Sunday, June 14, 2015

Broadcaster Profile- Nick Gagalis, Providence Bruins

Continuing on with our discussion of radio hockey voices that shape our enjoyment of the game of hockey, for this next entry I'll head down to the Ocean State and take a look at the voice of the Boston Bruins AHL affiliate, Nick Gagalis of the Providence Bruins.


Nick Gagalis is a man who has made his mark in the broadcasting world, both in the game of hockey and across the sports landscape. Nick currently calls the action on the Providence Bruins radio network, following the path of current Bruins radio voice Dave Goucher (who like Nick is a graduate of Boston University). Nick does so much more in regards to his work with the P-Bruins than just the radio call- he is involved with media and public relations work, with the task of increasing and reshaping the public image of the team. He has also functioned in the role of official scorer in his tenure with the club prior to becoming the voice of the Bruins, as well as performing such tasks as recording audio spots, playing music and sound effects at games, running their Twitter account, and doing PA work for youth hockey games.

Nick has seen his share of games in the hockey world prior to coming to Providence. It started for him in 2007, when he was the color commentator for the BU Terriers on student radio, working alongside Kevin Edelson. In 2009, Nick helped call the BU championship win over Miami in overtime from Washington, D.C. A segment of that game was submitted to the Associated Press and subsequently won a regional award. Nick also did hockey reporting for U.S. College Hockey Online, writing for Merrimack College hockey. Nick wrote stories in support of Merrimack hockey and updated the team's happenings on his personal Twitter account. He also reported for the New England Hockey Journal in 2008.

Hockey is not the only sport Nick has experience in. He has done plenty of baseball work in his career as well. We crossed paths in 2011, working together as member of the Worcester Tornadoes baseball club in the Can-Am League, Nick doing their radio and myself doing public address. Nick was employed as their radio voice the year Jose Canseco played for the club, which caused quite a buzz for baseball fans in Central Massachusetts. Nick also worked for the Hudson Valley Renegades of the New York Penn League, doing their radio as well as social media, advertising, ticket sales, stadium operations, and pulling tarp during rain delays (I did my share of tarp pulling too, so I can relate to that last point). He also handled broadcast duties for the Brewster Whitecaps of the Cape Cod Baseball League (not a bad place to work in the summers).

Nick currently provides play by play for Merrimack College football in North Andover, and has also done football broadcast work for St. Anselm's in New Hampshire.

Other assignments have seen Nick work as a production intern for NESN, a morning show production intern for WEEI radio in Boston, as well as stops at ESPN radio in Charlestown, and WZLX radio. He has had scores of reporting jobs in his career as well..

Possessing a bachelor of science in journalism from Boston University, Nick was well involved in getting his feet wet while covering the Terriers. He was a host, panelist, and producer for BUTV, the school television station. Also Nick was an anchor and an editor for the Terrier Nation show (BU's equivalent of ESPN's SportsCenter).

He has also done social media work for Liberty Mutual and worked as a customer service representative for Shaw's Supermarkets. His specialty is branding, where he focused on that as a member of the Careerealism Company based out of Hampton, N.H.

Here is a clip of Nick on the call of a Providence game against the Manchester Monarchs from April 19, 2015 at the Dunkin Donuts Center:

https://app.box.com/s/67xjpwws9k7dq6a4zjbtf123q6sdy9vj      

To check out Nick on the call of Providence Bruins hockey, go to http://ahl.neulion.com/ahl/.


Sunday, June 7, 2015

Broadcaster Profile- Adam Frenier, Massachusetts Minutemen

I'd like to continue on with my coverage of the outstanding, passionate voices of the great game of hockey. We'll stay in Hockey East for this post and we'll pay another visit  out to Amherst, MA, and take a look at the final member of the UMass hockey team, Adam Frenier.


Adam Frenier has been a solid and important part of the coverage of UMass hockey on the radio. He has filled in quite capably  on the play by play call as well as performing various other duties for Minuteman hockey coverage. He has been involved with UMass sports media since 2000, and wears many hats for the UMass athletic program.

Adam has served not only as play-by-play talent for the network but has also been a studio producer as well. He has been an important part of UMass football coverage in these capacities, serving as a host for home football games. His work has also seen him serve as a sideline reporter, halftime host, and post game host for the UMass Sports Network. Adam has also stepped in very nicely as a play by play voice for UMass All Access.

Adam has been a part of five AP Massachusetts/Rhode Island play by play award winning broadcasts, three as a producer and two as on air talent. He has also been a freelance news reporter for New England Public Radio in Amherst covering news events since 2011.

Adam has also served as a producer for the Boston Red Sox radio network, a position he held from 2005 to 2007. Prior to that he functioned as a news reporter for WHMP-AM in Northhampton (which is the current  flagship station for UMass hockey) from 2000-2005.

Adam and the UMass radio hockey team made history on April 10, 2021 at the PP&G Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, as they were on the radio call for UMass' first national championship, a 5-0 victory over St. Cloud State University. 

He is a 2004 graduate of UMass and lives in Florence, MA.

Here is a clip of Adam's play by play work alongside Brock Hines, this clip being from a 2-1 OT win over Providence at the Mullins Center:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmoR3ueq3_M

And a second clip from Adam's call alongside Brock Hines of a 5-2 UMass win over the UMass Lowell River Hawks at the Mullins Center:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRUxeumtmjE 

And finally a bonus clip of Adam on the call of UMass lacrosse, in a 12-9 win over Drexel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K75HKD8QKhQ


UMass hockey can be heard on WHMP 1400 and 1240 AM, as well as visiting the following link:

 http://www.umassathletics.com/umass-sports-network.html .