I was featured on a 2012 episode of BizKid$, a nationally syndicated and Emmy-nominated PBS show aimed to teach kids and teens about business smarts. I was chosen to share my experience with social media, networking and turning my internships into jobs.

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Young and cheap.

That was Tampa Bay Lightning General Manager Steve Yzerman’s mantra at the NHL trade deadline.

“We’re looking for young guys, and for guys whose contracts are appropriate,” Yzerman said Monday. “But we’re obviously trying to find good players, and good players that don’t make a lot of money. And that’s not an easy thing to do.”

Yzerman was successful in his cost-effective quest as he added defensemen to bolster his team’s struggling and injury-ridden blue line in three separate deals for Toronto’s Keith Aulie, Detroit’s Mike Commodore and Ottawa’s Brian Lee.

“I came into today not expecting to do a whole lot, but we’re pleased with the outcome of the afternoon,” Yzerman said.

Coveted by the Lightning, the 22-year-old Aulie was acquired in exchange for 2009 first-round selection Carter Ashton. The 6-foot-6, 217-pounder had split the season between the Leafs and their American League affiliate the Toronto Marlies.

Aulie only registered two assists and a minus-2 rating in his 17 appearances with the Leafs this season, but he certainly knows how to throw around his brawny frame since he has totaled 41 hits and 28 blocked shots. He also is familar to coach Guy Boucher. Aulie was a member of Canada’s 2009 World Juniors Gold Medal-winning team and Boucher was an assistant coach.

NHL organizations crave size on defense. It is particularly vital in the Southeast Division, which boasts potent forwards in Eric Staal, Alex Ovechkin, Kris Versteeg, among others.

Aulie will be joined by Lee in neutralizing top-end opposing forwards.

To obtain the 24-year-old Lee, Matt Gilroy was sent to Ottawa. The 6’3, 206-pound Lee was a first-rounder in 2005, but struggled to remain in Ottawa. He split most of his career between the Senators and their AHL affiliate in Binghamton. Lee registered one goal and seven assists in 35 games as a Senator this season.

“Bryan Murray called me this afternoon and we had not had any previous discussions. He asked about Matt and we liked Brian Lee,” Yzerman said. “We think he’s still a prospect. He’s a young guy with some potential. I think the trade was a good fit for both clubs.”

The final backliner to be obtained came without much sacrifice by Yzerman as he landed Commodore from Detroit for a conditional seventh-round pick in June’s entry draft. If the 32-year-old Commodore plays more than 15 regular-season games and the Lightning make the playoffs, the Red Wings will acquire the draft pick.

The 11-year veteran brings Stanley Cup experience to Tampa Bay. Commodore was a member of the 2004 Flames squad that lost in the Cup Final to Tampa Bay, and was key to the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes’ defense corps.

The well-traveled Commodore has posted 23 goals, 83 assists and a minus-7 rating in his career. Commodore signed a one-year deal worth $1 million with Detroit last summer, but failed to land a regular job in the lineup. He registered two assists and a plus-3 rating in just 17 games as a Red Wing.

http://www.hockeyprimetime.com/news/features/bolts-bolster-blueline

Record first regulation loss of the season

Boston, MA. – The Florida Jr. Blades returned home on Sunday, January 8 after winning three out of four games at the Eastern Junior Winter Showcase at the New England Sports Center. The weekend’s single loss was Florida’s first regulation loss of the season. The Jr. Blades fell 4-2 vs. the EJHL South Shore Kings from Foxboro, MA.

The Jr. Blades still own a 25-1-1 record and lead the Empire southern conference with 51 points, nine points ahead of the second place Atlanta Knights. The last time the Jr. Blades recorded less than two points in a single game was in a 2-1 shootout loss to the Atlanta Knights on October 7, 2011. The Jr. Blades remain undefeated on home ice.

“The South Shore game is definitely a disappointment,” said head coach Tad O’Had. “We will use this loss as a way to motivate us to perform at a higher degree.”

Four Jr. Blades share the title of weekend leader in points, all registering three points: captain blue liner James Hyatt (11g, 13a, 24pt), forward Josh Koerner (26g, 25a, 51pt), defenseman Ross Kovacs (6g, 12a, 18pt) and winger Eryn Siracusa (12g, 27a, 39pt).

Over 120 scouts representing Hockey East, ECAC Hockey, and Atlantic Hockey schools, as well as nearly every NCAA Division III school from the Eastern United States attended. Several scouts from professional teams also saw the games throughout the weekend.

“The EJHL Showcase was an excellent opportunity for our club to continue to compete against the best from the North with such powerhouse programs,” said O’Had. “We were able to show we are battle tested and get our players showcased to elite colleges and scouts.”

The Jr. Blades return home Thursday, January 12 vs. the Tampa Bay Juniors. Puck drops at 7:30 at Germain Arena.

Game 1:

New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs – 2, Jr. Blades – 4

Game 2:

NY Apple Core – 3, Jr. Blades 4

Game 3:

Capital District Selects – 3, Jr. Blades 6

Game 4:

South Shore Kings – 4, Jr. Blades 2

GAME SHEETS: http://www.pointstreak.com/stats/pro/teamschedule.html?teamid=327258&seasonid=7391

Interviewed by NBC-2 in December 2011 on social media coming to FGCU.

Apple doesn’t fall far, huh?

My life has revolved around sports and media for as long as I can remember, and I’ve been lucky enough to continue that passion.

