By: Cameron Pellegrino '27
What began as a simple idea for Jacob Repper the summer before his senior year at UMass has since transformed into the UMass Hockey Preview Show. Searching for an opportunity to improve his reel, he teamed up with fellow senior John Ruggiero to contrive what’s become a polished product supported by the Journalism Department.
The duo leads the sports section of UMass’ student-run radio, WMUA 91.1 FM, so their partnership on the project was only natural. But, they couldn’t have done it alone. They initially proposed the idea to the heads of the sports journalism concentration, Greeley Kyle and Steve Fox, through a long email which kickstarted the preparation for the show.
“Next thing I know, we’re on a phone call and just brainstorming what it could look like,” Repper said. “[Kyle] actually came up with the name for the preview show. Over the summer, I was like, ‘Alright, I want graphics, I want videos, I want to have players and coaches on,’ and that’s kind of where it all started.”
There’s a difference between conceiving an idea and actually bringing it to life, and doing so required both time and attention. The pair’s pitch included the lack of an existing pregame show covering UMass hockey and the fresh chance for students to gain valuable hands-on experience.
The hardest part was ironing out the logistics and getting the endorsement of the department, considering that the department would have to stand by what is said on the show. After sitting down with their professors and workshopping the vision, the proper disclaimers were put in place and the show was cleared for takeoff prior to puck drop in early October.
“I learned that as long as you just ask, there’s a good chance that you’ll get it done,” Ruggiero said.
Having previously taken two classes with Kyle — Broadcast Performance and Sports Talk Live — both members of the show were already familiar with the broadcast studio and its equipment. In those classes, they learned about the production process, as well as how to write scripts and effectively edit videos. As a result, they came up with the idea to use those skills from class and create a project to gain more experience in their niche.
“For students to be able to do their work in class, but then have a venture outside of it, it’s great for the department, it’s great for them professionally and also the professors — they get a good idea of what their students want to do and what the future could look like,” Repper said.
The group also brought in broadcast engineer Nick LaBonte to ensure the smoothness of the show’s technological aspects. He serves as the director of the show and handles the technology so that Repper and Ruggiero can focus on maximizing each moment of content.
Beyond just technical guidance, the collaborations of all parties highlighted the value of building strong relationships outside of just the classroom. By bringing their idea to their professors, the duo tapped into years of professional experience and received feedback that helped elevate and refine the concept of their project into a finished product.
“You never know what experience your professor might have,” Ruggiero said. “Not only do [Kyle and Fox] have a degree of sorts, but they’ve been in the field, which is a huge bonus to every UMass Journalism student. They know exactly what they’re talking about and when you can work with them to create something, it turns into something special.”
The UMass Hockey Preview Show stands as a prime example of what can happen when students take ownership of their education and are supported by a faculty willing to support their ambitions. It illustrates the strength of student-led initiatives built on creativity and passion.
“I always tell our students that they are only limited by their drive and their imagination,” Kyle said. “If they want to do something, we can find ways to make it happen.”