FOX TV Highlights the Hockey Blog

The news staff at FOX-17 did a feature piece on the Blog last night, and I have to tell you: high school hockey fans must be watching FOX. I woke up this morning to dozens of voice mails, emails and comments about the piece. Unfortunately, I didn't see it because I was already asleep (this flu bug is kicking my butt!). If you'd like to see the piece, it is on the Fox website.

Thanks to reporter Matt Kucinski for taking the time to do the story, and to Fox 17 sports anchor Tim Doty, sports director Brent Ashcroft and news director Tim Dye for all their support in covering Prep hockey in West Michigan. They've raised their game this season, as have other print and broadcast reporters throughout West Michigan. As I've said before, if you see a cameraman, photographer or reporter scribbling notes at the rink, tell them the same thing you tell me: "Thanks for coming out. We really appreciate your time." The more they come out, the more visibility hockey will get. Not to get all hokey, but I dream of the day when every rink in West Michigan is rocking with high school hockey on Friday and Saturday nights, and there are 2-3 local kids being considered for Mr. Hockey each year.

As I said in the FOX interview, there's good hockey -- actually, a friend pointed out, I pronounced it "haahkey" -- here in West Michigan, but our kids are kind of treated like the redheaded stepchildren by the hockey establishment east of Brighton. It's not because they're bad guys or anything. What I'm finding is they just don't have the time and resources to find out who the best teams and players are in West Michigan.

That is changing. I'm getting unsolicited emails from coaches and hockey writers over in Detroit, asking questions about games, players and teams. And the best evidence is on the schedule: There are seven West Michigan teams playing in the prestigious Trenton Showcase next weekend - the most West side teams ever, tournament organizers say. And one of those games, featuring my Grand Rapids Catholic Central Cougars, is generating a lot of buzz because it's against the equally talented Brother Rice and it's at 4 p.m. on Friday at the Main Rink. That is, I'm told, a true showcase game that many scouts, coaches and players from other teams plan to attend. That said, the players and coaches from the other six West Michigan teams -- Forest Hills N/E, Kentwood, Mona Shores, Portage Central, TC Central and TC West -- deserve plenty of kudos for their invitations and will no doubt garner attention for their play, as well.

Anyway, the publicity is nice, and I hope it makes more people aware of the site and the true stars of the WMHSH Blog: The 650+ hockey players and coaches competing at the varsity level as well all the parents, fans, refs, rink announcers, scorekeepers and (special shout out) all the correspondent bloggers who make my Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights so enjoyable.