As a reporter one must be unbiased at all times while on the job, which is something I learned very early on from Ken (which is something he probably doesn't even remember). The first time I ever sat in the press box during a Union Hockey game was my freshman year when I was just dabbling in sports journalism. The Sports Information person for the men's hockey team at the time (who I believe was Hilary Haynes) invited me to take in a game from the press box since I just signed on to cover the team for the Concordiensis (previously I was just taking some small notes while sitting in the student section). And I vividly remember at one point in the game the Dutchmen scored a big goal right under us, and I pumped my fist and yelled out a loud "Yeah!" Right when I did this I looked a few seats down from me where I saw Ken waving his finger at me signaling not to do that. That was my first lesson on press box decorum, even though I should have realized it.
I still have some trouble controlling my emotions during games, since deep down inside I am a big Union Hockey fan... you can only imagine how I was feeling during the 50t game against Quinnipiac! But, I believe that caring about the team that you cover makes your coverage better and more meaningful. That is another thing I learned from Ken. Even though he is an unbiased reporter I think he too deep down inside really cares about the Union Hockey program and everyone involved. The best example of this came after Union's 2-1 victory over Quinnipiac to clinch a trip to the ECAC Final Four for the first time. I remember standing in the lobby of Messa Rink watching all the fans line up to buy tickets for the following weekend, and seeing among the crowd a teary eyed Ken Schott. Ken then proceeded to seek out Union Athletic Director Jim McLaughlin and give him a big hug. I think Ken might have been the happiest and most proud person in the arena at that moment. That pure feeling of being so overcome with joy because your team has won that it drives you to tears is something that I want to feel someday (but I highly doubt it considering I'm a Mets, Jets, Nets, and Islanders fan).
This was what Ken brings to rink every night: emotion. Every game that I've ever worked at Messa Rink, Ken is always one of the first to show up and the last to leave. He is always into all aspects of the game from the game play itself, to the in between periods entertainment, and the music played throughout the game... Ken always gets into Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" which is played in between the second and third periods. He's always having fun and is almost like a super-fan.
In many ways I am striving to be like Mr. Schott in my own career. I can tell how much he loves his job, and how much he enjoys being at the rink. Hopefully one day I can love my job as much as Ken does. But for now, I will try to learn as much as possible from him in my final year in Schenectady.
DG: Where are you from? What high school did you go to?
KS: I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I am a 1981 graduate of Holy Ghost Prep.
DG: Did you play any sports in high school?
KS: I played on the tennis team in my junior and senior years. The school started the sport my junior year. I was a statistician for the basketball team my junior and senior years, and I was a scout for the baseball team my senior year. I did play intramural street hockey all four years.
DG:Where did you go to college and what was your major? Did you play any sports there?
KS: I went to
York College of PA., and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in
speech communications (Radio/TV). I didn't play sports at YCP, but I was the statistician for the men's basektball team all four years, the baseball team my freshman and sophomore years and the women's volleyball team my junior and senior years. I also called play-by-play of men's and women's basketball, and baseball for the college radio station, WVYC.
DG: What are your favorite pro sports teams?
KS: Philadelphia Flyers, Phillies, and Eagles.
DG: Do you have any nicknames?
KS: Back in high school, when I had hair and it was permed, I was called "Hindu." Now, it's basically "Schooter."
DG: When did you start your sports journalism career?
KS: November 1983. I took a journalism class the fall semester of my junior year. It was taught by two editors from the York Daily Record, and one of the requirements was to do a one-day internship at the paper. My assignment was to cover the Baltimore Orioles playing a charity basketball game at a high school in Southern York County. It was right after they had beaten the Phillies in the World Series. The sports editor liked what I had written and asked if I wanted to do some part-time work. I said, "Yes." The rest is history.
DG: Tell us about your job with the Daily Gazette.
KS: I am the college hockey writer for the paper. I also write a sports TV/Radio column every Saturday. I am also a copy editor. I also write the Parting Schotts blog and produced videos for or Website,
http://www.dailygazette.com/.
DG: What is your most favorite aspect about your job?
KS: Being able to cover a sport I love, hockey, and interact with fans.
DG: What is your favorite thing to do when you're not working?
KS: Being able to spend time with my son Steven and talk sports. He's into baseball, hockey, and bowling.
DG: How long have you been covering Union Hockey?
KS: I will begin my 20th year in October.
DG:What is the most memorable game you've covered?
KS: Wow, where do I begin? I have covered two of the longest games in men's college hockey history (both Union losses, to Quinnipiac in March and Yale four years ago), and also covered the fourth-longest game (Boston U. - St. Lawrence in the NCAA East Regional in 2000). But, I have to rank three games as most memorable. Union's 7-2 win over Clarkson on March 7, 2009, which clinched their first playoff series win at the Division I level. The 2-1 win over Quinnipiac on March 14 that put Union in the ECAC semifinals for the first time, and the 3-1 semifinal victory over St. Lawrence six days later.
DG: Where is your favorite place to take in a college
hockey game?
KS: I like Dartmouth's Thompson Arena. Press box on the side. Great View. Quinnipiac's TD Bank Sports Center is nice too, but the the lack of heat is a drawback.
DG: What place will Union finish in the ECAC regular season standings in 2010-11?
KS: Third place is a good bet.
DG: Who is the team to beat in the ECAC?
KS: Cornell
DG: What will be the key for the Dutchmen next season?
KS: They will need to replace the scoring lost by Mario Valery-Trabucco, Jason Walters, and Mike Schreiber. They are solid on defense and in goal.
