KZOW Travels to Michigan

The radio booth setup high above the Berry Events Center in Marquette. Photo courtesy Damon Helgevold

By Damon Helgevold

Five-thousand listeners tuned in over three days following six games until finally on the last day we have a champion. KZOW had the privilege to be the radio home of the NCHL (Northern Collegiate Hockey League) Conference Tournament. This was possible due to the fact Waldorf plays their Conference Hockey within this league throughout the season. Last season KZOW Sports Director Jarred Becker was given the opportunity to broadcast the games at the tournament held in Albert Lea, home of the Warriors hockey arena.

This year Becker and, Assistant Sports Director for KZOW, Damon Helgevold had the chance to hit the road and travel to Marquette, Michigan, the site of this years tournament hosted by Northern Michigan. This was a huge opportunity for the station and the school.

Not only did KZOW cover the Waldorf games, they had the chance to broadcast the entire tournament for every school involved. All games aired over the KZOW airwaves here in Forest City and all over the world due to the Livestream link. This gave the broadcasters the opportunity to broaden the audience listening as well as friends and families of those not able to attend the games in Marquette.

Technical difficulties plagued the first game as Waldorf-St. Mary’s took the ice first. After two periods of play the game still was knotted up at zero. After getting the difficulties worked out for the third period of play Spencer Johnson and the Warriors got rolling as Johnson put two goals in the back of the net. The Warriors went on to win the opening game of the tournament 3-0. The second game saw a much more lopsided game in UW-Oshkosh blowing out host school Northern Michigan 6-3.

Saturday began with a big boost of optimism as the games all went well on the technical end and were just great games overall. In the first game of the day it saw Northern Michigan coming out ahead 5-2 over St. Mary’s in the consolation game.

The semifinals began and what a first game as broadcasted on KZOW. For those listening they were given a treat as UW- Oshkosh took on first seed Lewis University and this game was back and forth all the way to the end. Three periods weren’t enough as the teams went into double overtime to settle things. Fifteen seconds into the second overtime Jason Johnson for UW-Oshkosh found the back of the net to send the Titans into the title game Sunday and upset the number one seed.

The second semifinal game saw Waldorf and Robert Morris go at it. This was also a great close game that came all the way down to the wire. Ultimately in the end Robert Morris would take the victory by a score of 2-1.

Championship Sunday came about and alive on KZOW. This game saw yet another close one that ended up sending the Robert Morris bench into a frenzy as they claimed their first NCHL title.

The trip was one to remember for the station.