"Game on" for mentee's NHL rink side shadow

By Communication mentee Meghan Rock
(Steve Rushin, Jour '88, mentor)

After attending a MUAA Mentor Program workshop in November, I learned there was a mentor who worked for the Nashville Predators. With the dream of working in the NHL as a rink side reporter, I reached out to Bob Kohl, senior director of broadcasting and entertainment for the Predators. Through a phone conversation, Bob and I talked about everything from camera angles to tips on how I can look more comfortable on camera. Toward the end of the phone conversation, I mentioned this was the career I wanted to pursue and as it turned out while I was home during winter break, the Nashville Predators were coming to Philadelphia to face the Flyers. Bob provided me with a credential and the opportunity of a lifetime to shadow Lyndsay Rowley, the rink side reporter for the Predators on Fox Sport Tennessee.

From the moment I walked into the broadcasting booth, I felt as if I had met Lyndsay. She was very outgoing and willing to share how she got to where she is today and anything else I wanted to know. The first thing I learned while shadowing Lyndsay was how she prepares for the pregame show on Fox Sports Tennessee. We went through the pregame show broadcast outline, as well as key points and what she learned in morning skate. After approximately 30 minutes of preparation, it was go time. I had the opportunity to watch Lyndsay do the pregame show. During the pregame show, I had an IFB (ear piece) that was split with Lyndsay. Therefore, I was able to hear what the director or producer was saying in her ear during the broadcast.

After the pregame show wrapped, we headed down stairs to the remote “studio.” Within the “studio” Lyndsay and I watched the game from a monitor with IFB’s in our ears. Through my IFB that was split with Lyndsay’s, I was able to not only hear the director and producer, but the play-by-play commentator and color analyst. Moreover, Lyndsay had a broadcasting (show) template in which she followed to do her “hits.” Lyndsay’s first hit was from the Zamboni tunnel up against the glass. As Lyndsay did her “hit” I observed from the side. Moreover, during the period intermissions, I had the opportunity to observe Lyndsay interview both players and a coach. Last, during the first half  of the third period, I sat in the broadcasting truck and observed the director and producer produce a NHL broadcast. During my time in the truck I observed different camera angles being called out, as well as key highlights being noted.

The opportunity to shadow a rink side reporter for the NHL was an exciting real world experience. I am going to take what I learned while shadowing and apply it to future sideline reporting at Marquette, as well as incorporate some pointers I learned from the production side of things into Golden Eagle Sports Report and Marquette Athletics broadcasts.

2018-19 MUAA Mentor Program Resource Guide