What created so much interest in the sport of hockey?
If you are talking from a personal point of view,hockey has been in my blood from the very beginning. My father,wanting to be balanced in the way he raised his children,always included me in the various game night trips,whether it was hockey,CFL football,or baseball. Then,in grade seven,my class won a trip to watch a Maple Leafs practice and then got to meet them afterwards for autographs and general discussions. That was the day I got hooked and hockey moved to the number one position on my favorite sport list. The power the sport has in society has always fascinated me and now to be a part of it is...well,eye opening.
Do you have any brothers or sisters that play hockey?
I have two brothers. One older (by two years) and one tounger (by four years). Our household,however,was not raised on hockey as its playing sport of choice. Each of us played basketball pretty much year round when we werent pursuing other activities. But then when your brothers are 6'4" each it is easy to see why. Actually,now that I think about it,none of my immediate relatives play hockey. Though I did just learn that I have a cousin who plays in this League. i met him for the first time on January 5th when Birmingham (his team) was here to play us.
How long have you worked for the Tiger Sharks organization?
This is my first official season with the Tiger Sharks. I moved to Tallahassee in August of 1999 to pursue my Master's at Florida State University. Realizing I could not give up hockey,I came over to the Tiger Sharks' office and pretty much said,"you cant pay me but I really want to work for you." Luckily,Kyle was gracious enough to let me work with/for him in all media and public relations area and the rest just sort of developed from there.
Besides the successful Puck Pal program,can you tell us what you are responsible for?
Listing all the various duties I oversee might be just a little overwhelming for the readers. In a nutshell we can say that I am the Director of Communication and Team Affairs. Some of the tasks for which I am responsible include all team related communications to the media,League Office,and fans; assisting Mike Bennett with content for the team web-site;oversee team affairs such as travel,player movement,housing and scheduling;handle game day operations as they relate to the Off-Ice Officials (who do an amazing job for us),On-Ice Officials,home and visiting teams. It is also sometimes hard for people to overlook the fact that I am female and in my position with my own thoughts. Though women have come a long way in society,the world of sport and hockey especially,I have come to realize in the last few years,is still having some trouble accepting strong willed femails in the workplace,and I am not just referring to this team or League.
What do you like to do in the off-season?
What off-season? When I do have time to take a break from hockey,I go home to Italy to visit my family.
Who is your favorite NHL player?
That is another interesting question. I dont really have a present day favorite player. These days I am more interested in the overall team,the lines,the systems,and the match-ups. I pretty much have a player choice on each NHL team for different reasons so choosing one would be hard to do.
What is your favorite NHL team?
Being a Toronto native that answer is obvious...TORONTO! If you can live through the harsh '80's then there is no turning back.
Coming from Canada,what kind of adjustments did you have to make to live in Tallahassee?
Moving to Tallahassee was not the culture shock many people,including myself,were expecting. I was pleasantly surprised by the graciousness of all the people that I had met in my first days and loved the palm trees in my front yard. My biggest adjustment,and it continues today,relates to the different vocabulary and speech patterns used. While with FSU's Women's Basketball last season,we used to have laughing marathons when we couldnt understand what we were trying to say to each other. Each day gives me something new to learn.
Once you receive your Master's Degree in Spro Managment,will you further pursue a career in the sport of hockey?
I received my Master's during the summer having completed the program at FSU in ten months. Right now I am where I want to be,notwithstanding all the bumps and bruises it took to get here. What the future holds is still being debated at this time. All I know for sure is the journey is going to be interesting as the final destination still needs to reveal itself.
What do you think about the ECHL?
When I saw my first ECHL game last season,I was pleasantly surprised by the level of play in the League. I grew up watching NHL and Canadian University hockey,both sustems very different. I wasnt sure what to expect the first time out but I had not given it the credit it richly deserves. The players and coaches around this League all strive to be the best at their job and there is no doubt in my mind that this League has been an important stop in the lives of many players. As a developmental league,it is providing many players the opportunity to grow and reach their ultimate goals.