This week marks a huge step forward in the Daily's coverage of the National Hockey League, as the Boston Bruins have embarked on a program that will grant media access to local college newspapers.
College sports reporters will be granted the same access as regular Bruins writers from the Boston Globe, Boston Herald and other daily media outlets.
"[It's] mutually beneficial for the Bruins and for the student reporters," Bruins Director of Communications Matt Chmura said. "[The Daily will have] the same access that Hall of Fame writer Kevin Paul Dupont has."
The Daily's coverage will provide another small outlet to expand exposure for a sport and a team that are in sore need of additional fans and revenue. While the college media outreach program is in its infancy, Chmura said he has high expectations for the future.
"From a PR perspective, we are trying to reach out to every avenue possible to get more coverage," he said. "As a former student journalist myself, when I was at Holy Cross I knew how great it would have been to cover one of the Boston sports teams. I know how great of an experience it would have been."
The Bruins are especially interested in taking advantage of Boston's unique demographics. With over a quarter million students attending college in the area, the Bruins view the city's captive college audience as a potential fan base that few other cities can match.
"Boston has so many students in the city, and we want everyone in the city to experience Bruins games," Chmura said. "There's a unique opportunity as an organization to create more fans while they're here for their college experience."
The Bruins have featured a special college-student section at the TD Banknorth Garden during weeknight home games for several years, but this year they have stepped up efforts to attract new fans. The Bruins franchise will be targeting college students for Nov. 13's contest with the Montreal Canadiens. The Bruins and the Habs are longtime rivals, and with last year's playoff series between the two going a fight-filled, action-packed seven games, the upcoming meeting should be an intense one.
"There is a big emphasis on Nov. 13, the first game against Montreal at home this season," Chmura said. "We hope it will be a great experience for everyone to cover world-class athletes on their stage in a heated divisional rivalry."
This type of rivalry can only truly be appreciated in person, according to Chmura.
"Hockey's a sport that's best viewed live," Chmura said. "Hopefully, the journalists that are covering games for student newspapers can convey how great hockey is [as a live] experience. Students will see that excitement in the student media and will want to experience it for themselves."
Tufts' Bruins fans are excited about the program. "It's good to give the Bruins attention in a city where they are overshadowed by the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics," senior Jonathan Carlson said.
At present, most fans get their Bruins fix from other media outlets that have inside access. But as the Daily's coverage begins with this year's Bruins season, Jumbos will have to look no further than these pages for their team updates.
