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M's Bio

I have been writing previews, trivia, info-breaks, game recaps, trade and roster information and other hockey articles for various fan sites. I am an avid hockey and sport fan, and have been writing articles to fill the information void that exists regarding all sorts of topics from the hockey world. I write because I love the game. I am a Canadian from an English/Scottish family, and as a consequence my sporting tastes run the gamut from football (soccer), hockey, basketball, cricket (not that I claim to fully understand it!), CFL/NFL football, baseball etc. Baseball and footy were my early favourites as I spent hours outdoors playing and practising in the yard. In school I found mates who played hockey and began my love affair with the Canadian game. Once out of primary school I also started playing colligate (middle and grade 10/11) basketball, eventually winning a few championships and earning the "Guard of the Year".

As silly as it may seem, I learned the teams and players as a child by collecting hockey and baseball cards, along with a few basketball and FC cards. Looking at them all now, there are some pretty neat players in my collection; there are even a few signed cards, including Will Clark and Joe Sakic.

I enjoy writing and want to use the medium to facilitate a positive sport encounter for others. Each of us has our own personal connection to the sports we love, and the appetite for knowledge can be insatiable. That's why my articles can run a bit long; there are so many facets to a game/sport that many get completely overlooked otherwise. Sport is for everyone, and if I can help another feed that need, that's my aim!

If anyone has a topic they would like covered, please feel free to mention it. It may not get done, but I enjoy a challenge. There are so many topics not covered by mainstream media, or when they are, it may be without depth. Sometimes even just the research is worth the look.

Thanks to everyone for reading and for all the fantastic feedback. I'm writing it for you guys (as corny as that may sound!)

M Writes About

The Short List facts and information about M MacDonald Hall

Favorite Athletes

Jarome Iginla, Miikka Kiprusoff, Andrew Ference, Craig MacDonald, Wayne Gretzky, Kirk Muller, Doug Gilmour, Stephane Yelle, Joe Thorton, Martin Brodeur, Joe Carter, Fred Brathwaite

Favorite Sports Teams

Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Roughnecks, Saint John Sea Dogs, Calgary Hitmen, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Team Canada (any event/sport), Guilford Flames, England's National Football team, Scotland's National Football team, Exeter City, Glasgow Rangers, Toronto FC, Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtic, Seattle Seahawks

All Time Sports Moment

2004 Stanley Cup Playoff run. So many memories! Also the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics... fantastic to see the men AND women win gold!

Most Memorable Game Attended

Calgary vs San Jose 2 December 2003. My first NHL live, successful penalty shot, courtesy of Shean Donovan. Miikka Kiprusoff's first game against his old team. Later that year we would see the Flames take the Western Conference Championship from the Sharks at the 'Dome. Simple but fantastic hockey. First time in years I saw more wins than losses when I went to the Saddledome.

Most Unbreakable Sports Record

Toughie... Wilt Chamberlain's multiples perhaps?

Ruth or Mays?

Willie. Not to take anything from Ruth, but Mays was a better all-around player in a League that posed him more challenges and competition.

Jordan or Gretzky?

I had posters of both Jordan and Gretzky, but I have to go with Wayne. It's not really a fair comparison though since the sports are so diffrent. Jordan made me (and millions of others) a fan of the Bulls

Bulletin Board (30) Post a note »

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  1. by Rob
    13 days ago

    Hey Meagan, I'd like to contact you about a writing opportunity, but I noticed you don't have an email contact. Can you contact me at robcalonge@gmail.com?

  2. by KP
    22 days ago

    Hey M,

    I know you mentioned you were sick last week... hope you're feeling better ! :)
    -KP

  3. by Ryan
    26 days ago

    M,

    I really enjoyed both "A Hockey Night" and a "Touch of Class"--especially the personal/ruminative bent of the former. My one qualification is that Internet readers have notoriously short attention spans...so it's always a challenge to keep an audience engaged on a longer piece. You seem to have succeeded here, but it's something to keep in mind going forward.

    Beyond that, it's hard to say what exactly distinguishes a popular article from a neglected one. Subject matter and writing style are important, as are more fundamental things like headlines and formatting...but in the end popularity is very often a crapshoot. For whatever it's worth, I've spent some time writing about the issue on the Bleacher Report blog:

    http://blog.bleacherreport.com/?page_id=28

    If you have the time or inclination to check it out, the info may help guide your thinking going forward. I'd also love to hear what was helpful and what wasn't if you feel like dropping a line.

    Anyway...if I have one suggestion, it's to keep doing what you're doing. Readers seem to be responding positively to your work, which is a better barometer of success that hit count. If you keep plugging away, people will take notice.

    Thanks again for writing,

    Ryan

  4. by Ken
    28 days ago

    Thanks for the note on the Severyn article, Any advice for a newer writer looking to gain more fans and readers?

  5. by Jennifer
    28 days ago

    I haven't written much play-off coverage. I'm just too tired. The end of the semester minutiae on top of everyday stuff is killing me. I've written one silly article and one history piece. Speaking of which...I've become a guest writer over at greatesthockeylegends.com.

