There’s less than one month until NHL preseason action begins with rookie camps all over the league. Players and families enjoy their summer, club managers focus on budgets and administrative tasks, and dance teams hold auditions. But what about game broadcasters? How do they entertain themselves and get ready for a new season?
FL Teams is on the case of the Tampa Bay Lightning radio play-by-play broadcaster, Dave Mishkin.
Interestingly, Mishkin doesn’t focus on missing hockey. “I like the season when the season is going on. I enjoy the games and the rhythm,” Mishkin said. But in the offseason, he has more opportunities to catch up with other projects, like taking his service dog to the Tampa General Hospital. “My time does get filled. I’m glad that my life is full.”
History made
After graduating from Yale, the rising commentator spent 11 years gaining valuable skills and experience in minor leagues, including in Hershey, PA. Remember this fact!
Sometime around the road, Mishkin had an idea for a book, started it, never finished it, and moved on with other pivotal duties. Mishkin has been working for the Lightning since 2002. He has three Stanley Cups under his belt. Mishkin’s radio partner in crime is Phil Esposito, a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame and two-time Stanley Cup champion. He also co-hosts the Power Lunch show with Greg Linnelli on Bolts Radio and writes for the team’s website. Could his hockey journey get more amusing than that?
Yes, Mishkin became the author of his first novel. The Lightning broadcaster came back to his original drafts during the 2022 first-round playoffs. The rest is history. “Blind Squirrel” was introduced to the world in March 2024. Since then, the Lightning radio voice has attended numerous signing and reading events. Lightning head coach Jon Cooper was one of the generous reviewers of the novel. His comments are featured at the back of the book.
Non-hockey book
So, what is ‘Blind Squirrel’ about? Here are some focal points:
- Don’t judge the book by its cover: a cute squirrel with a hockey stick. It’s not specifically for kids.
- It’s a novel, not a sports book. Still, it focuses on a minor-league hockey player’s childhood, family ties, loss, and his AHL career.
- The title explanation is mastered along the way.
- Readers are introduced to mental health problems, basic hockey rules, and relationships.
- In the epilogue, the author explains why the main character played for the Hershey Bears.
- It highlights personal issues and growth throughout the book.
Mishkin’s hands are full with community outreach and book promotion. He, accompanied by his service dog Stella, visit Tampa General Hospital to show support to medical professionals. They also attend local library events, jog, and spend quality time with family.
One piece of advice for hockey lovers: read and meet inspirational people like Dave Mishkin.
The full version of the interview is coming soon to FL Teams.