Game Callers with Troy Langstaff

Episode #7 of Game Callers features guest Daniella Ponticelli. Daniella started her career as a journalist with the Brandon Sun in 2012 and started working in sports in 2018 with various professional leagues in Saskatchewan. She has worked with broadcasters like TSN, Sportsnet, CBC, Amazon Prime, etc. and has covered IIHF events, Olympics, PWHL, NSL and more. We talk about her early career, transition into sports, and experiences at the Olympics, preparing for big moments, dealing with technical challenges and advice for aspiring broadcasters.Chapters(00:00) Introduction(01:36) Daniella's First Job Out of Journalism School(04:13) Transitioning from News to Sports Broadcasting(07:40) Covering Tragic Events in Journalism(13:20) The Shift from News to Sports(19:16) Adjustments when Calling Different Sports(22:13) Continuous Improvement in Broadcasting(26:27) The Experience of Working on Olympic Games(30:33) Differences Between an Olympic Broadcast Feed and a Home Show(33:26) Connecting with the Audience Remotely(35:31) Working Remote and Only Seeing What the Camera Gives You(38:25) Leaning on Your Colour Commentator(40:54) Planning and Preparation for Olympic Coverage(42:30) Working on the PWHL's Inaugural Game(46:28) Pre-Writing Lines for Big Moments(49:55) Do You Have a Favourite Call of Your Own(53:10) What Makes a Great Call Great? (58:08) Working Towards Trying New Sports(01:01:12) Daniella's Start in Hockey Broadcasting(01:09:26) Advice for Aspiring Broadcasters: Empathy and Authenticity

Episode #6 of Game Callers features guest Reed Duthie. Reed is the director of Broadcasting and Communications for the Brantford Bulldogs. He has 17 years of play-by-play experience covering a wide range of sports including hockey, baseball, football, MMA, roller hockey and more. We talked about the importance of nerves, overcoming challenges during broadcasts, and the value of feedback from fans and colleagues. This episode also includes a few rounds of Name That Call while Reed also shared some of his favourite moments in his career.Chapters(00:00) Introduction(02:05) Auditioning for the Gig while at Mohawk College(05:46) The Balance Between Nerves and Execution(06:40) The Importance of Nerves in Broadcasting(07:56) Finding the Rhythm When You're "Off"(09:07) Strategies for Overcoming Mid-Game Challenges(10:19) Reed's Start with Cable 14(12:20) Reed's First Live Soccer Broadcast(14:30) Troy's First Live Broadcast (and mistake)(15:54) Reed's First TIme Hosting an AHL Game(18:56) Feedback and How to Use it to Improve Your Call and the Broadcast(24:42) Critiquing Yourself and What to Look For(29:23) The Connection Between Wrestling and Commentary(31:00) Do You Sit or Stand and How it Can Affect Your Call(32:35) Bruins Broadcasting Influences(36:16) Influences and Inspirations in Broadcasting(38:39) Name That Call #1(41:41) Name That Call #2(43:29) Name That Call #3(46:33) Reed's Favourite Days in the Booth(51:17) Quick Fire Questions(57:59) Understanding Your Value as a Broadcaster

Episode #5 of Game Callers features guest Maki Jenner. Maki, the communications manager for the Halifax Thunderbirds, talks about her journey from a lacrosse player to broadcaster. She discusses her early influences, the birth of her Lax Facts series, and her experience working with one of Canada’s premier sports broadcasters, TSN. She also shares insights on breaking into new sports and the significance of inspiring the next generation of female broadcasters.(1:04) History of Lacrosse in the Jenner Family(3:27) Maki's Uncle Teddy and his Broadcasting Influence(6:17) What About the Shadowing Experience with Him Hooked You?(8:49) The Birth of Lax Facts and Early On-Camera Experiences(13:39) On-Camera Improvements Since Lax-Facts(16:44) Opportunity with the Halifax Thunderbirds(23:38) First Woman to do Colour Commentary on an NLL Game(27:31) What Does a TSN Game Day Look Like(29:44) Teamwork and Building the Production(33:02) First Go at Hockey Broadcasting(35:13) Interviewing Young Athletes(38:00) Preparation for New Broadcasts(41:31) Being Named a Finalist for the Tom Borrelli Award(46:00) Looking Forward to First NLL PxP Game(48:18) First Play-by-Play Experience(54:41) What Steps do You Take to Get Better(55:24) What's Something You Wish You Knew Before Going on TV for the First Time(56:04) Lacrosse Trivia

