I Was There

Hockey is part of the Canadian backbone ~ something that most kids learn to play from a very young age. I remember becoming a 'rink rat' at the age of five as I went to my younger brother's hockey practices and games. There is something about the crisp air in a natural ice hockey rink (can you smell the onion rings?). Never one to miss out on the action, I played ringette (definition here for those who have never played) in high school and campus recreation hockey in university. Needless to say it's in my blood.

So when I was approached by a fellow former PR classmate to be involved on the 2012 World Junior Hockey Championship social media committee, I couldn't say no. Held from December 26 to December 31st in Edmonton and January 2 to 6th in Calgary, there was plenty of opportunity to be involved. I volunteered for eight months on the Twitter account for the World Juniors and what an experience I had. Together with eight other social media pros spread between Calgary and Edmonton we built an amazing following on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and YouTube. It exceeded my expectations!

Look at me Ma! I'm tweeting.

My roomie Natalie multi-tasking for Facebook.

My view from the press box.

The theme for this year's tournament was "I Was There" ~ so fitting from every angle when you think of it. I can say that I was definitely there and the memories and impact on me will last a lifetime. Thanks to this opportunity my love for hockey has been reignited.

This Canada flag is HUGE! Passed around the crowd

before every game.

This was the pre-game skate before the Canada v.s. U.S.A game

on New Year's Eve. It was loud in the house that night!

The coffee break of the new age

This post is inspired by my readings this week in my master's program and a thoughtful conversation I had last night with @matt_bisson. This week we had to digest the theory of Marshall McLuhan - of "the medium is the message" fame.

Our class has talked a lot about electronic media and how it's changed our society. Last night Matthew and I started talking about how more and more people are taking time during their work day to surf Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. He mentioned that studies were showing people need that time to disconnect from work, let the mind roam free and then they can return to the task at hand refreshed and ready to go.

What Matthew was saying makes sense to me, and it also made me think of YouTube'ing becoming the new coffee break for the new generation. Instead of taking 15 minutes away from the desk to go for a coffee with co-workers, are we now switching the rules by surfing the Net instead?

I'll leave you all with this - my MACT classmate @CarolynFreed did a YouTube mash-up for our readings this week. I find it hilarious! I would definitely take time out of my work day to watch this.