For me, it's always been hockey and it's always been the Rangers. It is a dream come true to cover the team that I have watched for 20 years.
Ever since I could remember, all I wanted to do was be in the NHL. Not just because of the game itself. I fell in love with the entire production.
Fun fact: The first pair of skates I ever wore were Barbie Roller Blades. My older sister, Jordyn, apparently showed me the ropes.
As a kid, every day after school the first thing I would do after throwing my backpack down is put on my roller skates and grab my wooden Koho stick, then wheel around my basement and pretend that I was Mark Messier.
But it wasn't until my first game at Madison Square Garden that I really found out what loving hockey meant. I wasn't drawn to scoring goals or getting into a fight, but rather to what the players were able to do to the crowd.
There's something incredibly special about 19,000+ people singing a goal song together in unison or fans chanting a player's name repeatedly like "Avery! Avery! Avery!" after Sean Avery would do something theatrical. Those are the little things that made me love the game.
I was that 7-year-old kid that hung over the railing where the Rangers walked out just to get a fist pump from Petr Nedved or Eric Lindros, and to this day, I haven't lost that initial feeling.
Luckily for me, I was fortunate enough to further my playing career and get to the Division I level. I spent my Freshman and Sophomore year at UMass-Amherst, playing alongside some of the familiar names in today's NHL like Cale Makar and Mario Ferraro.
I eventually went on to transfer to Mercyhurst University for my Junior and Senior year, which is where my passion for media was born after spending a season in the stands as a Red Shirt. That year I was unable to participate in games due to NCAA rules, which as it turns out, happened to be a huge blessing in disguise.
I had the opportunity to intern for the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League my Senior year, which helped me learn the ins and outs of social media.
Once I recognized that my playing days were coming to an end, I decided to dive deep into the NHL media world, but I had no clue how to navigate it. I started my own podcast, wrote my own blog, and did whatever I could just to get my name out there.
I was a sponge. I spent hours and days reaching out to the people in the industry that I looked up to and had aspirations to emulate someday. I feel very fortunate that those initial conversations have now blossomed into friendships.
That's the true beauty of the hockey community, paying it forward and giving back to the game that gave us so much joy as kids.
I have been fortunate enough to work with Bleacher Report and the NHL, hosting shows as a Studio Analyst and as a Content Creator, but I am ecstatic to have the opportunity to add to my coverage of the New York Rangers.
What I love most about this game is the storytelling and the bond that we all have with one another through being fans of the sport. That is why I feel very fortunate to be a part of The Hockey News. An outlet where I can share stories and continue to mold the bond between players and fans.
I have been super fortunate to have played with some incredible players that are currently in today's NHL. I aspire to shine a light on their personalities, while also providing the best information and knowledge that I can.
Cue Baba O'Riley, let's get this show on the road.