This week on our Meet the Media blog series we’d like to introduce you to Andy Eide, the Seattle correspondent for NHL.com. Learn more about Andy by reading below, and follow him on Twitter to keep up with his stories.
1. How did you find yourself writing for the NHL?
I’ve been writing about hockey for over ten years now. It started with The Hockey Writers, writing stories about the Vancouver Canucks from afar. From there I was brought in to cover the Seattle Thunderbirds for ESPN Seattle’s web page who were the Thunderbirds radio affiliate at the time. That got me hired by Sportsnet in Canada to cover the Western Hockey League in general, something I did for two seasons. As the build to the NHL in Seattle amped up I was able to cover some stories for the NHL to Seattle site, which led to being named the Seattle correspondent for NHL.com.
2. Which of your stories are you most proud of?
The last year has been a fun time covering hockey in Seattle. I’ve been able to interview Tod Leiweke, Dave Tippett, Ron Francis, and many others. There are two stories that jump to mind that I’m perhaps most proud of. The first was in 2018 when Mathew Barzal came back to Vancouver with the New York Islanders. I was able to cover that game and catch up with a guy that I had covered during his time playing in Seattle and it was also the first time I’d been in an NHL dressing room. The second story was from this past June’s NHL Draft in Vancouver. The Thunderbirds had three players drafted and they all had great stories, one was in a driver’s ed class and cut out after being picked so he could come to the arena, another was in Saskatchewan and lost power, and the third had just come home from working out in Edmonton. Sometimes the stories present themselves to you on their own. I’m looking forward to the NHL starting in Seattle for the opportunity for more great stories.
3. What is your favorite thing about your job?
First and foremost I love hockey and have since I was a kid. So, to be around the game and at the rink is a dream come true. Also, the people in hockey, at all levels, are great people. From players to coaches, scouts, media, I’ve been lucky to meet some great and interesting people.
4. What is your interview style?
I like to make an interview a conversation a much as possible. Preparation is vital but so is listening to what your subject is saying. It’s one thing to go in with a set of questions to ask, but you have to be able to adapt based on the responses you get. Some of the best interviews are ones that go in a direction you didn’t see coming.
5. What do you look for in a story?
I try to put myself in the shoes of the fan and ask what they would like to know. I enjoy being a storyteller so I look for the good stories that can connect the fans with the team they love. Most hockey players have interesting backstories or origin stories and I like to bring those stories to the fans who follow them. When it comes to writing a game story, I try to write in a manner that you would use to tell your buddy about the game, if he or she had missed it. I try to give them a feel for what it was like being there.
6. What is your day like at your job?
Because there are no Seattle NHL games yet I still cover the Thunderbirds and there are no typical days. I’ll hit up practice a couple of times during the week, I help host the Thunderbirds coach’s radio show, will cover games and of course, a lot of writing. I’m also a co-host of a podcast, The Sound of Hockey, that covers the NHL, and all things hockey, including local news. I’m looking forward to hitting NHL Seattle’s morning skates in 2021.
7. Who do you most look up to in the journalism industry?
This is a tough one to answer because there are many who’s work I enjoy. I like Elliot Freidman from Sportsnet, Nick Constonika from NHL.com, Michael Russo and Scott Burnside from The Athletic, to name a few.
8. What is your favorite news outlet?
For hockey news, I enjoy Sportsnet, The Hockey News, and I’ve really been impressed with the work that The Athletic has been cranking out over the last couple of seasons, especially on the hockey front.
9. Fill in the blank:
- If I am not reporting, I am… reading, playing guitar, or at the movies.
- If I could interview anyone, it would be… Joe Strummer of The Clash. They were one of my favorite bands growing up and Joe was an amazing frontman who was taken from us way too soon.
- My favorite thing about Seattle is… the scenery, hands down.
- My guilty pleasure is… The show Ghost Adventures which is probably the greatest, unintentional comedy on tv.
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