Toronto Factoring in the Broadcast Booth

Well wel well….quite a New Years celebration in Toronto. First off it is only appropriate to thank those who hosted such an incredible life-long memory. Ross Lipson, Howie Migdal, Corey Weisberg, Josh Diamond, Matt Budman, Michael Budman, and Mara Sofferin. I arrived in Toronto on the 29th of December, a day earlier than most arrived in Toronto with Max Smith. When I arrived in Toronto I was notified by Josh Diamond that he had a ice hockey game, and needed an extra player. To his surpise I actually brought up all my ice hockey equipment. I mean come on people who takes their hockey equipment to a new years celebration besides Fenkell. So I played in the game and stepped on the ice for the first time in a few months. My first shift, literally 2 seconds after I took a stride, I served a penalty for too many men. A few minutes later I got called for a tripping penalty. Then during the 3rd period off the facoff I pushed the puck through the opposing centers leg and somehow the ref, who hd it out for me all game, got in the way. So I then decided to tell him to “Get out of the way”, to seconds later he threw me out of the game. Pretty ild if you ask me. 3 penalties in my first game back, not to mention it was a Jewsih league where no penalties were called basically besides on me. All in all it was a fun time and a great experience.

After the game I went to my boy Corey Weisbergs place to eat a nice organic dinner. He playd on JD’s team in the game and I decided hell why not go to his place and get some food. The rest of that night was comprised of doing illegal things and watching hockey, the only sport covered in Canada on TSN. Probably the greatest thing in the world, because ESPN barely rarely covers the NHL. I passed out soon thereafter at Ross’s place in preparation for a wild day as most of my friends would be driving up that day. I woke up at roughly 11am to Howie Migdal telling me he needed me to join him to go buy food, liquor, and beer. So I agreed and tagged along to get all the necessities for a crazy New Years experience. During this 2 hour ordeal of shopping and buying drinks I got a call from Josh Diamond. He informed me of a outdoor hockey game at Michael Budmans hockey rink. I obviously told him I was in. Before I knew it I found myself skating on Budmans rink in a 3 on 3 game. It was simply incredible and filled with laughter and competition. After the game in which Michael Matt Budman, and myself won I headed back to Lipsons via a nice car ride from Garelli. As a arrived back to the apartment I was bombarded with new faces from America. All of my boys and a lot of their girlfriends. This includes the likes of David Mindel, Dyla Michilin, Adam Gordon, Nick Roubal, Jason Goldis, Jordan Lanyi, Joe Miller, Kevin Kresch, Leah Moscowitz, Ashley Sherman, Abby Siegel, Nikki Balaj, and Katie Bacon. That ight was fulfilled with a lot of illegal things and a lot of fun.

The following day, aka New Years Eve, was comprised of more hockey outside Budmans house. More 3 on 3 action. That night we headed to Century for new Years. We hopped on the Grub Canada bus with everyone en route to a wild night. We arrived at the club to see a line longer than my branch. We were literally outside witnessing fights and watching bouncers push people back. We entered the club at 11:45 only 15 minutes before the ball dropped. Once we did get in though we hit up our VIP booth and began drinking and eating the appetizers presented to us because we were VIP. Not too shabby. One of the only things I can recall from that night was
Ross and I dancing on these two barriers overlooking the dance floor going crazy with all these women whom we had no idea who they were. Pretty E P I C if you sk me. After a few hours or so we all gathered up and left to go to this kids house party where a lot fo our boys were. We showed up at roughly 230am to see a bunch of people dancing to this DJ playing some quality jams. That night I arrived back to Ross’ place only to end up leaving his apartment with Smitty to pass out at my boy Matt Oriensteins.

The next day every one left but Smitty and I and that day was spent just chill factoring. We left the following day and stopped in Windsor at Taco Bell. They had fries there that were really the booobs. The remainder of break was spent lifting, factoring, playing Mario kart with Joel, having Courtney come spend a few days with my family and I, and do big things in small places.

School has officially started and I have 4 solid classes with 4 solid professors. This is my last semester in college. Pretty wild.

Great news also regarding my dream in becoming a eSPN NHL analyst/broadcaster/reporter. I have officially started broadcasting hockey games for Cranbrook Kingswood. I did the first ever official broadcast with Novi CC’s announcers Mike Lefleur and Mike McGee. I head to Alpena tomorrow with their squad to do the first ever CK Hockey broadcast done by only CK announcers.