Fans who couldn’t make it to the Hart Center on the campus of Holy Cross in Worcester on Saturday were still in good hands.
When the Greenfield hockey team won its first-ever state championship, the excitement and enthusiasm of the moment was relayed through the radio, and eventually on video. Play-by-play announcer Chris Collins and analyst Todd Howe called all the action in Saturday’s thrilling 3-2 victory over Lunenburg, when the Green Wave took home the first MIAA Division 3A state title in program history.
Broadcasting live on Bear Country 95.3 FM, and simulcasting video for Frontier Community Access Television (FCAT), the duo provided Franklin County with the words to paint the picture of the historic scene unfolding in Worcester.
For Collins, the chance to call Greenfield’s first-ever state title had special meaning. His father, Ralph Collins, coached the program, and the team’s home rink, Collins-Moylan Arena, also dons his name.
“To be able to broadcast the first state title in history, for me it was a very emotional moment,” began Collins on Monday night. “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a personal feeling involved. I got caught up so much in the emotion of it. I got into (the broadcasting) business in 1986, but this was an experience I’m never going to forget. I’ll take this to my grave.”
Locked in a 2-2 game, Greenfield’s Bryan Baumann took a pass from Jacob Bryant, spun and skated into the Lunenburg zone. He ripped a shot that found the back of the net with just 1:31 remaining in regulation, and the goal eventually stood as the game-winning tally to help Greenfield capture the state crown.
Here’s how it sounded on the air:
COLLINS: “(Matthew) Albert for Lunenburg, back-hands it in. Fielded by Bryant, who lifts it out to Baumann. Baumann now, at center ice. Baumann, high slot. Baumann, shot, score! Bryan Baumann! Roofed it! 3-2! (Defenseman Tristan) Gallant never saw it, it was through a screen. And Greenfield takes the lead with 1:31 to go in regulation.”
HOWE: “Wow. Again, we go to the point. Set play. Bryant got the puck in the zone, he just flipped it out to Baumann. He caught it, moved to his right, kind of threw the puck out to the side and skated in. He was 1-on-2, he was all alone. But a screen shot, the goalie never saw it. Like I said, they’re at the minute and a half mark… this is their magic minute!”
Howe was referring to those late-game heroics that helped Greenfield win its final three postseason games. The team scored in that same minute of the third period during wins over South Hadley, Wahconah and Lunenburg.
“Honestly it wasn’t surprising,” began Howe, on Monday, of the game-winning goal coming late. Howe was a GHS assistant coach from 2004-2009. “They seem to score at that time of the game. They had the power line out there with Baumann and (Sean) O’Sullivan. I just kind of had a feeling. When you see Bryant just flip it up, we know exactly what he’s doing.”
Collins and Howe broadcasted seven Greenfield hockey games this season — four in the regular season and all three playoff tilts. The familiarity with the team certainly helped come Saturday’s state final, according to the duo.
“I really felt more comfortable with the team after doing all the games that we did this year,” said Howe. “This was the first year we did more than just playoff games so I felt like I was really clicking with Chris by the (state) final.”
Collins agreed.
“The ability to do four regular season games, you get to figure out the numbers, lines, etc.,” he offered. “You have a team you’ve seen all season so you really only have to worry about the numbers on one side because you know the (Greenfield ones). Those four games really helped.”
The chemistry between the pair also helped. Collins and Howe grew up together, played sports together, and have done games on the air for a few years now.
“He’s a natural broadcaster,” said Collins of Howe. “He has an uncanny feel for the game, just has everything you need to be a good color guy. He understands when to come in, when not to.”
Howe acknowledged that chemistry helps, especially when broadcasting a sport like hockey where the action is fast-paced and can shift quickly.
“I give all the credit in the world to Chris Collins,” Howe lauded. “He’s on top of the game and does it so well. I’m there to fill in when he breathes. It’s a lot of fun to do those games. I just have to be ready for a comment here and there, but things move quickly in hockey. You’ve got to be ready to move on to the next thing right away.”
Overlooking the Hart Center on Saturday, Howe said they had the perfect vantage point from their press box to describe the action down below.
“It was fun in the sense that we probably had the best seats in the house,” he said. “Doing the broadcast, it’s tied and we get to 1:59 left in the game and I made the comment, ‘This is when they score.’ That’s the time they won their first game against South Hadley, when they tied Wahconah to force overtime. So I’m predicting in the next minute or so, they’ll score. They’re used to it. They’re ready for that moment. And that’s what happened.”
As the game reached a fever pitch in the final minute, Collins said he did his best to remain calm despite the stakes continuing to rise.
“I try not to scream too much but there are times my emotions get away from me,” Collins admitted. “That’s just my style. I tend to get into the game.”
Greenfield took a penalty with 35 seconds left, setting up a 6-on-4 penalty kill with the Lunenburg net empty.
“The big thing for me is when I do play-by-play, I assume that somebody listening doesn’t necessarily listen to much hockey,” began Howe. “I said late in the game when they were down 6-on-4 (for the final 35 seconds) that they can still ice the puck down a man. There’s really no chance for Lunenburg to get a good shot off if they do that. Both center men got thrown out on that last faceoff. But credit to (Greenfield coach) Bouchard for having two center men out there. They won that faceoff easily to help seal the game.”
Seal the game, and the state title. Collins said documenting the ride gives him immeasurable satisfaction.
“It was historic,” he began. “In 20 years, those kids will be able to go to YouTube, dial up this game and play it for their kids. The internet is in ink.”