We might as well start the year in review with unequivocally the best Christmas song in history.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gmiSPMHrWQ
It has been a whirlwind year for us here at BS Hockey. We started from a small idea to a blog noticed on a national scale. This isn’t me, the founder, bragging about what the blog has been able to do in a short amount of time; this is me genuinely happy that you, the readers, have enjoyed what we have had to say.
Our growth from three to eight writers was a scary experiment that paid off much more than I could have ever anticipated. We have three writers currently credentialed that bring unique eyes to the game day in and day out. They have started scouting leagues outside of the professional level which brings a whole new angle to our coverage. Understanding the game at the most rudimentary levels has been a big part of our process and we can’t wait to expand upon it during the new year.
The giving spirit during the holidays allows everyone to gain a sense of fulfillment that many aren’t able to achieve during any other time of year. What makes it all the more humbling is the amount of thought and time people put into their aforementioned gifts. To be as corny as possible, all of the writers and contributors to BS Hockey have been a wonderful gift that has yet to stop giving.
Aimlessly starting my 2014 not knowing where I would be attending school or knowing what my future held, these people have bought into my silly idea of a Blue Jackets blog that didn’t want to patronize its readers. We believe you want as much info as possible and can handle the bad with the good. Your continued reading shows that our ideas, while at times out there, have sparked discussion within the community as a whole and we can’t ask for much more.
I asked the guys to compile their favorite articles from the year (they couldn’t vote for themselves) and I was somehow able to whittle it down to a mere three articles.
Honorable Mention – The Road Ahead for Scott Hartnell by Matt Souva
I remember specifically when Matt was working on this article that he said he was going to try something new and outside of the box, and my initial reaction was of excitement. To know Matt is to know one of the smartest and kindest people you will ever meet. After all he was the first person to introduce me to the idea of “fancy stats” and somehow has the patience with me week in and week out to be on a podcast with me. All joking aside he introduced the idea of a Corsi Venn Diagram into the world, a Corsigram if you will. He was able to accurately demonstrate the usefulness of Hartnell away from his much ballyhooed linemates and show that while many were clamoring that the trade between Umberger and Hartnell was an even one, that in reality regardless of extenuating circumstances that the Jackets were going to be happy with Hartnell for the foreseeable future.
3.) James Wisniewski and the Big Mistake by Nick Biss
An idea others and some at the blog have been playing around with for a while is the idea of the “big mistake”, a play that overshadows the rest of the great play a player is having on a consistent basis. James Wisniewski seems to be the player that time and time again is pointed at as a perceived weak point in the defense. Nick was accurately able to show to readers that James Wisniewski was not only the best Blue Jacket defensemen last year but one of the best in the entire league. The question will never stop being asked, but how much good needs to take place for everyone to forget the bad?
2.) Is Oliver Bjorkstrand The Best CBJ Prospect? by Cory Bell
One of Cory’s first articles just so happened to be one of the most successful in our site’s history. He put himself up on a pretty big pedestal! He recruited some help from Yahoo! writer Megan Richardson (@butyoucarlotta) and she was able to share some data with Cory that put Bjorkstrand in select company that many didn’t know that he could reach let alone get near. This article made its way to the front page of Reddit and was an article that put ourselves directly on the map as a group of people that would consistently try to challenge our readers and the old school way of scouting many came to know.
1.) Why I Love Hockey: How It Changed and Possibly Saved My Life by Sam Blazer
My article ended up as number one and I swear it isn’t a conspiracy. This was the article that started it all. Nick wrote a tiny blurb about it:
“When I first asked you to start a website with me, I honestly had no idea how well you could write, or if you had anything to say. Turns out I was left foot-in-mouth immediately.
The impact that this article left on me, the city, Fritsche, and the Blue Jacket community is something to be particularly proud of. Hopefully it’s foreshadowing the greatness that is yet to come from you and this website.
Occasionally, whenever I get down and frustrated, I’ll revisit this article so that I may be inspired and reminded that we do have a purpose, a story and we can make an impact.”
Those words could not have meant more to me. I put myself out there and left myself vulnerable. I exposed parts of my life and personality many of my close friends didn’t know about let alone the internet overall. Still to this day I receive emails from parents and kids writing me and telling me that this gave them an opportunity to open up about this disease that effects so many nationwide. Writing from a personal angle is often looked down upon as a no-no by many but I couldn’t disagree more, the relief I felt after releasing this article was one of the most therapeutic exercises I could have done for myself. The article helped give me the confidence to pursue my dream as a journalist and I couldn’t be happier with the outcome.
Have a Merry Christmas everyone.
“The greatest risk in life is not taking one”
-Anonymous
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
