Winning last weekend means we’re still playing and focused on the next game,” he said.
Wetmore said fan support at the NCAA Regionals gave the team the boost they needed to finish off the close games.
“It was surreal to look up and see the fans and (hear) chanting back and forth. It was an amazing experience,” he said.
Now the team will look to keep their excitement and emotions in check as their next game is a lengthy eight days away.
“I think it works out for us, we’re healing bumps and bruises and just looking forward to it,” said Wetmore. “There are only four teams in the country practicing right now, we’re just working hard every day. The three seniors are just enjoying practices and looking forward to the experience.”
The team’s success has not even fully sunk in for many of them, Wetmore said.
“We’re just happy to be playing, it’s surreal, people are seeing our beards and congratulating us but I feel like we need to go there and we need to play two games. We’re not letting it sink in, we have the summer for that,” he said.
Bazin said fostering a culture of accountability and responsibility has worked to motivate the players, and locker room chemistry has played a major role in the team’s success.
“It’s not always most talented or the fastest teams or more skilled teams that win (the national championship), it’s the best team. They play hard for each other I think the best team will win it,” he said.
Leaders such as Wetmore, Josh Holmstrom and Chad Ruhwedel, Bazin said, have set an example throughout the season and embody the character of Lowell Hockey: hard work, grit, and heart.
“There will be a new national champion this year, and we feel, why not Lowell?” said Bazin.
It doesn’t matter how you love the game, just that you love it. Perhaps you skate for the fun of skating, you’re a player, or maybe you’ve found that you’re better suited as a fan. For some of you, that will always be enough, while others may find themselves dreaming of something more. Chances are at some point in every hockey lovers life, the dream to become a rinkside reporter will skate through your head. It’s a dream held by many, pursued by few and achieved by a handful of women within the world of ice hockey.
Naoko Funayama, is a name that sports fans in New England are quite familiar with. While the Boston Bruins light the lamp, Funayama lights up the camera as the leading lady on NESN game in and game out. Sure, the position of rinkside reporter is a fantastic one, but it isn’t just game night duties. Practices, pre-game skates, charity events and travel, lots and lots of travel fall into the job description as well. Think you have what it takes?
The Pink Puck caught up with Funayama, who was kind enough to break away from her busy schedule to lend some insight on the sportscasting field, the increasing popularity of the sport among women, and of course her most memorable hockey moment to date. (If you’re a Bruins fan, you can probably already guess!)
The Pink Puck: What advice would you give to someone looking to get into sportscasting? How did you get into sportscasting?
Naoko Funayama: I’m often asked for advice and I’m never really sure what to say, because it seems everyone takes a different path to get to where they want to be. For me, it was a very traditional route, starting in a small market doing everything imaginable. It was such a fantastic experience to build character, skill, and work ethic, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But everyone’s lives take different turns, so I say embrace every opportunity that’s given to you, and just go for it.
Photo: NESN
The Pink Puck: What are some components to the job that people might not realize are part of the job? What attributes do you think someone should possess to be successful in this field?
NF: Television means working nights, weekends, long hours, and holidays. You miss seeing friends and family, weddings, birthday parties, baby showers, vacations….the list goes on. Some of the most talented people have left the industry because they don’t want to make those sacrifices anymore. But it can be that sacrifice that can make you successful, as well as versatility. Knowing how to do everything and anything — shoot, edit, write, report, anchor, produce — and being willing to do it all will open many doors. And DEFINITELY making time for food and coffee runs during the day is clutch.
The Pink Puck: What’s the best thing about being a Bruins rinkside reporter?
NF: I work with an amazingly talented, brilliant television crew and that is the absolute best thing — I love, love, love being part of a top-notch television team and product. And I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the hockey! That and the endless supply of M&Ms for the media at TD Garden.
The Pink Puck: How and when were you introduced to the sport of ice hockey? Did you play growing up or were you a fan?
NF: Got into it as a young teenager because I had friends that were really into it, and I was immediately mesmerized by how the sport could be so graceful and furious at the same time. And it is truly one of the most fun sports to play, ever.
The Pink Puck: What was a major deciding factor in leaving your job in New Hampshire to join NESN?
NF: It was a dream opportunity, to work in my favourite sport and to be able to see and talk hockey every single day. But I was in tears leaving the WMUR family because they are wonderful people who helped me so much to grow and to become the reporter that I am. Success and happiness working in television is directly related to the people you work with because it is such a “team job” that requires massive time commitment, and I took a risk, hoping there would be a good family here at NESN as well, and I was very lucky to be right.
The Pink Puck: How do you balance home life with the traveling demands of your career?
NF: What balance? Argh! You just reminded me my laundry’s half done!
The Pink Puck: What steps do you think women should take to further their acceptance within the hockey community?
NF: To be honest, I feel like they are already very well accepted. So many girls play hockey now– Tyler Seguin has two sisters that BOTH play hockey. There is also a huge hockey community of women in Boston that I like to call “the hockey mums” who have kids that play hockey, and have started to play hockey themselves in their adulthood. And believe me, they are REAL fans of the sport, of the Bruins, and know their stuff…well, you guys would know from your website!
The Pink Puck: Women are slowly incorporating themselves into professional sports- do you think a time will come when a female will play in the NHL again?
NF: Maybe? The young female athletes these days are no doubt wicked strong and super ripped, but I think it would be very hard for women to physically match up to the speed, strength and fitness level of a professional male hockey player. But you never know.
The Pink Puck: What do you do in the off-season?
NF: I sleep, eat right, golf, breathe, take over the household chores, and actually see my friends and family. And I work some Red Sox games.
The Pink Puck: What’s the most memorable hockey moment you’ve experienced to date?
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