Some of you may have been following my articles for a while now, so let me introduce myself! My name is Reagan McCoy. I’m 21-years-old and I’m going into my senior year of college at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis, or better known as IUPUI. I’ve been a huge sports fan for as long as I can remember and I’ve always dreamt of working in the hockey world, or just the sports industry in general some day, which is why I major in sports management.
Growing up outside of Chicago, I fell in love with the Chicago Blackhawks and the sport of hockey. I’ve also always loved writing and considered myself a fairly strong writer. When The Puck Authority reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in covering the Fuel, I honestly didn’t really know what to expect, but decided to take a chance and see what happened since it gave me an opportunity to be involved in two things I’m very passionate about.
Starting to cover an ECHL team in the middle of a global pandemic was quite an interesting experience to begin with. There was a lot of uncertainty headed into the season. Almost half the league opted out of the season due to concerns regarding COVID-19. On top of that, teams who opted to play would all end up playing a different number of games. Some teams such as the Fuel were slated to start their seasons in December and play a full slate of 72 games. Other teams started in January and were set to play 62 games. Then there were the Fort Wayne Komets, who finally got the green light to start their season, which started in February and only had 50 games scheduled. It was definitely a little overwhelming to try and navigate the schedule when it was first unveiled.
Things definitely got more exciting once the season finally got rolling. Being able to go to games as a beat writer was a super cool experience for me. I had only ever been to hockey games as a fan before and going as a beat writer is a completely different experience. It’s still super fun and exciting, but you also need to be super aware of the plays that are happening and how the team is playing and thinking of what story you can put together based on the game.
Due to the pandemic, I didn’t have access to postgame interviews with players or coaches. I’m not super confident in my interviewing skills since I have no experience with it, so in the long run, this may have saved me from accidentally embarrassing myself somehow. At the same time, I think postgame interviews could have helped make my articles a lot stronger and I hope to get that opportunity in the future.
The effects of the pandemic definitely made this season very interesting. Many games were postponed due to safety issues, some were postponed days in advance, and a handful were postponed just hours prior to puck drop. Other games ended up being canceled altogether and were never made up due to scheduling conflicts. Then of course, there was having to wear a mask at all times unless actively eating or drinking while in the arena. By the end of the season, those who were fully vaccinated were allowed to attend without masks. I’m fully vaccinated, so I was able to enjoy being maskless, but it also felt very strange to not wear one.
I think my biggest take away from the season is the ECHL deserves a lot more attention than it gets. It’s a developmental league where fans can watch players grow and improve and hopefully make it up to the NHL someday. The Fuel even had 17 players who made appearances this season in the American Hockey League. ECHL teams also do a great job of keeping fans both engaged and excited. Whether it be through social media or through theme nights, there’s always something for everyone. Before covering the team for The Puck Authority, I really only followed the Fuel and I was more of a casual fan. Now, after one season of covering the team, it’s safe to say I have completely fallen in love with the Indy Fuel and the ECHL in general.
Overall, I had a great experience covering the Indy Fuel this season. There were definitely some ups and downs throughout the year, from a super hot start to a midseason struggle, to making the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, and elimination in the first round. I wouldn’t trade this experience for anything and I can’t wait to see what the future holds!