Report Card Segment is coming!

Hello friends,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and/or Hanukkah. Now that the holiday is over it is time to get back to hockey.

Coming up this weekend I will be doing a "report card" feature- Mike McMahon and I will sit down and "grade" the Warriors through the first half of the season- "midterm grades" if you will. We'll look at each area of the team and Mike will give you his expert opinion on where the Warriors rank in each category.

I am also going to attempt to do the feature with my color analyst, Mike Machnik at some point this weekend as well. It will be fun to compare their answers. Both segments will appear here on the blog. You won't want to miss it!

Incidentally, if you'd like to check out the live broadcasts from Dartmouth this weekend, simply go to www.merrimackathletics.com and it is there that you will find the link to our live broadcasts. The live audio stream link can be found at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/merrimack-warriors-college-hockey . We will also be on 1400 AM locally and their feed is at www.megaboston.com (choose 1400 from the pulldown menu at the top).

This is the most exciting time of the year in college hockey- the second half and the stretch run. I hope you can be with us.

Happy New Year everyone!

Mark Dennehy Pre-Game Interview 12-17-11

Here is my pre-game chat with Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy, prior to the Warriors 3-1 loss to Union on 12-17. Click the link below to listen:

http://www.archive.org/details/MarkDennehyPre-gameInterview12-17-11

Music and why it is the biggest thing in my life

Music. Many of us have different feelings and associations about what it is. People love music, they relax to it, they use it to get through the day. For me, music serves so many important functions. It keeps me sane. Not only do I enjoy music for many of the same reasons that other people do, but it is directly proportional to my being happy. Let me explain why.

I am prone to negative thinking. It is a terrible habit and one I am always plagued by. Do you know how you can tell you're thinking negatively? By your mood. It's as simple as that- if you feel lousy, you're thinking to yourself harmfully. Time and time again I have proven this to myself. By the same token, if you feel great, you are thinking great things. Sounds simple doesn't it? Yet fixing the problem is a lot tougher than describing it. Here is the key to it all- the human brain can only focus on ONE THING AT A TIME. This cannot be disproven. And this is where music comes in.

When I sing and play my guitar, I cannot be in a bad mood. I can only focus on one thing at a time, and if I am singing lyrics or strumming those chords, I cannot focus on being in a bad mood. Music also changes your brain waves- it has a calming effect. Nect time you are having trouble sleeping, lay down with a pair of headphones and listen to some calming music. You will be asleep in no time. It works EVERY TIME for me.

I wish I could bring my acoustic with me wherever I go, but that is just not possible. The next best thing is the iPod. I have to allow music to fill my life at every turn. My father gave me my love of music and that is a gift I will never be able to repay.

One of my greatest dreams in life is to be able to gather in a darkened pub with great friends and just play music and laugh until 4 in the morning. That's my nirvana. Music and laughter...... imagine how awesome that would make you feel.

In the meantime, I'll continue to play and sing. When I feel blue and crabby, I'll reach for the one thing that I know will make me feel better-my guitar. Jimmy Buffett said it best when he wrote a song entitled " Tonight I Just Need My Guitar." That's all I need too. And if I'm successful at other things along the way, so be it. But you can bet that the success will be traced back to the singing and playing.

Keep the rafters ringing.

Mark Dennehy Pre-Game Interview 12-10-11

Here is my pre-game conversation with Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy prior to the 1-1 tie at Colgate on 12-10-11.

Click here to listen to the interview:

http://www.archive.org/details/MarkDennehyPre-gameInterview12-10-11

Mark Dennehy Pre-Game Interview 12-3-11

I had a chance as I always do to sit down with Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy prior to Merrimack's 6-1 loss to Providence. To hear coach's thoughts, click on the link below:

http://www.archive.org/details/MarkDennehyPre-gameInterview12-3-11

Mark Dennehy Pre-Game Interview 12-2-11

My pre-game chat with Merrimack head coach Mark Dennehy prior to the Warriors 2-1 OT loss at Providence on 12-2-11. To listen to the interview simply click on the link below:

http://www.archive.org/details/MarkDennehyPre-gameInterview12-2-11

Broadcasters Corner With Mike Logan

Here is my latest Broadcaster's Corner segment with Providence College broadcaster Mike Logan. Mike and I sat down for our chat prior to the Warriors 2-1 OT loss at Schneider Arena on December 2. To listen to out interview, please click on the link below:

http://www.archive.org/details/BroadcastersCornerWithMikeLogan12-2-11