Schools

Young Journalists from the Shores to Grill Red Wings Head Coach

Three local high school journalism students will participate Thursday in a mock press conference with Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock and other members of the Red Wings organization.

There are certain milestones in a journalist’s career, and interviewing a sports hero is almost always one of them.

For three local high school journalists, including South Lake High School journalist Brianna Hermann, they will have the opportunity to interview five sports heroes in the same day: Detroit Red Wings general manager Ken Holland, head coach Mike Babcock, and current Red Wings players Dan Cleary, Todd Bertuzzi, and Valtteri Filppula.

Hermann, a senior and editor-in-chief of The Lancer, is participating in the Red Wings’ annual High School Journalist Day on Thursday in the Olympia Club at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit.

Sixty students from around Michigan are set to gather at the Joe for two mock press conferences offering young journalists opportunities to question some of the biggest names in the National Hockey League.

Students are encouraged to write an article or create a broadcast news piece based on the event for their respective school newspapers.

"Being able to participate in an event like this is amazing, this is a first for me and I'm very excited," Hermann said in email. "I feel it will give me insight on writing a good story and be able to have it done by deadline."

The articles from Hermann, along with those from students from Lakeview and Fraser high schools, will be entered into a contest and the Wings’ public relations department will select the top three entries, according to a Red Wings release.

The grand-prize winner will get to spend a 2012-13 practice, lunch and home game with Kevin Allen, hockey reporter for USA Today. The second-place writer or broadcaster will win two tickets to a 2012-13 home game and the third-place winner will receive a puck or photo signed by his or her favorite player according to the same release.

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For Hermann, this will be a chance to cover one of her favorite teams.

"I am a big Red Wings fan," she said. "It all started when I went to my first game at two years old, and I even had my own Yzerman jersey."

Find out what's happening in St. Clair Shoreswith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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