The Temple University Ice Hockey Club has a unique history. From playing at rinks inaccessible to students without cars to having a former goaltender dress up for the Philadelphia Flyers and Chicago Blackhawks, the club has a lot of stories.
While Temple Ice Hockey has had media teams broadcast games live, cover games and take photos for the past few seasons, this year the media team — composed entirely of Klein College students — has come into its own. Among the highlights is a new YouTube channel with highlights, interviews, live game coverage and archived games.
The team of seven Klein College students has also completed a website overhaul (www.TempleIceHockey.com) and social media reorganization (@TempleIceHockey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook). The group secured broadcast sponsorships with Pub Webb and Richie’s for the power play and penalty kill, which gave it a budget to purchase new equipment.
Every home game at The Rink at Old York Road is now broadcast live for free. The rink is 30 minutes from campus and the lack of public transportation options makes it a difficult place to get to. Before the team played there, it played at the Northeast Skate Zone 40 minutes away and at Revolution Ice, nearly one hour from campus. Eric Semborski, who backed up for the Flyers and Blackhawks when goaltenders Michal Neuvirth and Corey Crawford suffered sudden injuries, played at these rinks for the Owls.
The media team keep social media outlets like Twitter constantly updated with team news, game updates and multimedia tools like GIFs.
The group has recently been asked to broadcast the entire ECHA playoffs, Temple’s conference postseason tournament.
Broadcaster J.J. Michalski sees the media team as a great alternative to other outlets at Temple University.
“Most schools have a football team and they are covered by campus outlets, but the positions are usually covered by seniors,” he said. “It’s important to start getting involved as young as you can, because something like broadcasting Temple Ice Hockey game is a huge resume builder. “I was able to use some clips that I have produced thus far to put them in a highlight reel to send to possible employers.”
The friendships he has made through the media team has led to larger success.
“The media team really clicks when we are together,” he said. “As the season has gone on, we have bonded during the car rides to ‘The York’ and it’s made us better at what we do. If we are friendly with the people we work with, then it’s going to make for a better broadcast.”
As far as reporter Jay Neemeyer is aware, it’s the only media team dedicated to covering a club sports season, and the fact that it’s for the hockey team makes it even more attractive.
“My career goal is to be a hockey reporter,” Neemeyer said. “So this opportunity gives me experience in the exact field I want to work in following graduation.”
Photographer Justin Oakes, the newest member to the team, loves providing coverage to players that aren’t as popular to their versity counterparts.
“I think it’s a really great opportunity to get up close to action and work with college athletes that don’t always get the coverage that they deserve,” he said. “It’s been really rewarding to take great photos and have the players be so appreciative of it.”
Michalski highlighted why he thinks the media team is the best in club hockey.
“Temple Ice Hockey media is the best in club hockey,” he said. “The coverage we are able to give is second-to-none. We are all very dedicated to what we are doing, and it’s a hands-on learning experience. Sure, we’ve made our mistakes, but being able to have a broadcast going along with social media really hones in on what our skills are. Not to mention we do it all without the guidance of a professor.”
Note: Dylan Coyle, the author of this article, works with the Temple Ice Hockey media team.