A Shot and a Goal

Interview with Clay Matvick, multi-sport play-by-play announcer for ESPN. Matvick has been with ESPN since 2006 and called the Women's Frozen Four in 2021, the event's first time being televised by the Worldwide Leader. On this podcast, Clay talks about remote broadcasting, calling the fabled Minnesota high school hockey tournament, and not knowing much about hockey at first growing up in the US's most hockey-crazy state.

You can follow Clay on Twitter @claymatvick. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Austin Rooke, play-by-play announcer for the American Hockey League's Providence Bruins. Rooke grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Marquette in 2017. On this podcast, Austin talks about being a second-generation broadcaster, working for his hometown team, and interacting with other announcers in the league.

You can follow Austin on Twitter @RookeVoice. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Andrew Smith, broadcaster for the ECHL's Indy Fuel. Smith has been the play-by-play voice of the Fuel since 2018, but his day job is as a high school teacher in the Indianapolis suburb of New Palestine. On this podcast, Andrew talks about balancing his two jobs, calling professional hockey in his hometown, and working with a young color commentator trying to make his own name in the business.

You can follow Andrew on Twitter @crimsonace. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Les Lazaruk, voice of the Western Hockey League's Saskatoon Blades. Lazaruk has been the Blades' broadcaster since 1994 and is currently working in the WHL's East Division bubble in Regina. On this podcast, Les talks about getting interested in broadcasting at a young age, his relationship with other broadcasters in the league, and his signature goal calls.

You can follow Les on Twitter @Bladesvoice. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Alexis Pearson, color commentator for the National Women's Hockey League's Minnesota Whitecaps. Pearson graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2019 and works as a production assistant for the Minnesota Wild Radio Network in addition to her duties with the Whitecaps. On this podcast, Alexis talks about joining the NWHL broadcasting ranks while in college, calling games remotely for the league's bubble in January, and her desire to be a play-by-play announcer in the NHL.

You can follow Alexis on Twitter @alexismirjana. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Mike Murphy, voice of the New Hampshire Wildcats men's hockey team. In addition to being the team's broadcaster on both radio and television, Murphy is also an assistant athletic director for the school. On this podcast, Mike talks about his time at Syracuse, interacting with players and coaches, and his eight times receiving the honor of New Hampshire Sportscaster of the Year.

You can follow Mike @FakeMurph595. You can follow host Jake Baskin @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with John Forslund, broadcaster for NHL on NBC. Forslund, who spent 25 years as the television voice of the Whalers/Hurricanes franchise, was announced as the TV broadcaster for the Seattle Kraken the day after this interview was conducted. On this podcast, John talks about his path to becoming an NHL announcer, his experience broadcasting remotely, and the various catchphrases he has come up with over the years.

You can follow John on Twitter @JohnForslund. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Tyler Aragao, broadcaster for the Eastern Hockey League's Maine Eclipse. Aragao graduated from Franklin Pierce University in 2020 and is trying to land a full-time job in hockey. On this podcast, Tyler talks about his playing background, gaining experience broadcasting hockey at the college level, and his love for the craft of hockey play-by-play.

You can follow Tyler on Twitter @TyAragao. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Zack Fisch, play-by-play announcer for the American Hockey League's Hershey Bears. Fisch, who has been in Hershey since 2016, is currently calling games on the radio for the Washington Capitals while John Walton is in contact tracing protocol. On this podcast, Zack talks about becoming a hockey fan growing up in Kansas, learning about different parts of the country thanks to minor league hockey, and calling the games of one of the most storied franchises in the sport.

You can follow Zack on Twitter @zackfisch. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Alex Heinert, multi-sport play-by-play announcer for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks at Midco Sports Network. Heinert was in the NCHC Pod in Omaha at the time he and host Jake Baskin conducted this interview. On this podcast, Alex talks about growing up a hockey fan in rural South Dakota, developing rapport with his analysts, and the British broadcaster who most influences his style.

You can follow Alex on Twitter @AHeinertMidcoSN. You can follow Jake on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Ryan Vallon, broadcaster for the Bowling Green Falcons hockey team. Vallon is a senior at the school and is in his fourth year as the hockey play-by-play announcer. On this podcast, Ryan talks about getting his start in high school on a local community-access channel, his plans for after college, and his relationship with previous guests on this podcast who attended Bowling Green.