Episode #4 of Game Callers features guest Jack Moore. Jack is a dual threat play-by-play broadcaster who covers the OHL’s Oshawa Generals and the OUA’s Laurier Golden Hawks Football team. We talked about his experience covering football, working alongside Mark Lee, radio broadcasting vs television productions, preparing notes and more!Chapters(01:11) The Origin of 'Mad Jack'(03:35) Football Jersey Numbers(05:55) Jack's Laurier Football Background(09:18) End of Football Season into Hockey(10:43) Working with Mark Lee(11:07) When Mark had to Fill in for Jack(12:45) Working alongside Mark(16:32) TV vs Radio Broadcasting(17:47) Game Day Preparation and Notes(20:45) Notes and Preparation can be Never Ending(26:34) Navigating the Play-by-Play Challenges(29:16) Creating Intermission Content for Radio(32:32) Name That Call(33:47) The Evolution of Joe Buck(38:02) Name That Call (cont'd)(44:45) Still Improving During COVID(47:33) Most Electric Moment in the Booth(49:07) Something You Wish You Knew When You First Started(51:11) Three Must Have Items in the Booth

Episode #3 of Game Callers features guest Dylan Baker. Dylan is a young broadcaster well beyond his years when it comes to professionalism and maturity. Already making his mark on the OHL with the Guelph Storm, we talked about what it took for him to get his dream role, adjusting to radio broadcasting, the value of feedback, preparation, meeting some broadcast legends and more!Chapters00:00 Intro01:30 Early Broadcasting Start04:10 Challenges when first starting07:25 Committing to the Career09:30 Getting a Foot in the Door with the CHL14:26 Getting the Job with the Guelph Storm16:51 Balancing Academics and Work18:51 Getting Feedback23:33 Learning About Working in Radio27:37 Name That Call30:04 Meeting Chris Cuthbert32:33 No More Entry Interviews for TMU Sport Media34:47 Name That Call (cont'd)37:57 Dylan's Favourite Broadcasters40:47 Widening the Vocabulary46:09 Final Game with Komoka48:09 Must Have Items in the Booth51:24 How we Organize Our Notes

Episode #2 of Game Callers features guest Mavs Gillis. Mavs and Troy worked together in Halifax at Eastlink Community TV for a couple of years as sports producers. In his own words, Mavs is the first guy to work a Nova Scotia to Tokyo to Nova Scotia schedule since Masahiro Chono in 1988. Mavs has evolved from a PA announcer with an iPod touch to being a Swiss army knife of a sports producer. We'll talk about Mavs' love for wrestling, the importance of teamwork on productions, his YouTube channel and more.Chapters(00:00) Intro(01:32) Start of the Eastlink Sports Season(03:06) Double Duty and Making Up For Small Crews(07:21) Mavs' Broadcasting Journey(11:06) The Love for Wrestling and Storytelling(12:32) Commentating Wrestling in Japan(22:41) Creative Freedom at Eastlink(32:31) Mavs Career Highlights(35:23) Going with the Flow and On-Air Mistakes(39:44) Mavs' YouTube - Livin' the Gimmick

Episode #1 of Game Callers features guest Dan Malta. Dan is a broadcast pro who has been working at YourTV Peterborough for 10 years. He is a graduate of the College of Sports Media in Toronto and has recently been named the PxP voice for the Oshawa FireWolves of the National Lacrosse League.We’ll talk about the start to the Peterborough Petes season, his new opportunity with the FireWolves, some of his career highlights, and some challenges that we’ve faced on productions.

Host Troy Langstaff welcomes you to the podcast and gives you a rundown of what to expect each episode of Game Callers