DG: Who do you think will have a breakout season for Union this year?
KS: Wayne Simpson showed some flashes in his freshman season, but spent too much time being too fancy and not shooting the puck enough. With a year under his belt, I believe he will have an outstanding sophomore year.
DG: Will Coach Nate Leaman leave for a bigger and better job soon?
KS: It's going to have to be the right job for him to consider it.
DG: Will any Dutchman from any of the recent teams make it to the NHL? Does anyone even have a shot?
KS: Right now, no.
Well I desperately wish I made the trip to the North Country this weekend, but I unfortunately was forced to stay back at school to work the Albany Devils hockey games. But while at work last night, I was fortunate enough to be able to listen to Union's game at Clarkson via live stream radio on my buddy's ipod. Its a good thing no Albany front office members walked into the team's merchandise store because I was completely zoned out from my work. The customers who came into the store probably thought I was crazy yelling at the ipod and calling out our guys names to make a play.
This week's interview is with Ken Schott, who to me is the King of College Hockey... at least in the capital region (haha), and covers Union Hockey for the Daily Gazette (the Schenectady paper). Not only does Mr. Schott have the coolest hockey name on the planet (pronounced shot), but he's like a walking, talking sports encyclopedia. Through my experience with Ken it is obvious that he is the ultimate sports fan. He truly lives and dies with his favorite teams.
speech communications (Radio/TV). I didn't play sports at YCP, but I was the statistician for the men's basektball team all four years, the baseball team my freshman and sophomore years and the women's volleyball team my junior and senior years. I also called play-by-play of men's and women's basketball, and baseball for the college radio station, WVYC.
ny for the ECAC Final Four for the first time in program history! The Dutchmen will face St. Lawrence next Friday at the Times Union Center.
ge was HUGE difference in the game. The student section was loud the entire game and the team really fed off of it, which was seen at the end of the game when Milan and the rest of the team jumped into the glass at Section Q.... I honestly thought the glass was going to shatter.
came midway through the first period. Cornell is an incredible team and Union won't have to see them until the ECAC finals. Brown deserves a ton of praise after beating a very good RPI team and then beating the top seed and defending champs on the road in back-to-back weekends. Bears goaltender Mike Clemente has now pulled off three upsets in the past two years. Their hard hitting defensive style has really worked for them. If I were Yale's Sean Backman I would be apologizing to my team for letting them down.
Once again, John and Wayne have been featured in an article. This time it is the New England Hockey Journal. The two have played on the same line for most of the season, but have been separated a few times. Heading into this weekend John has accumulated four goals and 14 assists in 29 games, while Wayne has tallied five goals and 12 assists in 30 games.
Going down four goals on the road 7:20 into a game is not the way you want to start out, but scoring five unanswered goals... that's character, and last night's game proves that this team has a ton of character. This is the type of game that the Dutchmen will look back on in the playoffs, and say that they can do anything. Granted they were playing an 11th placed team, but a four goal deficit at any level of hockey, no matter who you are playing, is a difficult one to make up.
cond period, and Prez and Mike Schreiber picked up assists in the third period. You also can't forget Andrew Buote, who picked up two assists on the night. He is one of the hardest working players on the ice for the Dutchmen every game. And last, but definitely not least, Luke Cain scored the game-tying goal late in the third as he tipped a shot past the Dartmouth goaltender. He has scored a goal in five of Union's last six weekends. Cain is another hard-working player, and it was nice to see him make a huge impact in his return to Thomspon Arena after his horrific injury two years ago. The offense has been clicking lately as they have scored 20 goals in the past three games.
in and hold down the fort. Maybe Keith is suffering from some fatigue, so don't be surprised to see Milan in the net tonight against Harvard.
On Thursday night I said: "Things haven't been going well for our Dutchmen... The main cause of this problem has been the lack of scoring... meaning that their top scorers need to start scoring... Mario along with is linemates, Jason Walters and Adam Presizniuk, need to put the offense on their backs and carry it. They are one of the most dynamic and lethal lines in the ECAC and need to play like it every game."
combined 12 assists. Also, the line had their hand in nine of the 15 goals this weekend. In the six previous games the Dutchmen put up only 12 goals. It was also nice to see leaders such as Mike Schreiber and Brock Matheson and freshman such as Kyle Bodie and Wayne Simpson help with the offense this weekend.
now the Dutchmen have to keep it rolling into next weekend when they hit the road to take on Dartmouth and Harvard, both of whom came into Messa Rink and beat the Dutchmen a few weeks ago. Also, the Dutchmen are now in a three way tie for first place in the ECAC with Cornell and Yale and are ahead of fourth place St. Lawrence by three points.
men can't figure out something soon they might be on the outside looking in. Also note, that Jason Wal
ters' 15 game point streak was snapped.
Wayne Simpson had the game-winner early in the third, and Keith Kinkaid made 22 saves for the win. Youcan read my summary of the game on USCHO.com.
ically filled by 6:20 and were extremely loud when the team's came on the ice for pre-game warmups. The rink was electric and everyone was on their feet for most of the game. Props to Union's #1 Will Friedman for keeping the student section loud.
hows how hard he is working. For the second game in a row he scored a huge goal for his team, and is making a case for a more permanent role.
It wasn't pretty but in the end the Dutchmen were able to pull out a 2-1 overtime victory over the Black Knights thanks to two goals by Jason Walters. Wally scored with 11 seconds left in the first period and with about three minutes left in overtime. Army was completely outmatched by Union as the Dutchmen were bigger, faster, and stronger than the Black Knights who were getting tossed across the ice like rag dolls.
