On the Forecheck
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Nine hockey people you should follow on Twitter
by Forechecker on 12/01/08 at 12:44 PM ET
Comments (19)
One of the most lively areas in the online world these days is Twitter, the social networking/micro-blogging/discussion forum that’s growing by leaps and bounds. NHL fans, being the upscale, technically savvy folks that they are, have been taking Twitter by storm, adding a new dimension to how they interact and discuss the game.
Many sites, including Kukla’s Korner (@kuklaskorner), James Mirtle’s From the Rink (@mirtle), HockeyFights.com (@hockeyfights) and the Toronto Globe & Mail (@globehockey) use Twitter as a way to alert followers to new articles as they are posted. For me at least, these notifications often arrive quicker than waiting on an RSS reader.
But if you’re a hockey fan who wants to check out the fast-paced (and some would say addictive) Twitter experience, where do you start? Which users should you start following? This list should help you get rolling, or rather, “tweeting”...
Nine Hockey People You Should Follow on Twitter:
9. Me (@forechecker)! Hey, it’s my list…
8. Tyler at NHL Digest.com (@nhldigest) is always out there talking about game highlights or discussing the issue of the day. Given the frequency of his tweets, I’m guessing he’s on a constant IV feed of pure caffeine…
7. Pokecheck (@pokecheck), author the Sliding Pokecheck, a Carolina Hurricanes blog.
6. Christy Hammond (@behindthejersey); besides being a popular longstanding Detroit blogger, Christy is a student intern in the Red Wings’ and University of Michigan Athletic Department’s PR offices, and thus runs the gamut from general hockey talk to how new media is becoming a greater part of marketing the game.
5. HockeyWilderness (@hockeywildernes), another frequent tweeter commenting on all things Minnesota Wild.
4. Mother Pucker Hockey (@motherpucker) is always commenting on the night’s action, and can also point you to streaming game video as well.
3. Shannon Paul (@shannonpaul); as the social media guru for the Detroit Red Wings (she’s also behind @detroitredwings, which provides updates related to the Winged Wheel), Shannon speaks out and solicits opinion on how best to leverage platforms like Twitter to improve the fan experience.
2. Michael DiLorenzo (@umassdilo); Michael is the NHL’s Director of Corporate Communications, but don’t let the stuffy title fool you. He’s always discussing the game with any and everyone, and elicits feedback on ideas such as recognizing an NHL Tweeter of the Month. A new entry to the Twitter-verse is Michael’s colleague Nirva Milord (@nirvamilord), who will be contributing player & celebrity updates related to the league.
1. On Frozen Blog (@OnFrozenBlog) is of course a landmark Washington Capitals blog, and with almost 800 followers (as of this writing), makes for a great jumping-off point to find other hockey-related Twitter users to build your own network.
A remarkable tool has been created by Paul Nicholson, a Nashville Predators fan who launched the @Predfans Twitter account last month. When Twitter users send a message to @Predfans, it gets redistributed to the other @Predfans followers; and makes for a great way to have a discussion (typically during games) about the team without having to set up a relationship with (and hear all the updates from) other members of the group, which now has over 130 members including Tom Callahan, the radio voice of the Nashville Predators (@predsradio). Paul, you’ve really got to find a way to market that tool so fans of all the NHL teams can enjoy it! No pressure…
Several teams have also set up official accounts on Twitter that provide rapid updates for hockey fans, including @AtlThrashers, @NHL_Blackhawks, @NewYorkRangers, and @edmontonoilers. Really guys, you should figure out a common naming format!
So get out there and start tweeting; you’ll be amazed to find how many other hockey fans are out doing the same thing, and looking for another voice to join in the conversation.
UPDATE: Another great resource to get started with is a recent article from Minnesota Hockey Journal (@QuickFacts), “A Slap and A Tweet”.
UPDATE 2: Some NHL players are finally making their way into the Twitter-verse, like Alexander Ovechkin (@ovi8) and Patrick Elias (@pelias).
Filed in: NHL Commentary | On the Forecheck | Permalink
Tags: social+networking, Twitter,
Comments
Pittsburgh Penguins Official Twitter:
http://twitter.com/pghpenguins
Posted by btumpak on 12/01/08 at 01:21 PM ET
We’re working on making the ReTweetBot tool something we can expand. We did just launch @TitanFans for Nashville football fans.
I also have to give full props to Garrett (Phragmunkee.com) who actually had the coding-fu to pull off my idea, and has been kind enough to host the app so far.
