The PJHL social media have launched a new campaign titled Rinkside Chats. They are short interviews that have been conducted with PJHL staff, volunteers and players! it was created in an attempt to allow fans to get to know more about the PJHL family and the people behind the scenes. We asked Social Media Coordinator, Madison Bryan, why she created the interviews and this was her response,
“I really just wanted people to be able to see all the hard work and dedication our staff, players, coaches, and volunteers do behind the scenes to make the PJHL great! it’s also a great way to highlight some of the things that our teams are doing for their communities that some people may have no idea about! ”
We have included the first rinkside chat from the Clarington Eagles Social Media manager below! it’s a great insight into the Clarington eagles and also discusses a Social Club for Special Needs people that Archer created!
Interviewer: What is your position with the PJHL and how long have you been in that position?
Archer: I have been working with the Clarington Eagles as their Social Media Manager and this is my second year in that role.
Interviewer: What has been your favourite part of working with the PJHL?
Archer: I run a Social Club for adults with Special needs, pre covid I was taking them on the road to cheer on the team at the away games. The players loved having there own personal cheering section on the road, they would always high five them and they started being called the Super Fans.
Interviewer: What are you most excited for this season?
Archer: Getting back to a normal routine, I just missed hockey during Covid, mainly the people, its really nice to catch up with everyone. Having my first season cut short by Covid, I feel like we have some unfinished business to take care of as well.
Interviewer: What are some goals/hopes you have for your position this season?
Archer: I’m completely self taught, so Im always looking for feed back and suggestions, currently Im working on ways to integrate our amazing sponsors into our posts as well as figuring out what material our fans want to see more of.
Interviewer: Any fun facts you want people to know about you or the Eagles?
Archer: I got started doing social media by accident, the group I run was always asking me the score of whatever game I was at (mainly lacrosse to start), so I opened up a twitter qccount and had them follow me (it seemed easier then texting multiple people the score). Parents of players and then other fans started following me, and all of a sudden I had a few hundred followers without trying. Im a huge Oshawa Generals fan and one of there former players (Will Petschenig) was working with the Green Gaels and he came up to me during a game and offered me to do the Gaels social media. It was sort of surreal in away because he was a favorite player of mine, so I said yes and then it just sort of took off from there. Ive gotten to work with several teams and he’s to thank for that, I dont think I ever would have thought to volunteer myself for the position.
Interviewer: What made you decide to work in this field?
Archer: I started more then halfway into lacrosse season with the Gaels and when lacrosse season ended I found myself quickly missing it so I reached out to the Eagles to see of the needed help.
Interviewer: Late nights happen in any profession, what’s your go-to takeout order on these late nights?
Archer: Lately its been stopping at A&W for a quick burger on the way back from road games.
We thank Chris Archer for his participation and for being our first rinkside chat! so far it has been a great success! if you know anybody that you think would be a good fit for the rinkside chats, you can contact us through our social media or by emailing pjhlsocialmedia@gmail.com