A change in the SBN front office

by James Mirtle on Nov 19, 2009 7:30 AM CST Comment 22 comments

In cased you missed it, there's been a switch-up at SBN Hockey: We've got a new GM moving in as I'm stepping into a Silver Fox like advisory role to let Brandon Worley of Defending Big D take over.

Building up SB Nation's hockey wing the past 13 months has been a blast. We went from five or six blogs and a platform few NHL fans knew about to now having 33 sites and every team well represented. Some sites, like Japers' Rink, are huge communities, something that's a credit to the bloggers' hard work more than anything I ever did.

You look at the list of the top 30 hockey blogs over at BallHype and all but five are here at SB Nation.

I'm very proud of that, and very proud of all the progress we've made since last year. The network's on a steep curve upwards, and it's a bit disappointing that I'll be more of a passenger going forward. But the fact of the matter is that the NHL side of the network has grown so much and so fast that it really needs a caretaker who's plugged into everything SBN's working on, and as my responsibilities at The Globe have grown the past couple months, it became obvious I couldn't give Job No. 2 everything it needed.

Brandon, a rising star in the NHL blogging world, can — and he'll do great at it.

I'm still staying with SBN, though, and I'll be working behind the scenes with our bloggers to help them succeed. We'll again have bloggers credentialed for some of the league's marquee events (first up, Winter Classic) and will be adding more sites and contributers as we go.

This site, too, will be as active as it can be while I'm working at the paper and getting out to the rink once or twice a week. And you'll have to bear with me as I write a little more often about those poor ol' Maple Leafs.

Two weeks from now will mark five years since I started my original site, and it's been quite a journey. And, in a lot of ways, having only this season gotten credentialled for the local team, it feels like it's just getting started.

Thanks as always for your support.

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Congrats James and Brandon.

I had a feeling something like this was on its way, but that’s not a bad thing. I’m sure this will go seamlessly and Brandon’s a very talented writer.

Is Brandon actually taking over here at FTR or will there be a new site for him to “start over”, for lack of better terms?

by Afino on Nov 19, 2009 7:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Naw

Brandon’s just taking over some behind the scenes stuff. Nothing to do with this site.

Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.

by PPP on Nov 19, 2009 8:16 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No, Brandon is still the Stars blogger. As is the case with the other sports, the manager is one of the top bloggers from a team blog in that sport.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Nov 19, 2009 10:15 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Gotcha.

As I haven’t ventured out from the hockey SB Nation sites – I wasn’t aware that was the way it goes.

by Afino on Nov 19, 2009 10:17 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If anything, this is going to give me more time to work on this site, as Brandon will handle the admin, recruiting, etc. I’m back to just blogging, which is fine by me.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Nov 19, 2009 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I welcome our new Dallas overlord.

Great work, James. You did a bang up job and hopefully Brandon can build on your momentum.

Mile High Hockey: Hoping for the best, expecting the worst, hating the Wings.

by Joe Dunman on Nov 19, 2009 9:02 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

SBN is my go to source for hockey news. Glad to see the G&M is finally stepping up to the Doctor’s plate!

The population of Pominville keeps rising!

by Blackcapricorn on Nov 19, 2009 9:17 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Wait, leaving new media for old? James, are you sure about this?

Just kidding, and God have mercy on your soul for having to cover Burke’s boys.

Hockey blogging can't get any flatter.

by saskhab on Nov 19, 2009 9:19 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Good luck, James

"It ain't over till it's over." - Yogi Berra

by 49er16 on Nov 19, 2009 9:24 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Congrats you guys. SBN is an amazing network of blogs, thanks for all the hard work.

by hip_check on Nov 19, 2009 9:27 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I've been a fan of Brandon's

since he was over on the front page of Blogging the Boys. He’s very solid and I’m sure he’ll do a great job.

by Mandmeisterx on Nov 19, 2009 10:14 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

thanks James

I’ve been a fan since the blogspot site, and you’ve built an awesome network here at SBN. Glad FTR will still be up and running, and I’m loving your Leafs coverage. Brandon’s had some great work of his own at Defending Big D, I’m sure he’ll do a bang up job as GM!

"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky

by Karina on Nov 19, 2009 10:33 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed on all points. Thanks Mirtle, glad you aren’t entirely giving up the ghost.

I have a blog too! www.scottyhockey.com
Let's Go Rangers!

by Scotty Hockey on Nov 19, 2009 8:14 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks Karina. Lemme know if there are things you’d like to see in the Leafs coverage as I’m open to suggestions.

Blogging on hockey at fromtherink.com

by James Mirtle on Nov 19, 2009 9:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Best of luck in the future, James. This has been one of my favourite blogs for news about hockey ever since the olden days on Blogger, and you deserve all the success that comes your way.

Congratulations.

"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero

by Baroque on Nov 19, 2009 10:35 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

OH NO, MORE POSTS ABOUT THE MAPLE LEAFS?!?!?!?!?

FFFFFFFFFFF-

In all seriousness, grats on the growing responsibilities at the Globe, James. Just as long as FTR doesn’t close up shop, I’ll be happy.

http://sacrificethebody.blogspot.com/
Sacrifice the Body - Examining the NHL through statistical analysis, reasoned thought, and blind conjecture.

by IAmJoe on Nov 19, 2009 12:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Congratulations on the success all round.

by ChicoMaki on Nov 19, 2009 12:43 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Congrats, y’all!

James, I’ve got to thank you for growing SBNation hockey into a great place for hockey discussion. The commenting platform is my favorite of any on the internet, and there’s such great comment sitting on top of it.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 19, 2009 7:51 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Comment should be Content at the end of that sentence. I type gud.

Join me on the Hockey Blog Adventure! (or Twitter.) GO BRUINS! (and Wild!)

by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Nov 19, 2009 8:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You are an eggscellent spiller, to.

"While there's life, there's hope." --Cicero

by Baroque on Nov 19, 2009 8:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Congrats everyone. I’m a fairly recent convert to the SB Nation blogs but what I’ve seen looks great and everyone involved deserves a lot of respect for what they do and the passion with which they do it.

leaf fan stuck in ottawa, a localized black hole that will suck everything in that area to oblivion.

by stucky on Nov 20, 2009 11:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

James Mirtle, Globe and Mail infiltrator?

Does that mean you’ll be spearheading the movement to get Eric Duhatshek to twitter and explaining to David Shoalts about the “Brian Burke” account now that you’re moving up at the Globe?

Supporter of the Sergei Berezin "Give and Go" - You give me puck, then you go to hell

by bkblades on Nov 20, 2009 10:10 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

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