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Three Questions with Brian Munz |
Brian Munz, the play-by-play voice of the Manitoba Moose on CJOB 680 AM in Winnipeg, recently took the time out of his busy schedule to talk to Canucks Fanz Columnist Farhan Devji and answer your questions! Read what Brian had to say about Mason Raymond, Michael Grabner, and what advice he would give to aspiring hockey broadcasters. 1. Which Canucks prospect has impressed you the most this season and for what reasons?
BM: Probably Mason Raymond, with all the talk about him in training camp and with him starting the year there in Vancouver trying to get as much experience has possible. He's come down to Manitoba and had a few big games obviously including the 5 point night he had a little while ago and just continues to show his speed. Mason is getting better and better and is realizing what it takes to play professional hockey every day. When the Moose get ready to play, he's definitely the one that Canucks fans probably get pretty excited about and is also the one that a lot of people seem to ask about too.
2. Michael Grabner was accused of being a "soft" player during his time in Spokane of the Western Hockey League. Having seen him play, do you think that these accusations are fair or off base?
BM: No he's definitely not soft; he's a professional hockey player. He's gotten a lot bigger compared to when we saw him at the end of last season when he came out of junior. He was a pretty skinny kid who I don't think realized what it took to play professional hockey but he's gotten himself into great shape and is off to a great start this year. Michael has been one of Manitoba's top offensive players so I think he's done everything that the organization would have hoped for and more so to start his first full year of professional hockey.
3. Did you go to school for broadcasting or journalism? If so, where? And what advice would you give to aspiring hockey commentators?
BM: I went to Western Academy of Broadcasting where I took a one year course. I then went to Duncan, B.C for a year where I called the Cowichan Valley Capitals of the British Columbia Hockey League. From there, I came back home to Melfort, Saskatchewan and called five years in the SJHL (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League) and then 4 years with the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League. Two years in Edmonton with the Roadrunners during the lockout year and then I did pre-games and intermissions with the Oilers during the year they went to the Stanley Cup Finals. And then finally the last two years here in Winnipeg with the Moose.
I think the biggest thing is that you can never talk to too many people. Watch and learn from the people that you think do a good job and try to emulate that but don't be a copy cat, try to develop your own style. Just work hard at it; that might be the biggest thing. When you walk into the rink at 7 o'clock in the morning and go on the radio, the day probably starts at about 8 o'clock in the morning and it's not that easy. I just think hard work is the biggest thing because it's not an easy job and it's definitely time consuming but it's fun and highly enjoyable to hang out at the rink every day. Thanks again Brian!
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