From Podcasting to Journalism: Year One of Covering the Texas Stars

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

[Ed. Note: Chris Chambers continues our series of postseason reflections from our cadre of first-year writers. Check out the others under the label 'postseason reflections'.]

For over five seasons, I’ve co-hosted Starcastic Remarks, a Dallas Stars podcast that sounds like you accidentally joined a call between three brothers ranting about their favorite hockey team, because that's exactly what it is.

We throw out wild takes, we argue over nonsense, we even say blatantly wrong things sometimes, and yet, it’s always a blast. Some people even find it enjoyable to listen to. My first year at 100 Degree Hockey has been the complete opposite side of that same coin, but I love it just the same. 

Stephen’s call for writers last summer came at the perfect time. The sting of Dallas’ playoff elimination had faded away, and I was already missing hockey again. In fact, I had just researched Texas Stars season tickets and determined it would not be a prudent purchase for a recent college graduate.

However, working for 100 Degree Hockey allowed me to barter for a seat in the building with my time rather than money. That, along with the opportunity to talk to and learn from the players, coaches, and insiders who know way more about the sport than I do, was something I could not pass up. 

Talking to former head coach and new Dallas Stars assistant coach Neil Graham after every game was eye-opening in many ways. His passion and understanding of the game was always evident, and as Nicholas pointed out in his post-season story, he was never shy about getting after us for some of the questions we asked. Almost always followed up with a kind smile or pat on the back, of course. 

Surprisingly, I really appreciated it when Neil would push back. It showed that our questions were at least slightly uncomfortable to answer, which meant I was doing my job well. If we never ask a tough question, then we might as well let the Stars’ marketing team do the interview. 

When I joined 100 Degree Hockey, I was immediately impressed by the professionalism that Stephen has built into the organization. Style guides, mission statements and a dress code are just a few of the examples to show that this wasn’t just about fun and fandom (it is … but not JUST that), it’s important work that would not be undertaken if not for 100 Degree Hockey. 

For the majority of the season, we are the only independent media entity covering the Texas Stars. Of course, that is partially due to the non-traditional market in which the Stars operate, but other AHL teams in similar markets get covered a lot more by traditional media outlets. For as good as the Texas Stars have been lately, that's a real shame. 

That's where we come in. Since this team does not get the coverage it deserves, we are there to fill the gap. So, whether you're a Dallas fan curious about a prospect's progress or you're a die-hard who doesn’t miss a game, 100 Degree Hockey provides the insight that would otherwise not exist. 

That's why we are much more professional than your typical hockey blog, because there is no replacement for the independent reporting and journalism that we do. 

That’s not to say that podcasts and speculative blogs don’t have their place. Sports exist for entertainment, and if something tangential to the sport makes it more entertaining, that’s beneficial for everyone involved. It gets fans more excited for games, it gives players more publicity, and that generally drives more revenue to the team. So don’t expect the podcasts to stop anytime soon, because Dallas has plenty of full-time reporters doing the hard work, so I’ll keep goofing off with my brothers. 

While the year was full of laughs with new hockey buddies and spectacular highlights that I won’t soon forget, my biggest takeaway from my first season is that my new favorite hobby is also incredibly important work. I came into the year just looking to satisfy my hunger for hockey, and I'm leaving with a sense of responsibility to cover this great team to the best of my ability.