I love the travel. I get to see some of the great cities in North America. Toronto, Houston, San Antonio, Oklahoma City, Winnipeg…there are so many great places to go in the AHL.

 

I love the game. This past week was Hockey Weekend Across America. My mom and dad encouraged my love of sports. I grew up in a great neighborhood where we always had a pickup game going in some sport. We’d play street hockey EVERY day after school (I emphasized the word every because it was, indeed, every day).

 

The best thing, though, is the people I get to know and work with. I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I’ve met people from all around the world as a hockey announcer. I’ve become friendly with a lot of wonderful people that I never would’ve met if not for this job.

 

One of the people I’ve been privileged to meet is going through a rough time right now. Former University of Wisconsin goalie Kirk Daubenspeck was injured last Thursday when his car collided with a semi in foggy conditions on Hwy. 18/151 near Dodgeville, WI. The 36-year-old Madison native and his wife Peggy have a 1-year-old son and another child on the way.

 

Andy Baggot, who has done a great job covering the Badgers for the Wisconsin State Journal, writes: According to former UW teammate Mark Strobel, who's with the Daubenspeck family at UW Hospital, there continues to be swelling of the brain and Daubenspeck remains in critical, but stable condition in a medically induced coma. "We're not out of the woods,'' Strobel said. "This is something that could be two weeks, two months or three years. The more prayers the merrier.''

 

I met Daubenspeck at a party held in honor of longtime Wisconsin hockey personnel Nancy Olson and Rob Malnory in 2006. Troy Ward introduced the two of us. Daubenspeck, you may remember, was the backup to Frederic Cassivi when the Hershey Bears beat Milwaukee in the 2006 Calder Cup Finals. Daubenspeck felt so fortunate to be part of that team and told me that the acquisition of Kris Beech (from Nashville for Brendan Witt) was the reason the Bears won the title that season. That didn’t make this Admirals broadcaster feel any better.

 

A Kirk Daubenspeck Medical Fund is being established at the State Bank of Cross Plains, 455 S. Junction Road, Madison, 53717. Those wishing to donate can do so at any of the bank's area locations. For the one nearest you check out www.crossplainsbank.com.

 

Everyone’s pulling for you “Dauber”.