You can follow Ryan on Twitter @rvallonBG. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Justin Sulpico, broadcaster and social media coordinator for the British Columbia Hockey League's Powell River Kings. Sulpico is 21 years old, and will call his first game with the Kings when the BCHL season starts in January. On this podcast, Justin talks about why he wanted to get into broadcasting, what's important to him when he calls a hockey game, and the various hats he wears.

You can follow Justin on Twitter @justinsulpico. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Cameron Close, broadcaster for the American Hockey League's Ontario Reign. Close started his AHL broadcasting career directly after college with the Adirondack Flames and will be entering his fourth year with the Reign this season. On this podcast, Cameron talks about calling college hockey at the University of New Hampshire, his sales role with the Reign, and his close relationship with his team's parent club, the Los Angeles Kings.

You can follow Cameron on Twitter @CameronRClose. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Jon Shields, radio broadcaster for the Maine Black Bears men's hockey team. Shields has been the full-time voice of Maine hockey since 2018 and joined his father, the voice of Maine women's basketball, in the Black Bear family. On this podcast, Jon talks about his early desire to work in radio, the players he's seen pass through Orono on their way to the NHL, and getting to live and work his entire life in his home state.

You can follow Jon on Twitter @JonShieldsME. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Jared Shafran, Director of Communications and Broadcasting for the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays. Shafran has started climbing up the hockey broadcasting latter since graduating from Northeastern, working in the USHL and college hockey before joining the Stingrays in 2016. On this podcast, Jared talks about the great broadcasters he learned from and with in college, his interactions with the players and staff as well as his team's NHL and AHL affiliates, and calling an NHL preseason game.

You can follow Jared on Twitter @jaredshafran. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Andrew Mossbrooks, broadcaster and Director of Communications for the Southern Professional Hockey League's Peoria Rivermen. Mossbrooks graduated from Millersville University in 2018 and interned in both the NHL and AHL as well as calling junior hockey games before the Rivermen came calling. On this podcast, Andrew talks about his late entry into sports fandom, calling professional box lacrosse, and what he's learned about the SPHL since he moved to Peoria.

You can follow Andrew on Twitter @Mossbrooks48. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Jack Michaels, radio play-by-play announcer for the Edmonton Oilers. Michaels, who joined the Oilers in 2010, is the first American to ever do play-by-play full-time for a Canadian NHL team. On this podcast, Jack talks about the other media figures who overlapped with him at Ithaca, focusing on hockey thanks to advice from two current NHL broadcasters, and calling games from a studio this summer despite the NHL having one of their bubbles in Edmonton.

You can follow Jack on Twitter @EdmontonJack. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Cam McGuire, broadcaster and social media coordinator for the ECHL's Worcester Railers HC. McGuire graduated from Lake Forest College in 2019 and does play-by-play for the Railers' home games, moving to the analyst chair on the team's road games. On this podcast, Cam talks about playing hockey at the prep school level, calling summer baseball while in college, and what he's been doing to stay busy during the time of coronavirus.

You can follow Cam on Twitter @cammcguire21. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Billy Jaffe, studio analyst for the Boston Bruins and NHL Network and game analyst for NESN's Hockey East and Beanpot coverage. Jaffe played college hockey at the University of Michigan and has been on an NHL broadcast team for over 20 years, with stops in Chicago, Atlanta, and Long Island before NESN hired him in 2011. On this podcast, Billy talks about his break into broadcasting after a few years as an official, his busy schedule even during the pandemic, and still needing to prove himself to fans who doubt his credentials.

You can follow Billy on Twitter @BJaffe. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Everett Fitzhugh, broadcaster in a to-be-determined role for the Seattle Kraken. Hired after five years in the ECHL with the Cincinnati Cyclones, Fitzhugh is the first full-time Black play-by-play announcer in any NHL team's history. On this podcast, Everett talks about falling in love with hockey thanks to the Edmonton Oilers, his accomplished goal of being in the NHL by age 40, and the advice he has to aspiring hockey broadcasters of color.

