Hal Gill

When preparing for games as a broadcaster, I focus on learning about the game, the teams, and the players. Rather than trying to cram in notes during the broadcast, I prefer to get on air and talk honestly about the game.
 
Transcript: "As a broadcaster, how do I prep for games? It's funny. I went through a thing where I studied everyone and I've had my whole list and I'm a points of emphasis that I wanted to talk about on each player. And then I found I was trying to get too much in during the game. I was trying to squeeze stuff in, so I backed off all that prep and really I just I just go learn about the game. What's the team? All about what players are playing? Well, who's on the You know, we're about a young league now in the NHL. So all these guys are coming in and they're younger and I got to figure out what they're all about before they jump on the ice. So a lot about that if you know following the preds I can talk about the preds all day and I kind of have a pulse for what they're all about and what they're going through, but the other teams coming in, you know, I have to have to study up on those and, and watch some footage and kind of take it in, but I stopped having the notes in front of me. I just Just would rather get on air and talk about it. And, you know, I think it's more honest that way rather than me, just regurgitating stats that anyone can look at. So, yeah, that's where I'm at with broadcasting that's that's my studying."

After I retired from playing hockey, I wanted to do something different but still stay connected to the game. I decided to try broadcasting and found that once I stopped caring about how I sounded on camera, I started enjoying it. Now I love being able to share my passion for the game with others. It was really by chance that I got into broadcasting, and I'm grateful to the Nashville Predators for giving me the opportunity to get some practice in and learn the ropes.
 
Transcript: "How did I get into broadcasting? Good question. I don't know why. If I ever dreamed of getting into broadcast and just kind of came at me, I did Player Development after I retired, I really enjoyed that I loved coaching but I didn't want to travel make my family move again. So I coached high school but I wanted to do a little bit more. I looked at doing some broadcasting, to be honest with you, I didn't like it. I was I said this is On camera and I was choppy with my thoughts. I didn't know what I was doing. So I said I probably won't do that again, and I did it again. And soon as I stopped caring, I started enjoying it. So go figure, you know, I just love being around the game and so talking about the game comes, easy comes natural for me and and I enjoy it. So now it's it's pretty awesome being around the rink all the time being around the players coaches person. I'll staff, you know, you get to be part of the team, try to go out there and and basically I just enjoy sharing my passion for hockey but you know it just by chance that I got into it. And you know, thank the national predators for giving me a chance to get out there and get the Reps, because it does take some time to get into it and still learning. We'll see how it goes."

My favorite sports scientist is Matt Nickel up in Toronto. He's a strength coach and visionary who is ahead of the curve when it comes to sports science and how it can be applied to players. He has a great grasp on management and what players need to do to get the most out of sport science while still having fun with it.
 
Transcript: "Who's my favorite sports scientist? And so interesting question, sports science, is kind of a new thing while in the hockey world. Anyway, it was kind of brought up, but what does it mean? That's the big question and how can it relate to an actual player? I mean, ultimately players play the game, how can you make them better? How can Sport Science? Make it better. I if I have any question ever, it's Matt nickel up in Toronto. He's my go-to guy strength coach. But and Visionary a guy who sees ahead of its he's way ahead of the curve. And I think when you talk sports science, there's got to be a level of, hey, you just got to go out there and play a game and have fun playing it because that's what people do. That's why people play sports when their kids is because it's fun and they want to just go play. But as you get into it you break down the Science. Now how do you relate that into a play? Sure, and and continue having fun with a sport Science. And so, Matt nickel, he's the guy to go to, he's got a great grasp of everything around, whether it's management side, who needs to be in charge of what? How it needs to get related to the players and what the players need to do. So if you have a question it's going to Maddie"

In front of the net, the game has changed and it is now a smart man's game. To defend, you have to get body position and anticipate the play, time your tie up and tie your guy's stick, be strong on your stick, and be quick on your stick.
 
Transcript: "Good question. I key points in front of the net. How did defend she's back in the day? It was a fight. It was a fight to get there, and it was a battle wrestling, hooking holding pushing shoving cross-checking. And now, the game has changed. Now, it's a smart man's game and you have to get body position and you have to kind of anticipate the play, you know, in front of the net. If there's a pocket at the point, I am. I'm strong on my stick, but I am not. Trying to battle with someone anymore. I think those days are over. I think you have to, you have to time it, but you have to feel the play. If that makes any sense, you have to know when that shot is coming in. Time your tie up and tie your tie and guy sticks. That's the most important thing is getting the stick, you know, and whether you're behind or in front blocking the shot, whatever your style is or whatever you're presented with, you have to have good timing. You don't last thing you want to do is screen your goal. Lee. So, you know, you have to be there stacked with the guy that you're playing against, but you can't be on the side, you know? So front or back quick on the stick? No sense. Wrestling anymore. I think just body position before you even get to the front of the net is big and then low on that stick and be strong on it. Because once there's a rebound, it's an all-out battle and that's why you have to be really strong on your stick. So, you know that's, that's a, the quickest amazed. Ation of my net front tactics."

Nashville's hockey fan base has been enthusiastic and knowledgeable ever since the team joined the league in 2017, and it doesn't surprise me that they are fired up about hockey now.
 
Transcript: "I am I surprised by Nashville gathering around hockey and getting fired up about it now and not at all, ever since they came into the league, they've had an excited fan base, they got that SEC football attitude. They're going to get loud, and they're going to want to see some action. So, hockey kind of fits right in. I think, obviously 2017 Turn the page on the whole organization and they found out what real hockey is really about. Now, they become a knowledgeable fan base, they're not just chanting and screaming. They want to see results. They're excited about hockey. They're excited about their team, but they want to see some good hockey, so it doesn't surprise me one bit."

Playing baseball as a child taught me how to work hard and strive for success, even when I wasn't the best. This skill has been essential in my coaching career, as it has allowed me to understand that everyone learns differently and to not assume that everyone will see things the same way as me.
 
Transcript: "What skills outside of hockey have helped me as a coach? Yeah, when I was, when I was coaching, I think the biggest thing I know new is that not, everyone is as good as you or thinks, like you or has the same passion that you have. And I think the biggest skill I learned in an all of maybe in life, in general, was playing baseball. When I was younger I wasn't I wasn't the best. I was sometimes felt like I had made a been the best hockey player. I might have been the best football player at times. I felt like that at least at times but in baseball, I knew I wasn't the best but I wanted to be and I worked hard at it and that mindset not being the go-to guy, not being the stud made me realize what it's like to be in, you know, and someone else's shoes and you kind of have to Go through that, you learn about hard work, you learn about, you know, putting in the extra effort to be the best. So I think that was probably the best learning thing for me, and and I brought that into coaching because you're not all the same, you play a different sport, you might play it differently. So I think that's, that's the biggest thing coaching is don't assume don't assume that someone is just going to And what you're talking about or see it the same way you do, because they're different people and they learn things differently. So that's my advice."