Stay tuned…
In the meantime, any hockey fans that want to setup a ReTweetBot for their team, let me know (email me at “pwnicholson [at] gmail”) and i’ll see about setting one up for you…though i’m not sure i could make myself set one up for any Wings or Sharks fans 
Posted by pwnicholson from Nashville, TN on 12/01/08 at 01:22 PM ET
You could also just DM me on Twitter if you want a ReTweet account setup. You’d never guess my Twitter handle is: @pwnicholson
Posted by pwnicholson from Nashville, TN on 12/01/08 at 01:23 PM ET
Great list. I was following most of the people you listed, but I was missing a couple, so thank you! Also, the ReTweetBot is very interesting.
-Russell (twitter.com/rscibetti)
Posted by Russell Scibetti from NJ on 12/01/08 at 02:30 PM ET
Thanks for the awesome Twitter list y’all. Now I can get my fix faster.
Take care,
@emilwisch
Posted by Emil Wisch from Chicago, IL on 12/01/08 at 02:31 PM ET
Thanks, Dirk for listing me and the @detroitredwings here with the other hockey and NHL-related Twitter accounts. This is a great list you’ve been able to compile and I love that others are adding their names to the list in the comments!
I just wanted to address the fact that you noticed some inconsistency with the profile names on each NHL team account. To be fair, I think the variations have more to do with an issue of having the official name of the team already being taken in many circumstances.
When I first started in my position with the Red Wings, a fan contacted me confessing that he “may know” the person that was behind the @detroitredwings account. After some discussion, I was able to convince him to change the name on his account that he created, which was being used to pull several Red Wings-related news feeds, so we could go ahead and register the name.
As it stands, someone else still has the @RedWings profile name although it’s just sitting dormant. That would have been my first choice since it’s better for SEO purposes, but was happy to have the @DetroitRedWings name without having to come up with a creative alternative.
Posted by Shannon Paul from Detroit, Michigan on 12/01/08 at 02:57 PM ET
@ShannonPaul
I think that proves one of the most vaulable things that ‘social media’ coordinators and marketers can do is simply stay on top of new social media outlets and grab usernames and profiles before cyber-squatters do. Thank goodness for sites like http://www.usernamecheck.com
Posted by pwnicholson from Nashville, TN on 12/01/08 at 03:05 PM ET
One more shamless plug from the KK family of blogs…
http://twitter.com/TheConfluence
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/01/08 at 03:11 PM ET
You might also add Ben Wright - the Blueland Blogger from the Thrashers - http://twitter.com/ben_wright
Posted by mark on 12/01/08 at 03:34 PM ET
Thanks for mentioning me in your list there. Was wondering what I had to attribute the influx of new followers too!
And thanks for pointing out the new http://twitter.com/TheConfluence
Posted by Mother Pucker Hockey from Canada on 12/01/08 at 03:46 PM ET
I should also give a plug to my buddy Seth Rorabaugh at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, who runs their Pens blog, Empty Netters….
http://twitter.com/emptynetters
Posted by Tony F from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/01/08 at 03:49 PM ET
Appreciate the plug and look forward to making some additional connections.
Posted by Michael DiLorenzo from NYC on 12/01/08 at 04:25 PM ET
@twolinepass
Posted by two-line pass on 12/01/08 at 07:20 PM ET
I’m always looking for more hockey peeps to follow. 
I’m glad to see a lot of the great people I already know on this list, plus some I can now add!
Posted by Angela from Ancaster, Ontario on 12/03/08 at 10:06 AM ET
Much appreciated plug and just for the record I’ve never had a cup of coffee in my life! A couple of Red Bull (usually with Vodka), but never coffee!
I’m really looking forward to making some great connections. Thank you for compiling this list.
Posted by NHL Digest on 12/06/08 at 10:13 AM ET
I can’t wait til Twitter starts charging and everyone stops using it.
Posted by Comedy Blog from Brooklyn on 12/12/08 at 06:15 PM ET
Great resource! Thanks for putting this together. From the Dallas area, I can also recommend the following Stars bloggers:
Big D Hockey (myself, of course) - @bigdhockey
Mike Heika, Stars beat writer for the Dallas Morning News and regular contributer with ESPN - @dmn_stars
Tracey Myers, Stars beat writer for the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram - @dallasstars
Posted by Big D Hockey from Dallas, TX on 12/19/08 at 11:07 AM ET
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