Writing Posts

Behind the Music: Winnipeg Jets

In 2011 I interviewed Kyle Balharry, Director of Game Production for the Winnipeg Jets for the Illegal Curve website. We discussed the process of producing an NHL game and selecting the music used to set the mood in the arena.

Before the season began, there was a lot of speculation on what the music selection would be.  Articles on the site “The Science of an Intro Song” and “Choosing a Goal Song for the Winnipeg Jets” received a lot of attention from our readers.

When you’re visiting the MTS Centre this season for an NHL game (and arenas around the world) you aren’t just going to a game, you’re going to a hockey experience.  Not only are the players working to put out a carefully planned game, about forty employees at the MTS Centre are in charge of putting together the best possible hockey experience.

The man in charge of that is Kyle Balharry, Director of Event Production for True North.  Kyle has been working with True North since 2000, and doing event production at the Winnipeg Arena/MTS Centre since 2002.

Event production involves creating and following a script.  Everything that you see at the arena, videos on the jumbotron, the arena ring, PA announcements, off play promotions and music have all been well thought out and predetermined.

Read the full article at IllegalCurve.com

TSN Jets FAQ

In 2011 when the contract between the Winnipeg Jets and Bell Media was announced, I wrote this FAQ for Illegal Curve detailing which television providers the channel would be available on.

Breaking Down the TSN Jets Television Deal – What will it mean for customers?

Last week TSN and the Winnipeg Jets announced a 10 year agreement to have TSN broadcast Jets games on a regional channel only available in Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Northeastern Ontario, NWT, and Nunavut. Currently, the channel is only confirmed to be available on Bell TV. Many residents of the TSN Jets region, are left wondering how they will be able to watch them games. (I can’t speak for any of the cable operators outside of Manitoba so I will focus on Winnipeg.)

Read the full article at IllegalCurve.com

From the Winnipeg Jets Annual Magazine

winnipeg jets annualIn the summer of 2011 I contributed to the Winnipeg Jets Annual Magazine. Published by Maple Street Press this publication previewed the first season of Winnipeg’s new NHL team. The article was titled “In Spoken Words: The awakening of the Jets through interviews, statements and musings.”

 

Download the PDF to read the article

Go Jets Go?

In the summer of 2011 when it was announced that the NHL would return to Winnipeg, I wrote this article for IllegalCurve.com on June 2, 2011 stating my arguments why the team should be named the Winnipeg Jets.

The wait is over, the dream has finally come. NHL hockey is back in Winnipeg, everyone rejoice.

But…this new team doesn’t have a name.

The option taken by Winnipeg fans has been to revert to the old name and traditions that many of us have been brought up with; the whiteout, the Queen, “Jump” by Van Halen, the Winnipeg Jets. The overwhelming response among fans has been to call this team the Jets.

Every poll that has been conducted has been at least 60% in favour of Jets. On Tuesday we saw the citizens of Winnipeg take to Portage & Main and to The Forks wearing Jets jerseys, holding Jets flags, chanting “Go Jets Go!” The spontaneous cheers of “Go Jets Go!” went on through to the late hours of the night.

Support for the Jets name isn’t Winnipeg specific. Even Don Cherry, who has been a supporter of Winnipeg for years opened his interview with True North President Mark Chipman by asking him in a near threatening tone, “are you going to name this team the Jets, or what?”

Read the article at IllegalCurve.com