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Meet Robin Wilcox

December 30th, 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. 

Meet one of our MSBN Announcers: Ken Coenen

January 4th, 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.    

Bernie Kelcher - lending his voice to the MSBN broadcasts

February 17, 2012 - When Ken isn't able to announce games, Bernie steps in as announcer for the Minnesota Sports Broadcast Network. He started announcing in the arena for the Crusaders last season and still continues to help in the booth when needed. He lends his keen eyes, ears and voice to the responsibilities of announcing.

Bernie is easy to work with and always professional. The Crusaders management is thankful that he's able to help out as needed, as most of the other volunteers' schedules are as hectic as his.

As the Crusaders round out another season, we will continue to be proud of our announcers, videographer, volunteers and staff who dedicate their time and efforts to keep the game going.


Home Game Heroes, Top Row: Al Steiner, Ken Coenen, Joel Motz, Heath Meyer, Brannon Jenkinson, Bill Jenkinson. Bottom Row: Angie Steiner, Trisha Danielson, Ryan Kolander.

Other Volunteers not pictured: Todd and Roger Wandschneider, Dustin Danielson, Rob Harker, Bernie Kelcher, Jon Stow, and Michael Staloch.


One of our fine zamboni drivers: Shawn Pettee


Angie Steiner, Trisha Danielson, and Mary Jo Romanowski

Angie Steiner

 

Wearing several hats around the arena, Angie works with the Crusaders and Trisha Danielson wherever she is needed. Angie helps out with scoring, time keeping and announcing. As part of the Hudson Hockey Association she schedules the two rinks and any rentals used on the ice. Her husband is the Zamboni coordinator.
 
She had heard of the billet program through friends who participated in it. Last year her family became a billet family for a Crusader. Soon she was gathering volunteers and recruiting other families to billet, getting them excited to be part of the Crusaders family. She also realized how important it was for the families to get to know each other and how the interaction with the players becomes a lifelong bond.
 
This season Angie and her husband are a billet family once again. She mentioned how great of an influence the two Crusaders, Mackie and Justin, are having on her two children, Emma and George. She thinks that is the greatest part of being a billet family. Emma is a goalie and so is Justin, and Mackie is a defenseman and so is George, so each Crusader becomes a mentor for them. They also have a rink in the backyard once winter comes and sometimes they skate all night.
 
Thank you for all of your hard work during games and your ongoing support as a billet family, Angie! Your awesome attitude is what makes the Crusaders Team special!

Mary Jo Romanoski

If you see a bright, smiling face around the arena during Crusader games, it’s Mary Jo helping out with greeting fans or selling apparel for the team. She also helps by recruiting volunteers to help out with the games or for the billet program. She started volunteering in 2007 and hosted a Crusader for the first time last year with her husband, her son and her daughter.

“I love watching hockey.” Mary Jo says. It doesn’t matter what age group, she adds. “It’s so exciting to watch”. Her son plays in the bantam league and her husband used to play. Not only does she enjoy the games she also enjoys meeting and greeting out of town fans to the Hudson Hockey Arena. She’s a great person to have around this season. Thank you for all you do, Mary Jo!

Trisha Danielson


Trisha Danielson, Billet Supervisor

The Crusaders Hockey Team does more than create a dynamic playing environment for their players. The Billet program in Hudson has been sponsoring great players, giving them the opportunity to meet local families and acquiring lifelong bonds.

Organizing the Billet Program is important in the success of the player’s and host family’s experience. Because the number of families has increased from 10 to 15 in the last season, a Billet Supervisor is needed to provide guidance and support in matching players with host families. In the past, Deb Johnson and Jayne Cernohous have held this position.
 
Trisha Danielson, a Hudson resident, is the current Billet Supervisor for the Hudson Crusaders. Through her membership of various hockey committees and her husband’s participation on the Arena Management Board she found out about the billet program. She also has two children who play with the Hudson Hockey Association. She and her husband became a host family in 2009 and found the experience to be extremely rewarding. The strong bonds that she and her husband formed with their player will be eternal.
 
Shortly thereafter she became the Billet Supervisor. She felt that her serving nature would be a useful tool in educating and exposing other potential host families to the amazing opportunities that the Billet program provides.
 
Trisha had this to say about her duties:
 
“As the Billet Supervisor I look for families that are caring, sensitive and nurturing.  Families should have time to spend with their players as well as be active in supporting them in their hockey endeavors.  In short, families should take every opportunity to make their player feel like a member of the family.”
 
In addition to her position as Billet Supervisor, Trisha works for the Andersen Corporation in the Marketing Department. She also participates in other volunteer programs in the community. As the season starts she will be there to head the Billet Program, adding valuable and extraordinary influence to the benefit of the Crusaders Team and the community.
 
article by Amanda Marie Liesinger