You can follow Everett on Twitter @TheVoiceFitz. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Bruce Ciskie, radio voice of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs men's hockey. Ciskie grew up in Superior, Wisconsin, across the St. Louis River from Duluth, and has been UMD's radio announcer since 2005. On this podcast, Bruce talks about the circumstances in which he landed his current job, the other hats he wears in media, and calling four Frozen Fours as well as three national titles..

You can follow Bruce on Twitter @BruceCiskie. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Kenny Albert, NHL announcer for the New York Rangers, NBC, and Westwood One. Albert is one of the most high-profile play-by-play announcers in America today, and also calls a regular NFL schedule for Fox, as well as a number of other different sports. On this podcast, Kenny talks about pandemic life, calling games off a monitor, and why he likes hockey the most out of all the sports he calls.

You can follow Kenny on Twitter @KennyAlbert. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Sal "Red Light" Messina, radio analyst for the New York Rangers from 1973 until 2002. Messina was the Rangers' traveling emergency backup goalie in the age when teams only carried one netminder, and won the Foster Hewitt Award in 2005. On this podcast, Sal talks about growing up playing hockey in New York City, the origin of his nickname, and working with all four members of the Albert broadcasting family.

Interview with Evan Pivnick, broadcaster for the ECHL's Adirondack Thunder. Pivnick joined the Thunder in 2017, soon after graduating from Bowling Green, where he spent three years as their lead hockey broadcaster. On this podcast, Evan talks about getting experience in college, how much he communicates with the Thunder's NHL and AHL affiliates, and actually getting the proper amount of sleep during the pandemic.

You can follow Evan on Twitter @EvanPivnickADK. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Alex Thomas, voice of the Northeastern Huskies women's hockey team, the United States Premier Hockey League's Northern Cyclones, and a few other hockey broadcasting roles in Massachusetts and New Hampshire.  Since graduating from Springfield in 2016, Thomas has been a mainstay of Boston-area hockey broadcasts. On this podcast, Alex talks about his extensive background in women's hockey, the number of teams he's called games for, and the excitement that comes with his games being broadcast on NESN.

You can follow Alex on Twitter @Alex_Thomas14. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Listen to Jake's baseball broadcasts this week: mixlr.com/fcb-broadcast-network

Interview with Patrick McNeil, voice of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League's Cape Breton Eagles. McNeil grew up on Cape Breton Island and was hired by the Eagles in 2013 despite never having done play-by-play before. On this podcast, Patrick talks about his previous job in a call center, working solo on hockey broadcasts, and his own background in interviewing other announcers.

You can follow Patrick on Twitter @cbepbp. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with TJ Chillot, play-by-play announcer for the North American Hockey League's Austin Bruins. Chillot only started broadcasting in his late 20s, but has since landed broadcasting jobs in both the SPHL and NAHL. On this podcast, TJ talks about studying under Bob Rotruck with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, watching a team fold right in front of him, and how often he has to explain his team's name and location to his friends and family.

You can follow TJ on Twitter @tj_chillot. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Dominic Hennig, voice of the Ontario Hockey League's Flint Firebirds. Hennig joined the relocated Firebirds in 2015 after six years calling games for his alma mater, Ferris State University. On this podcast, Dominic talks about getting started broadcasting at 14 years old, calling a national championship game as a college student, and the pause coming right as the Firebirds were wrapping up their best season.

You can follow Dominic on Twitter @DominicHennig. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Chuck Kaiton, radio play-by-play announcer for the Hartford Whalers and Carolina Hurricanes from 1979 until 2018. Kaiton was given the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award in 2004, the first guest on this podcast in the Hockey Hall of Fame. On this podcast, Chuck talks about his role as president of the NHL Broadcasters' Association, his five decades in hockey broadcasting, and if he wants to call NHL games again.

You can follow Chuck on Twitter @ChuckKaiton. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Ryan Holt, broadcaster for the American Hockey League's Bakersfield Condors. Holt started broadcasting for the Condors in 2011, a year after graduating from college, when the team was in the ECHL. On this podcast, Ryan talks about getting experience broadcasting at College of the Holy Cross, his close relationship with the Edmonton Oilers and their broadcasters, and losing his Boston accent.

