My adrenaline was pumping as I approached the Prudential Center. I went through the entrance designated for news media. I received press credentials to wear around my neck, with my name typed under the logo of the New Jersey Devils.
I had come to this game on Thursday, Dec. 12, for a rare experience. My professor, Dr. Nick Hirshon, had organized an outing for four students, myself included, to shadow sportswriters during a Devils game against the Los Angeles Kings. We would be spending the evening in the press box. I was very excited.
It had been a long time since my last hockey game. I’m a graduate student, and the last time I saw NHL action was in 1968 at the old Madison Square Garden, when I was just 6 years old. Back then, the stands were freezing!
Dr. Hirshon could not attend, for good reason: He had to be in Manhattan for his election as president of the Deadline Club, the nation’s largest chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Instead, our group was escorted by Professor Rob Taylor, the general manager of the campus radio station, and Dr. Hirshon’s friend, sportswriter Matt Blittner. I piled onto a private elevator to ice level with three other student journalists, Alexa Gabriel, Andrew Gavin, and Daniel Karp. We peered through the plexiglass and basked in the vibe of the energized crowd. No one wanted to leave!
We also met with Kings TV analyst Jim Fox, dressed in a spiffy pinstripe suit, and Associated Press reporter Allan Kreda. They encouraged us to ask questions. We were floored by how gracious and accommodating they were.
We received a special pre-game treat. It turns out that Pete Cannarozzi, a media technician at William Paterson, is also the Devils’ longtime organist. We went up to the section where he plays and chatted about his role in pumping up the fans.
Then, right before game time, we went all the way up to the press box. The buzz was thrilling: Broadcasters and technicians milling around, wearing headsets, editing videos, performing sound-checks.
Rock blared as the hockey players flowed onto the ice for introductions. They moved like a flock of choreographed, zigzagging birds. Once the game began, they raced for the puck, crashing into the boards.
We had a clear view of the rink from the press box. Professor Taylor said he was impressed by how we attentively watched the game and took notes, like the professional sportswriters around us.
“I loved the ability to connect and learn from journalists firsthand,” Andy told me. “I also loved the overall environment of being with other media. I learned a lot about how to write a game story.”
Blittner answered our questions between periods. He told me later that he wanted to “pay it forward” by mentoring us. I’m so glad he found a way to translate his childhood passion for sports into a career,
The Devils won the game, 3-1, behind goals from Ondrej Palat, Jack Hughes, and Brett Pesce.
Our group left inspired to become the next generation of reporters.