I’ve since moved from the Midwest League ball games down to Florida Gulf Coast University, where I covered the last two seasons of the Division I program for the locally-broadcasted television show The FGCU Sports Report.

My next endeavor? I graduated in December 2011 with a BA in Journalism at FGCU, I’m still in the market to follow my passions of sports media anywhere in the United States.

Media has evolved since my days sneakily playing with switch boards at the radio station when my dad wasn’t looking, and I’ve learned to adapt to the broadening world of the industry. Social media, multimedia, digital media, new media – whatever you call it, I know the ins and outs.

Take a look around my portfolio and see what I’ve worked on for the past four years of college.

While you’re at it – follow me on Twitter!

Estero, Fla. – The Florida Jr. Blades displayed the defensive depth on Saturday night at Germain Arena, killing all seven penalties and recording three shorthanded goals. Florida’s defense held Space Coast to only four scoring chances, while the Jr. Blades pummeled the Hurricanes with 82 shots on goal throughout the three periods.

The Florida Jr. Blades were quick off the draw in the first period when Troy Degler shot the puck from just outside the Hurricanes’ crease and Chaise Howard (1g, 3a, 4p) tipped in the deflection from the corner for his first goal of the season. Josh Koerner was also credited with an assist.

Florida quickly widened the deficit to two goals when Koerner recorded his 13th goal of the season (13g, 4a, 17p) and second point of the game at the 18:32 mark.

The Jr. Blades dominated the first period offensively, recording 33 shots on goal while Florida’s blue line restricted Space Coast to only one. Florida skated into the locker room leading 2-0.

Rookie defenseman Blake O’Neill (2g, 4a, 6p) kicked off the second period with an unassisted tally at the 17:17 mark. After blue liner Ty Lasker sat a tripping penalty, the Jr. Blades penalty kill unit stepped up and defenseman Dan Thompson (2g, 1a, 3p) recorded an unassisted, shorthanded goal at 14:15.

At 6:29, Fort Myers native Michael DiVico (2g, 0a) recorded an unassisted goal of his own, giving the Jr. Blades an unanswered five-goal lead for the remainder of the second frame. The period ended with shots on goal totaling 52-5 in favor of Florida.

After a very physical third period, Eryn Siracusa (5g, 5a, 10p) registered a shorthanded goal with 5:47 remaining in the contest. The penalty kill unit forged on, giving the Jr. Blades a 7-0 lead when D.J. Thomas (4g, 4a, 8p) added Florida’s 3rd shorthanded goal at 4:30, assisted by defenseman Ross Kovacs (1g, 2a, 3 p).

J.P. Larmoyeux (4g, 5a, 9p) added an even strength tally shortly afterwards, giving the Jr. Blades an eight-goal lead with just three minutes remaining in the game.

The Space Coast Hurricanes failed to respond and the Jr. Blades claimed an 8-0 victory, extending their flawless regular-season record to 6-0.

Shots on goal for all 60 minutes compiled to 82-4 in favor of Florida.

http://www.floridajrblades.com/home/game-recap-blue-line-leads-blades-to-8-0-victory-over-space-coast/

Being born in the late-1980s, I’m the first generation to literally grow up in a digital world. Somewhere in the depths of a scrapbook, there’s baby picture of me poking away at an IBM computer the size of mini-fridge. When I was 10-years-old, my parents gave me my first desktop Gateway. I filmed and digitally edited my 13th birthday party, and the same year I got my first cell phone – a silver Motorola flip phone the size of a brick. I don’t have veins, I have wires.

Me with my mom, first taste of digital life

Question is: is the digital world helping the Internet generation utilize our brains, or are we just distracting it with multitasking overload?

There are times, I’ll admit, my digital savvy has been more distracting than productive. I’ve fiddled away hours clicking through Facebook statuses or played mindless hours of Guitar Hero until my thumb nearly cracks off.

Last week, my honors reading class at Florida Gulf Coast University discussed of Don Tapscott’s “Grown Up Digital: How the Net Generation Is Changing Your World.” Our class of seven (plus one journalism professor to keep us on track) seemed to all agree that the baby boomers’ implications that NetGen-ers lack concentration, productivity and retain less information aren’t all true.

Tapscott wrote about interactive technology, and how regularly playing an action video game can change how the brain processes information.

John, an outspoken, bearded philosophy major can vouch for video games, using Halo as an example. “You notice your radar, how much ammo you have, where your teammates are, how much life you have left all while you’re having a conversation with your team on a headset,” he says.  “We are able to instantly compartmentalize every aspect of the game.”

I guess it’s no surprise teenage boys lock themselves into their bedrooms for hours at a time, committing virtual massacres inside their TV screen: there’s a hell of a lot to process simultaneously.

Audrey, a soft spoken 21-year-old from Malaysia, takes multitasking to an entirely new realm. She says in order to concentrate, she listens to Chinese music (one of four languages she speaks) as she reads her textbooks that are written in English, writes her blog in English all while switching back and forth from Facebook.

She does admit the the United States’ reliance on technology has made her a little lazy since moving to the states to attend college. “I grew up in Malaysia, and we had to memorize a lot,” she says. “Here, we copy and paste. I think it has to do with culture.”

But why memorize when we carry around Google on our iPhones?

As much as my generation is reliant on our BlackBerrys to help us find the nearest coffee shop, I think it has to be more with efficiency than laziness. The world moves faster than ever, and there’s an increasing urgency for productivity. If Merriam-Webster says “google” is a legitimate verb, then Google I will.

— My guest post on www.kylealacy.com, author of Twitter Marketing for Dummies