You can follow Ryan on Twitter @CondorsHolty. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Sébastien Goulet, NHL and QMJHL play-by-play announcer for TVA Sports. Goulet, who joined TVA in 2010 and currently serves as the #3 announcer on the network's NHL coverage, is the first French-language announcer to appear on A Shot and a Goal. On this podcast, Sébastien talks about his extensive background in public address announcing, working with different analysts, and having only called NHL games from a studio rather than on-site.

You can follow Sébastien on Twitter @SebGouletTVAS. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Nick Hart, broadcaster for the American Hockey League's Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Hart joined the Penguins after graduating from Ohio University in 2015 and took the play-by-play job after three years as the team's color commentator. On this podcast, Nick talks about growing up in Western Pennsylvania as a fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins, being close in age to many of the players whose games he calls, and the moment he realized his playing days were over.

You can follow Nick on Twitter @_NickHart. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Phil Giubileo, voice of the National Women's Hockey League's Connecticut Whale, as well as Quinnipiac Bobcats hockey. Giubileo came to Connecticut in 2004 to call games for the fabled Danbury Trashers, and has been there ever since. On this podcast, Phil talks about growing up listening to sports radio in New York City, calling championship games, and the longtime NHL announcer who gave him his first hockey broadcasting job.

You can follow Phil on Twitter @philgpbp. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Bob Kaser, play-by-play announcer and vice president of community relations for the American Hockey League's Grand Rapids Griffins. Kaser became the Griffins' broadcaster in 2000, when they were still in the now-defunct International Hockey League. On this podcast, Bob talks about being a mentor to younger announcers, filling in on Red Wings broadcasts, and how long he wants to keep calling games.

You can follow Bob on Twitter @bkaser1. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Seth Dussault, voice of AIC Yellow Jackets athletics. Dussault, a 2011 AIC graduate, was host Jake Baskin's first broadcast partner, inviting Jake to do color for a game in 2017. On this podcast, Seth talks about growing up listening to hockey games on the radio, how he ended up at AIC, and all the things he does for his alma mater.

You can follow Seth on Twitter @AICJacketsVoice. You can follow Jake on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Brendan Batchelor, the radio play-by-play announcer for the Vancouver Canucks. Batchelor, currently the youngest announcer in the NHL, was hired by the Canucks in 2017 after four years in the Western Hockey League with the Vancouver Giants. On this podcast, Brendan talks about growing up a Canucks fan, switching from a big university to a broadcasting-specific college program, and where he wants to go from here.

You can follow Brendan on Twitter @BatchHockey. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Jack Moore, the television play-by-play announcer for the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers. Moore is 23 years old and played university football at Wilfrid Laurier but left to pursue a career in broadcasting. On this podcast, Jack talks about the moment he decided he wanted to become a sportscaster, following the team when he's not calling their games, and his connection to Bob McKenzie.

You can follow Jack on Twitter @MadJack54. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Pete Krupsky, broadcaster for USA Hockey's National Team Development Program. A longtime factory worker, Krupsky started calling games for the NTDP when they moved to Plymouth, Michigan in 2015 after having previously worked for the OHL's Plymouth Whalers. On this podcast, Pete talks about breaking into the business late, properly pronouncing foreign names during international tournaments, and broadcasting games on an Internet stream long before that would become popular.

You can follow Pete on Twitter @PeteKrupsky. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Bob McElligott, radio voice of the Columbus Blue Jackets. McElligott spent four years as the Jackets' radio color commentator before moving over to play-by-play for the 2013–14 season. On this podcast, Bob talks about Mike Lange's influence, his catchphrase after the Jackets win a game, and calling both minor league hockey and baseball in Syracuse.

You can follow Bob on Twitter @BobbyMacSports. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Kelly Schultz, voice of the National Women's Hockey League's Minnesota Whitecaps as well as Bemidji State Beavers women's hockey. Schultz, who also serves as the sideline reporter for Bemidji State football, is A Shot and a Goal's first female guest. On this podcast, Kelly talks about her childhood dream of becoming a sports broadcaster, balancing her professional and college teams, and the advice she would give to girls and women who want to pursue play-by-play.

