Intermission Segments

As one of the main producers of content for Bisons hockey broadcasts on Canada West TV and UMFM, the work that Bisons Sports does to showcase other schools and highlight news from around the conference is something we use to set ourselves apart from all the other Canada West broadcasts. We started doing this in the 2019-20 season of hockey, and it's carrying forward through to this season where we use each home game as a way to highlight some exceptional work being done at the other Canada West schools during the intermissions. The feedback we've received about these intermission pieces is very positive, so it's something we're going to continue to do next season and beyond.

In knowing that you, as fans, are paying money to watch the Canada West TV broadcasts, Bisons Sports and I realize that you're likely looking for content and stories you won't find anywhere else. That's part of how subscriptions to services work - you get access to things that non-subscribers don't. That's part of putting in the work and learning how to edit and make videos as I was doing, so hopefully you find value in these pieces if you're a Canada West TV subscriber.

I want to post the intermission videos we produced for this weekend here, though, because I'm hoping for feedback from all people - subscribers, non-subscribers, people who just want to watch videos - about the content in the videos and the delivery of that content. For example, would you think about subscribing to Canada West TV in order to watch this kind of content? Does focusing on stories at other schools provide value you normally wouldn't get unless you went to those schools?

Watch these videos and leave a comment below. I'm very interested to see if these videos are have any impact on anyone. If they don't, it wouldn't make sense to keep doing them and working our butts off to produce them. If you do find value in them, though, that's important to us, so please leave a comment below and we'll evaluate from there!

The first video is former UBC Thunderbirds forward Cassandra Vilgrain talking with Hockey Alberta's Ted Emmett about her hockey experiences and facing racism in the game. With some of the issues seen this past week in hockey, this one seemed like a relevant topic to bring up as Cassandra did face racism in hockey as a person of colour. We superimposed a number of additional images to the video while condensing the chat to a ten-minute segment. Cassandra's words about the racism she faced in the game rung true as I read the stories of racism in the game this week, and I think it's an important lesson that we shouldn't be naive to think it doesn't exist in the women's game despite there being far fewer stories than in men's hockey. Having Cassandra as an outspoken person who can relate those examples to the up-and-coming generations is very good for hockey, and I would think the UBC Thunderbirds are proud of what she's doing just as much as we are at Bisons Sports!

The video tribute we ran in the second intermission on Friday was for former UBC Thunderbirds forward Amanda Asay who tragically passed away earlier this month at the age of 33 after succumbing to injuries she sustained during a skiing accident. Amanda's career with the Thunderbirds was only a couple of seasons long after she began her university adventure with Brown at the NCAA level, but baseball was her passion. We wanted to remember Amanda as part of the Canada West family, and I hope her family, friends, and teammates are finding ways to remember her as she was an amazing person. Amanda's loss is a big one for the baseball community, but she made an impact at UBC on the ice and in the classroom and we felt that she needed to be honoured as part of the Canada West family. Rest peacefully, Amanda. You left us far too early.

On today's broadcast, we had a few cool stories about the Trinity Western Spartans as we featured them as the highlighted school. I spoke a little about Kyra McDonald and how she hails from Inuvik, Northwest Territories along with her being a bit of a TV star. Kyleigh and I spoke about the St. Mary's Academy Flames and their connections to the two teams as well as the Lloydminster Steelers and their connections to both teams and Winnipeg, and that came out of the chat we had with Neisha Germann on The Hockey Show earlier this week. We put some images to a condensed version of the interview, so here's that piece! Having had a chance to see Neisha play in person, she's a player to keep an eye on as we move forward. She's fast, aggressive, and can score, so I wouldn't be surprised if she's a difference-maker for the Spartans as she plays out the remainder of her eligibility just like she has been thus far!

If you've watched these videos, is there value in Bisons Sports and I producing these videos? Do you like them? Are they interesting? Because we want to put the women in Canada West front and center, we feel there is value, but we also have a vested interest in promoting these women. Because we're somewhat biased, we want your opinion on these pieces!

Leave a comment below. No thought, comment, or opinion is wrong. If you don't like them or find no value in them, that's important to us because we want to ensure you're getting your money's worth - literally - on our Canada West TV broadcasts. And if you feel like you don't want your comments seen by the world and only myself, feel free to submit those comments here via email. Again, all comments are important on this topic, so please reach out as we're seeking input!

I'm hoping we can do more of these as I believe these stories and women matter when it comes to hockey. I hope you feel the same, but we're all about listening to the people who support us. Give us your thoughts on how we can make stuff like this better, and we'll work those suggestions into the broadcasts!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!