Hello to all my friends in Western Michigan.
I am sure you all know by now that I am no longer the voice of your Kalamazoo Kings. It was a very sad day to decide to leave. I will miss Kalamazoo and the Kings more than you will ever know. Two offseasons ago, after the North Shore Spirit closed their doors for good, I needed a team to step up. The Kings did just that, and I will always be grateful to Joe Rosenhagen and Fran Riordan for bringing me in. It was a very special two years.
My decision to leave had nothing to do with the team, the fans, or my co-workers. All of you were great. I had heard rumors that the Kings were possibly going to scrap radio coverage for next year, and I inquired about it. The uncertainty of the radio situation forced me to look elsewhere. Consequently, I landed in Florence for 2010.
I don't know why the Kings wanted to change their radio approach from last year. It was a good model. We reached out to more fans last year than ever before with our video and audio broadcasts. It seemed like the way to go for this year too.
Anyway, I wanted to thank all of you for your friendship and your support over the last two years. I will miss you all. Kalamazoo will always hold a special place in my heart. I am looking forward to coming back to town in mid- August with the Freedom.
Keep in touch K'zoo!
With warmest regards,
John Leahy
Monday, February 22, 2010
Merrimack Hockey is Back On the Map
How exciting it is to be a part of the Merrimack hockey culture right now. We are witnessing some exciting hockey in North Andover, MA. Five years ago, when I took over as the voice of Merrimack hockey, the Warriors were a team in disarray. Mark Dennehy came in and has rebuilt this program into a contender. I think the most important thing Coach Dennehy has done is not only re-shape the culture of Merrimack hockey, but also he has created a new image for this hockey team. When you are a visiting team coming to Merrimack, you know you're in for a long hard battle. Merrimack has the best home record in the country, and that is no accident. No longer is Merrimack viewed as a pushover. They have earned respect around the league.
This team expects to win. Just competing is not enough anymore. Confidence and resiliency are the new watchwords around North Andover. Making the playoffs is the next logical step for this team, but just making it will not be satisfying enough. Merrimack, if they get there, will expect to win, whomever they play.
And I bring that same confidence to the booth. When I arrive at the arena I expect to have a good broadcast. I have crossed every t and dotted every i. The more prepared I am, the better my broadcast will be for my audience. They deserve the best, and I will always give my best.
There will be a stiff test tomorrow night at Boston College. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I can tell you this.... Merrimack will come to play for the full 60 minutes. After all, it's the new norm for Merrimack College hockey.
This team expects to win. Just competing is not enough anymore. Confidence and resiliency are the new watchwords around North Andover. Making the playoffs is the next logical step for this team, but just making it will not be satisfying enough. Merrimack, if they get there, will expect to win, whomever they play.
And I bring that same confidence to the booth. When I arrive at the arena I expect to have a good broadcast. I have crossed every t and dotted every i. The more prepared I am, the better my broadcast will be for my audience. They deserve the best, and I will always give my best.
There will be a stiff test tomorrow night at Boston College. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I can tell you this.... Merrimack will come to play for the full 60 minutes. After all, it's the new norm for Merrimack College hockey.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Hi everybody and welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to my brand new blog. I have had the good fortune of reading other blogs created by my colleagues and have enjoyed reading what they have to say, so I figured I'd give it a shot and enter the blogosphere.
If we haven't met before, I broadcast sports for a living, and feel truly blessed to do it. After working for the Kalamazoo Kings baseball club for two years , and the North Shore Spirit prior to that for three, I will be settling in Florence, Kentucky this summer to become the new voice of the Florence Freedom in the Frontier League. I also broadcast college hockey in the winter months, doing college hockey in my native Massachusetts, broadcasting for Division 1 Merrimack College out of North Andover, MA, in Hockey East.
But this will not strictly be a broadcasting blog. It will cover everything. Everything from music to current events to bragging about how I feel like I have the best friends and family on the planet.
I'll look forward to hearing from you. Bring your blogging game. It's on!
If we haven't met before, I broadcast sports for a living, and feel truly blessed to do it. After working for the Kalamazoo Kings baseball club for two years , and the North Shore Spirit prior to that for three, I will be settling in Florence, Kentucky this summer to become the new voice of the Florence Freedom in the Frontier League. I also broadcast college hockey in the winter months, doing college hockey in my native Massachusetts, broadcasting for Division 1 Merrimack College out of North Andover, MA, in Hockey East.
But this will not strictly be a broadcasting blog. It will cover everything. Everything from music to current events to bragging about how I feel like I have the best friends and family on the planet.
I'll look forward to hearing from you. Bring your blogging game. It's on!
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