The "Eyes" of the Junior Blues
December 3, 2007 - North American Hockey League (NAHL)
Springfield Jr. Blues News Release
At every home game, the Springfield Jr. Blues players are "captured" on film through the lenses of Melanie Miller's camera. It's a service that has been invaluable to the team and truly appreciated by the players and their families back home.
Melanie Miller has been actively involved with the Springfield Jr. Blues for six years. In the middle of the 2002-2003 season, she was asked to create programs for the team. Knowing nothing about hockey, she was "hooked" after attending her first game and has since missed only two home games. She was the creative force behind the programs, schedules, magnets, and promotional materials for the following four years. Interested in having images to use for these projects, she attempted taking her own photographs. That passion propelled into her current enrollment at SIU-Carbondale to complete her B.A. in Photography. How committed to helping the Jr. Blues organization succeed?? Melanie commutes from Carbondale to Springfield for every home weekend -a 6-hour round trip- to photograph the games and players. And she does it for free.
When asked why , Melanie says, "I do this for the team. Because of the Springfield Jr. Blues, I have grown to love hockey. I do this for the parents. So they can enjoy watching their sons, even when they can't be at the games. But, the main reason I do this is FOR THE BOYS!" She adds, "I so admire their talent and dedication. Knowing they will have photographs to remember this very important time in their lives makes it special for me."
Watching the boys play through a telephoto lens gives her an opportunity to really know them. "I feel sometimes like I am in their head and can anticipate their next move." And when a player gets hurt, she feels that, too. "I get very attached to the boys every season and feel a great loss when they return home." Getting to know the boys and parents enriches her life and she has kept in contact with many past players and their families.
Jr. Blues hockey also spread into the veins of Melanie's daughter, Erica. She is an invaluable assistant at the games and a skilled navigator while Melanie is behind the camera with a more limited view. "She has actually learned to calmly tell me when something erupts on the ice that I may not be seeing. And she is my "pack mule", helping me carry equipment."
The Jr. Blues organization thanks Melanie and Erica for their dedication, enthusiasm and time. Without active volunteers, the team would not exist.
(Note: This is the first in a series of spotlights that we will broadcast on our web site to let these special people know how much we appreciate their efforts! Got a special volunteer you'd like us to write about? Send us an e-mail!)
North American Hockey League Stories from December 3, 2007
- The "Eyes" of the Junior Blues - Springfield Jr. Blues
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- Jets Name Players of the Week - Fargo-Moorhead Jets
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
