Two seniors from Heuvelton Central School are gaining valuable hands-on experience in broadcast media by working behind the scenes at St. Lawrence University men’s and women’s hockey games.
Willem Gleeson and Shane Mudge had the unique opportunity to join Connor Mudge, a 2023 Heuvelton graduate currently attending St. Lawrence University, working in the Appleton Arena broadcast room. After struggling to fill positions internally, Connor reached out to the students, inviting them to fill key roles contributing to high-quality game coverage.
“Shane and Willem have taken on important roles within our broadcast team. They have been a vital addition throughout the season, especially during university breaks when some of our SLU student employees, who aren’t local, leave for a time,” Mudge said.
Throughout the 2024-25 season, Shane and Willem have taken on various responsibilities including operating replays, managing in-arena graphics, running broadcast advertisements, and coordinating with referees and ESPN broadcast officials.
“It is no surprise that worker shortages exist beyond the field of education. I’m glad that Shane and Willem are interested and able to get paid for their efforts while gaining work experience in broadcast media. Beyond the broadcast work, they can apply and refine their skills related to teamwork, problem solving and professionalism,” said Heuvelton superintendent Jesse Coburn. “The ESPN broadcasts are high-quality collegiate productions. I’m glad that Connor is able to continue learning and apply his talents, and I’m grateful that he is able to share the experience with others.”
St. Lawrence University men’s and women’s hockey games are broadcast on ESPN, providing a significant platform for Willem and Shane to gain exposure to the professional world of sports broadcasting. To learn more or view their work, visit ESPN.com
Women’ s Hockey: https://www.espn.com/espnplus/collections/44028/ncaa-women-s-hockey-live-upcoming
Men’s Hockey: https://www.espn.com/watch/catalog/383aeb8b-cbb8-379f-9ef4-8a5c69f60702/ncaa-men-s-hockey