Breaking the ice: APSU students to broadcast Govs Hockey Club home games

By: Ethan Steinquest October 9, 2024

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. - Austin Peay State University’s sports communication students are taking on an exciting new challenge this semester: producing the official live broadcasts for the Govs Hockey Club’s inaugural season.

The Department of Communication kicked off its partnership with the team during its season opener against Eastern Kentucky University and will continue broadcasting home games from the Ford Ice Center through APSU-TV Clarksville. Their next production will be a doubleheader against UAB on Oct. 18 and 19.

Students from Austin Peay State University’s sports communication program gather at the Ford Ice Center to broadcast the Govs Hockey Club’s season opener. | Contributed photo

“It was a new experience for all of us to do hockey, and for some of the students, it was their first time doing any work in live production,” said Barry Gresham, associate professor of sports communication. “I loved seeing how everyone came together, supported one another, and helped out.”

Students from two of Gresham’s classes make up a majority of the production team. For sophomore sports communication major Kasey Yates, the opportunity was a way to combine his passion with his career goals.

Sophomore sports communication major Kasey Yates, at left, works with other members of APSU’s production team in the control room during a live broadcast of the Govs Hockey Club’s season opener. | Contributed photo

“I’ve been playing hockey since I was 6,” Yates said, noting that he also works as a coach. “This was my first time doing production, so it was pretty nerve-wracking, but it’s amazing to do something that I’ve been wanting to do for a long time.”

Yates will serve as a color analyst throughout the season, using his in-depth knowledge of the game to explain the action to viewers. He plans to continue working as a sports commentator after graduation.

“I had to take a lot of notes of both teams and really learn about all the players,” he said. “It’s a really fun time working with everyone, and there’s a lot that goes into a production like this. Everyone has their own jobs, and it’s a cool experience to bring it all together.”

Graduate students Payj Hearn, Kristian Hunt, and Dillon Walton work together during a broadcast of the Govs Hockey Club’s season opener. | Contributed photo

As part of the sports communication program’s emphasis on hands-on learning, many of the students will take on various roles throughout the season to learn more about the industry.

“This was my first time in the control room,” said graduate student Dillon Walton, who worked on graphics, replay footage, and technical direction. “I’m normally on camera, so everything was brand new. I went in with a free spirit trying to pick up everything I could, and I gained a lot of respect for everything you see on TV during a game.”

While the students embraced new responsibilities, they also learned how to navigate the unique challenges associated with broadcasting hockey.

“We basically had to film it through a window, and I was looking really closely at our monitor to make sure we could find the puck,” said graduate student Payj Hearn, who worked as the technical director for the season opener. “It’s definitely different technical directing for hockey than it is for something like football or baseball because it’s so much faster.”

Hearn said the experience will be a major portfolio boost for the production team since sports communication students typically work on “the big three” - football, baseball, and basketball.

“It was exciting, and definitely a change of pace coming from football and other sports,” said graduate student Kristian Hunt, who worked as production director during the broadcast. “As an entire production team, we had to learn a whole new way to film a sport in less-than-ideal circumstances. I think we did a pretty good job, and now it’s just about continuing to get better.”

Professional sportscaster Pete Weber, the play-by-play announcer for the Nashville Predators since the team’s first season, gives pointers to graduate students Kristian Hunt and Dillon Walton during a class visit. | Contributed photo

Pete Weber, the longtime voice of the Nashville Predators, visited Gresham’s class on Oct. 8 to offer advice to the production team, and the group is eager to apply their knowledge throughout the season.

“Hockey is really taking off here with the partnership Austin Peay has with the predators through F&M Bank Arena and the Ford Ice Center,” Gresham said. “The ultimate goal is to bring minor league hockey to Clarksville, and we want our students to have the experience to get job opportunities working in that field.”