Re: Ferris State Hockey 2009-10 - 2 minutes for slashing
Does Mr. Hennig post on this board?
http://www.mlive.com/sports/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2009/11/dominic_hennig_18_takes_over_p.html
Dominic Hennig, 18, takes over play-by-play duties for Ferris State hockey radio broadcasts
By Michael Zuidema | The Grand Rapids Press
November 20, 2009, 11:15AM
Really, Dominic Hennig is no different than your average veteran play-by-play radio broadcaster.
He’s devoted to the sport he calls, does his best to inject excitement into every broadcast and has received his share of both negative and positive feedback.
There is one slight difference, however: Hennig just turned 18 years old.
Hennig is in his first season calling hockey games for WWBR-FM (100.9) for Ferris State University -- where he also happens to be a freshman.
Hennig is no neophyte when it comes to calling hockey games, though.
It all started when his brother, Nate, started playing junior hockey in Santa Fe, N.M. During one visit, the team’s regular radio guy didn’t show up and Hennig had a chance to fill in.
Keep in mind he was 14 at the time. Most boys that age are preoccupied with puberty, girls and video games.
“I was so nervous. I’m 14 and I’ve never called a game in my life,” he said. “But I jumped on, and I guess the station had people calling and saying they liked me.”
In fact, the team’s owner liked Hennig so much, she paid to have him fly in from Macomb Dakota High School to call games. On Thursday nights, he would fly to New Mexico. On Sunday afternoons, he’d return to Michigan.
When he graduated -- this was about six months ago -- Hennig planned to enroll in Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in Southfield to pursue his dream of becoming an NHL broadcaster.
Once again, though, things changed after another visit to his brother, who now is a junior on the Ferris State hockey team.
Hennig attended a game and couldn’t understand why more students weren’t packing the stands at Ewigleben Ice Arena.
“It’s the only Division I sport we have, we’re playing teams like Michigan and Notre Dame and they’re only getting about 1,500 people?” he said. “How is that possible?”
So, Hennig started using Facebook to inform and attract students. He got the athletic department on board and, sure enough, the next game was packed.
He eventually wandered up to the radio booth, where he casually asked longtime announcer Bill Beckwith -- whom Hennig eventually would replace when Ferris State decided to cut costs -- if he could jump onto the broadcast. Beckwith said yes, and the rest is history.
Hennig said he already has spent $1,500 of his own money to update radio equipment, and he still hopes to build more excitement for the hockey program.
He’s also thankful the athletic department gave him this opportunity.
“I was so young,” Hennig said. “I wouldn’t trust some young punk to call a D-I hockey team.”
Ferris State associate athletic director Jon Coles said there was some hesitation about handing over the radio reins to someone who didn’t turn 18 until Oct. 10, but he’s been impressed with Hennig’s enthusiasm.
“He’s inexperienced in terms of calling college games, but he’s still improving and continues to learn on the go,” Coles said. “But he brings a lot of excitement to the broadcast and we’re excited to have that element.”
Even if that youth occasionally is a little over the top.
“In a shootout last weekend, he was jumping up and down and the veteran broadcasters are looking at him like he’s lost his mind,” Coles said. “But you can’t teach passion, and we’d rather have too much than none at all.”
Passion isn’t an issue for Hennig. Neither is motivation nor ambition.
One day, he hopes to write a book about why hockey is more exciting than football and deserves more respect.
At his current rate, that opus should be released sometime around his 21st birthday.
“I love the sport of hockey with a passion,” Hennig said. “People almost get sick of hearing about it."
E-mail Michael Zuidema:
mzuidema@grpress.com
