Meet Matthew Mugno

About 60 years before I was a thought, Kevin O’Leary and Diane Mitchell attended a hockey game. It was the two Brooklynites' very first date. They are my grandparents.

I eventually came along. I couldn’t speak until I was three years old. I couldn’t read until the second grade. I drew my letters backward. In my early development, everything was delayed.

But I loved to tell stories. I was the biggest nerd. I’d draw and make up stories about Transformers and Godzilla. At age 6 my dad showed me our camcorder, so I’d go on to make movies with friends.

At age 11, I thought it was fascinating that Henrik Lundqvist wore a baseball glove and a huge foam cube on his other hand. What game is this? As I began to watch, the Rangers would go on their first of many long playoffs runs.

My family would sit in the same seats with our own superstitions to watch the Rangers as I grew up, with my grandfather in attendance. My aunt also attended and took my brother and me to countless games, including the 2018 Winter Classic. 

For how great my childhood was, I hardly had a skill or talent that was natural. I began skating and worked tirelessly to just compete. That was all I wanted. Scoring a goal seemed like the most fun thing in the world.

I’d do that at the Rangers youth camp, where I’d sacrifice birthday bank to score on a Keith Yandle assist, be partnered with Lucas St. Louis, play with my idol Chris Kreider, and talk hockey in warm-up laps with Stephane Matteau.

By my senior year of high school, any level above me was out of reach. I had the idea of raising money for ALS, my class cause, where I began the evening with a speech. I realized there was more to hockey than just lacing up the wheels.

Facing a few obstacles in high school and college, my comfort was working on things I enjoyed. I did well enough with film with guidance from my video teacher, and eventually in sports media to consider one for my livelihood. Which would it be?

When the Quinnipiac Bobcats did the unthinkable at the 2023 Frozen Four tournament, eight months of reporting culminated in broadcasting the game for the radio station. The call was featured on Bill Pidto’s MSG 150.

The opportunity to work for The Hockey News is a dream come true, and I see how fortunate I am to report on my childhood favorite team.

Now, 60 years after my grandparent's first date was at the old garden, I will be unearthing tales of the same hockey organization at the world’s most famous arena.

Scoring was fun, but now my goal is to add to this community, as my mother and father taught me from a young age. Hockey has always been bigger than the game within the boards, that’s what unites people. Starting with writing letters the right way…