Local fans will get a chance to see this season's Union women's hockey team for the first time on Saturday when they host Carleton University in an exhibition game at 2 p.m. at Messa Rink.
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| Sigal (right) calls the action during a Tri-City ValleyCats game. (photo provided) |
It will be Sam Sigal's first game as the first play-by-play voice of the Dutchwomen. He'll call all of their home games, and his broadcasts can be heard on UnionAthletics.tv, the video streaming service for Union athletics.
A 2012 graduate of Rider University, Sigal is no stranger to the local sports scene. He also serves as the play-by-play voice and media relations coordinator for the Tri-City ValleyCats, the Troy-based New York-Penn League affiliate of the Houston Astros.
Sigal recently chatted with Garnet Hockey Report about his new opportunity with Union.
GARNET HOCKEY REPORT (GHR): How did the opportunity come up?
SAM SIGAL (SS): Eric McDowell (Union's assistant athletic director, sports information) reached out to me through my boss with the ValleyCats, and I met with him and a couple other people from the sports information department when they came out to a ValleyCats game in late August.
They mentioned that they were looking to have a play-by-play broadcaster for their women's hockey video broadcasts. After talking more to them and learning more about Union hockey, and the college, I became really excited about the opportunity.
GHR: What made the gig attractive to you?
SS: The more and more I read and heard about Union College, and the hockey program, the more appealing the position became. Although the women's program hasn't had the success of the men's, it was very clear to me how much the school cares and puts into both programs, and the fact that I would be the first play-by-play broadcaster on the women's side, it made the position even more appealing.
Although most of my play-by-play experience has been in minor league baseball, I had been looking to gain experience in other sports, and in collegiate sports as well. And once I started mentioning the Union possibility to other people, I either heard how great the school and community is, how exciting broadcasting college hockey can be, or both.
GHR: How would you describe your broadcasting style?
SS: I am very energetic, and can certainly get enthusiastic on a broadcast, while keeping things positive at the same time.
GHR: What are the differences in broadcasting hockey and baseball?
SS: I'd say the pace of the game would be the biggest difference. In baseball, something happens for at most maybe 10-15 seconds, then the game stops either for the pitcher to get ready to pitch again, the batter to get set, or someone else to come up to the plate. There is more emphasis on filling time and adding information. In hockey, it's non-stop action, so it's more important to keep up with the game.
GHR: The Dutchwomen are off to an 0-1-2 start this season. Any early impressions?
SS: They're young, with 12 of their players being freshmen or sophomores. But they still were able to get leads and end up with ties in two of their first three games, all on the road. It will be interesting to see how they do finally getting a chance to play at home.
GHR: Will you be involved with the Union men's hockey broadcast team at all?
SS: I got hired to call the women's games, and as far as play-by-play goes, that's all I'll be doing. However, I will be filling in occasionally on select men's broadcasts as the rinkside reporter when Andrew Santillo is busy with football.
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GHR: What are the differences in broadcasting hockey and baseball?
SS: I'd say the pace of the game would be the biggest difference. In baseball, something happens for at most maybe 10-15 seconds, then the game stops either for the pitcher to get ready to pitch again, the batter to get set, or someone else to come up to the plate. There is more emphasis on filling time and adding information. In hockey, it's non-stop action, so it's more important to keep up with the game.
GHR: The Dutchwomen are off to an 0-1-2 start this season. Any early impressions?
SS: They're young, with 12 of their players being freshmen or sophomores. But they still were able to get leads and end up with ties in two of their first three games, all on the road. It will be interesting to see how they do finally getting a chance to play at home.
GHR: Will you be involved with the Union men's hockey broadcast team at all?
SS: I got hired to call the women's games, and as far as play-by-play goes, that's all I'll be doing. However, I will be filling in occasionally on select men's broadcasts as the rinkside reporter when Andrew Santillo is busy with football.
Editor's note: Santillo also serves as the play-by-play voice of the Union football team. Sigal will make his rinkside debut with the men's hockey broadcast team during Friday's season-opener against Sacred Heart.
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