You can follow Kelly on Twitter @kellyschultz. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Dave Randorf, #2 play-by-play announcer for Hockey Night in Canada. Randorf joined Sportsnet in 2014 and currently calls the late Saturday night game most weeks, and called his first Conference Final in 2019. On this podcast, Dave talks about social media detractors, how he handles the big moments, and calling the infamous Erik Karlsson goal off a missed hand pass during last year's Western Conference Final.

You can follow Dave on Twitter @DaveRandorf. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

To register for the first On the Air Sportscasting Seminar, click the link at the bottom of this tweet: https://twitter.com/ontheairPxP/status/1256280927837315073

Interview with Mike Sanderson, one of the voices of the Saint John Sea Dogs. Sanderson calls the games that the Sea Dogs play in Moncton, New Brunswick against the Wildcats. On this podcast, Mike talks about the many hats he wears, what got him into hockey media, and the best broadcasting advice he ever got.

You can follow Mike on Twitter @MikeRSanderson. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Alan Fuehring, voice of the American Hockey League's Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Fuehring joined the Sound Tigers in 2016 after working his way up the minor league ranks through the SPHL and ECHL. On this podcast, Alan talks about calling games at the AHL level, getting his start working on Fox Sports's NASCAR coverage, and being part of the Greenville Swamp Rabbits organization when they made their name change.

You can follow Alan on Twitter @AlanFuehring. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Bill Lindsay, radio color commentator for the Florida Panthers and studio analyst for NHL Network. Lindsay played seven seasons for the Panthers and joined their broadcast team in 2007. On this podcast, Bill talks about his transition into broadcasting, balancing booth and studio work, and clarifies an error on his Wikipedia page.

You can follow Bill on Twitter @LindsayBHockey. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Rob Kennedy, radio voice of Dartmouth Big Green hockey. Host Jake Baskin traveled up to Hanover, New Hampshire to record this podcast before an ECAC playoff game. Kennedy is a high school teacher in Maine, but has been broadcasting on the side for almost two decades. On this podcast, Rob talks about his day job, his time working in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and Dartmouth's cult following among college hockey fans, cultivated through Twitter.

You can follow Rob on Twitter @RobKennedy70. You can follow Jake on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Mike Vaillancourt, voice of Clarkson Golden Knights athletics. Vaillancourt called games at various colleges in DC and Virginia before moving to the North Country in 2015. On this podcast, Mike talks about growing up a hockey fan in the DC area, his split between men's and women's games, and the nerves that go with broadcasting a national title game.

You can follow Mike on Twitter @mvaillancourt74. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Dan Kelly, lead hockey voice for Big Ten Network. Kelly has called games for three different NHL teams and spent ten years working with Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. On this podcast, Dan talks about growing up around NHL locker rooms, calling his first Blues game at 23 years old, and working for Mark Cuban-owned HDNet, which had NHL rights for a time.

You can follow Dan on Twitter @DanKelly_21. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Joey Battaino, voice of the Ontario Hockey League's Saginaw Spirit. Battaino grew up in Michigan and bounced around the world of minor league and junior hockey before securing the job with the Spirit in 2015. On this podcast, Joey talks about handling radio/TV simulcasts, his passion for baseball as well as hockey, and getting to where he is without attending a single college class.

You can follow Joey on Twitter @joeybattaino. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Matt Falkenbury, former play-by-play announcer for the National Women's Hockey League's Metropolitan Riveters. Falkenbury was the team's voice for four seasons before leaving following the 2019–20 campaign. On this podcast, Matt talks about his enthusiastic style, watching players whose games he broadcast play in the Olympics, and what gets under his skin about women's hockey broadcasts.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @MattFalkenbury. You can follow host Jake Baskin on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.

Interview with Jeremy Skiba, broadcaster for the Federal Prospects Hockey League's Port Huron Prowlers. Skiba is fresh out of Hofstra University, where he attended with host Jake Baskin, and is pursuing his goal of working in hockey media in the minor leagues. On this podcast, Jeremy talks about landing a job 600 miles away from his home in New Jersey, his daily life as his team's director of broadcasting, and calling a game from the bench while strapped in goalie pads.

You can follow Jeremy on Twitter @TheSkiba20. You can follow Jake on Twitter @jakebaskinpxp.