Part of the working media

DETROIT -- Here I am, just a longtime hockey fan who happens to blog for NHL.com. Here I am, the Stanley Cup Finals are being held in my hometown, Detroit, for the second-straight season.

As I have stated in the past, I am not a journalist or a reporter, but I am part of the working media for the Stanley Cup Final. What should I do? My team, the Detroit Red Wings, is about to go head-to-head with the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday night and I have to work, if you call it that.

I don't have access to the traditional press box area at the Joe Louis Arena, that is reserved for the two cities that are involved along with some of the national media types. I have access to auxiliary seating, way up in the nosebleed sections of "The Joe," but last year I only sat there for about one period during the Final.

I do have access to the NHL.com working area, set up in the bowels of the arena with internet access, TV's to watch, popcorn to eat nearby, etc. I will spend some time there, but most likely I will be walking around the arena, just getting the feel of the fans and taking in as much as I can.

If you are lucky enough to be attending the game you may get a tap on the shoulder from me and I will be asking you for your opinion of the atmosphere at the "JLA." Don't worry though, I won't bother you during the play on the ice, but may catch up with you before the game and in-between periods.

After the game, I will join the other media members as they filter in the locker rooms and start doing their game stories. Just being in the same room with some of the legends of the media is actually mind-boggling to me. I am standing side-by-side with some of the heavyweights in the NHL media field and I am at times, awestruck.

I will also head into the large, but sometimes cramped, room for the post-game interviews, the same interviews you watch right here on NHL.com and the NHL Network. I will stand in the back, letting the real working media get their questions asked and hopefully answered. Most of these folks are dealing with a deadline and the quicker they can work, the better chances are they meet their deadline.

I on the other hand, can file a story whenever I want to, anytime day or night, seven days a week. I hope to be doing that throughout the Stanley Cup Final and will be presenting some off-beat stories and opinions from the fans about the game they love.

So if you see a guy walking around the arena, one with a starry-eyed look on his face and NHL.com credentials hanging from his neck, feel free to approach me and let's talk some Stanley Cup Final hockey.

If you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below or email me at [email protected].


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