Hudson Crusaders

January 4^th, 2012 – Ken Coenen answers a few questions about his experiences as MSBN announcer for the Crusaders. Transitioning from arena announcer, Ken’s been involved with the team the last few years after being introduced by the Billet Coordinator, Trisha Danielson. She heard him announce a mite game and thought he would be a great addition to the box. “My wife even accuses me of announcing when we’re in the stands,” he jokes.

He really loves announcing and found the online arena of MSBN allows him to interact with fans: “It’s not just a one-way communication [like with arena announcing] and it’s more than just announcing scores and penalties,” he says, “It was a natural progression for me because it gives me the chance to give background about the games and players that fans don’t know about.” It’s not about just the action on the ice it’s the news off the ice and insights into the game that he includes in his broadcast. Before he even gets to the rink he researches the opposing team and their updates. Before games, Ken talks to the coaches and finds out what players are hot. “The coaches immediately light up,” he says. “That gives me motivation too. Being in the rink revs me up.”

When he started the season as MSBN announcer, Ken had to focus on the changing landscape of the opposing teams’ rosters, saying the most challenging thing was organizing names with numbers. Later in the season he focuses on striking a balance between announcing plays and additional comments. “I wanted to make sure I could maintain an information/entertainment balance.”

Ken’s life is busy out of the box as well. He co-owns a recruiting firm, Coenen Bros. in Minneapolis, MN and coaches hockey. He loves to fish and hunt and be with his family. Ken also volunteers at the Hudson Food Shelf, sponsors two Toys for Tots boxes, organizes a program to buy equipment for the police foundation, and hosts a Haunted House at this home every Halloween with all food donated going to the Food Shelf.

Check out his announcing and home games on MSBN’s website. Search for past games in their Full Archive.    

December 30^th, 2011 – The Crusaders would like to welcome their new videographer Robin Wilcox, owner of Robbed Entertainment. Robin will tape the rest of the season’s home games, create highlight reels for the players, and edit promotional shorts for the website. Robin has always enjoyed being behind the video camera, even at a young age. “I think it was a natural progression for it to eventually become my profession.” A native of Mahtomedi, MN, she has her bachelor’s degree in Theater Arts from California State University in Los Angeles with a minor in Creative Writing. She worked in theater in California for a year after graduating, doing everything from playwriting, directing and stage management before she moved back to Minnesota. She worked on short films and also wrote and produced a sitcom on local cable. She’s even filmed/edited weddings and music videos, but her main interest has always been with sports.

With her business Robbed Entertainment, Robin started her focus in 2005 on football games at high school and semi pro levels. Since then she’s filmed professional MN boxing, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), snowmobiling, bowling and a season of Bull Riding that took her across the state of Minnesota. She likes the variety, commenting that each sport has something different to enjoy. Bull riders are tough, she says, and boxers always have great stories to tell. She also began filming Lacrosse in summer of 2011 and that’s what led her interest in filming hockey. “I like filming hockey because of the speed,” she states. “There is non-stop action and it’s more challenging than a lot of other sports.” What she likes the best about filming sports is the opportunity to showcase the athlete’s story from the struggles to the triumphs.

Robin is excited to be a part of the Crusaders’ mission to advance players. She respects the team’s integrity to stand behind this mission. In her experience she’s seen other sports programs make promises to advance their players, but they soon fall short of the promise. Her video work is an integral part to getting the Crusaders’ mission out to the public in visual form.

It’s the passion for the content that keeps Robin motivated. When it comes to either shooting video or editing highlight reels, it never feels like work to her. “I never say ‘I have to go to work,’ it’s always ‘I get to film!’”

When she’s not behind the camera, Robin likes to watch and play sports, go to movies, ride bike and spend time with friends/family.

For more information, view Robin’s YouTube channel for Robbed Entertainment. 

The following people devote many of their weekends during hockey season to ensure the smooth running of each home game in Hudson. Thank you very much for your effort!

Todd Wandschneider
Roger Wandschneider
Dustin and Trisha Danielson
Al and Angie Steiner
Bill and Brannan Jenkinson
Mary Jo Romanowski
Shawn Pettee
Ken Coenen
Rob Harker
Bernie Kelcher
Joel Motz
Heath Meyer
Jon Stow
Michael Staloch