    I'm in a funk because my two teams are on a downward slide. Couldn't finish either game tonight. Oh well.

    I am done with everything on April 30, so if I can keep a grip until then...

  6. by Abby
    28 days ago

    Hey thanks! I love your stuff. Right up my alley. I usually already know the score, so I like something with a little more insight.

    Yes, it's fun to have all the toys when you live in this place. I love the Selkirks, and BC in general. I've currently pruned my gear selection down to two canoes (17 ft Clipper Rangers, though I have my eye on a custom outfitted Hellman Scout), four pairs of skis, one snowboard, one SUV, and one dog. Not to mention numerous tents and gadgets. I should be a gear tester for MEC. :)

    As for the Flames, I jumped on their bandwagon in '89, and still root for them as my Western Conference team. Exciting times this year!

    My significant other is currently living in London. He came home from work on my last visit to discover me eating crisps, feet up, drinking beer and watching cricket highlights. Shook my head at me.

    Looking forward to more!

  7. by Ken
    28 days ago

    I enjoyed your articles, i was hoping you would check out some of mine and let me know what you think. I am always looking to get better and make some new "fans".

  8. by Andrew
    29 days ago

    It is funny how enviroment can inform you life in different ways. Living in Arizona and Alaska are two entirely different experiences, even though they are in the same nation. past times are different because of the weather, growth is different because of the extremes in everyday concerns. your article was great. i used my 15 minute break to read and absorb it so thats saying something. I'm going to go and find that Band song so thanks for that too.

  9. by KP
    about 1 month ago

    Oops. Sorry M. I didn't get back to you earlier...

    Well, your choices of Ferrance, Thomas, Savard, are good. I suppose you've already done the bulk of the write-up. :)

    Anyway, if it's not too late, I was going to say P.J. Axelsson, who's been in Boston for a decade now (since 1997-98) - potentially being an unlikely hero; Glen Murray, who was the player who beat Theodore in 2004 after stealing the puck from that dumb Kovalev play in double-OT (and who has quietly surpassed the 1,000-game mark this season) as another one of those possible playoff heroes.

    Those were my personal picks. I was a bit miffed myself 10 years ago in Axelsson's rookie year, when he was robbed of an OT goal in the playoffs vs. Washington - he scored a beauty but it was waved off because a skate was in the crease. Dumb.

    And, THAT picture is Game Six of the 2004 Finals, right? I know how you feel... that was a goal.

  10. by KP
    about 1 month ago

    Hey M, great victory tonight for the Flames, eh? :)

    By the way, I hope you don't mind me using your name in my latest article, just because you're a Calgary fan, so I figured you were ecstatic about this latest win...

    Cheers,
    KP

    http://bleacherreport.com/articles/17594-Sunday-Night-Thrillers-Bruins-Devils-Flames-Victorious-with-Improbable-Third-Game-Triumphs

  11. by Danielle
    about 1 month ago

    Hey there!
    If we end up writing about almost the same stuff, it really doesn't bother me, because you were right in saying that we'd probably have some different views on the series. And thanks about the hockeybuzz thing! Did you check it out on hockeybuzz?

  12. by Brian
    about 1 month ago

    OK, I have a question for you and I want you to remember Mr. Spock's words from the first Star Trek movie, "I have no ego to bruise." I graduated with a minor in Journalism in 1990 and haven't done much writing for news since then, I basically concentrated my efforts in broadcasting. I'm thinking about getting either a part-time writing, editing position or going freelance. In your opinion, do I have what it takes, honestly? Or is this just a pipe-dream I'm thinking about. What do you think. I really don't want to be laughed to scorn by going after this. Let me know and thanks.

  13. by Curtis
    about 1 month ago

    Hey, thanks for the note!! Yah, that is one of my favorite pictures of all time. It was taken right after the Canucks won game 6 in the '94 finals to send it to game 7 at MSG. To this day, our last win in any stanely cup final. So much heartbreak in this franchise....ooh how I envy you =S

  14. by Bryan
    about 1 month ago

    No worries my friend! I'm not sure if it has an 'e' on the end here or not. Microsoft word said it was fine (or maybe it didn't...who know) but either way, I'm not concerned about a letter and an extra 'e' at least makes it seem like it's spelt right (however I'm thinking that you're right on this one). Glad you liked the piece, and it's good to have another fresh voice here on the NHL page!

  15. by Heather
    about 1 month ago

    There still aren't any teams in Exeter to my knowledge, so the Flames are probably still your best bet!

    The 'green country' at the minute isn't all too green, it's been snowing so I'd definately take your position over mine! And unfortunately Green Wing has finished, so the best thing on TV at the moment is Curb Your Enthusiasm! Having said that, I'm (hopefully) moving over to Canada in September so maybe I'll discover that there are things I'll miss about Britain (I've a sneaking feeling that HNIC will be a great consolation though...).

    I've had many a discussion with my friends about why they watch football but can't get into hockey, and the main thing seems to be that it's so easy to take a ball down to the park and have a kick around, whereas most people haven't got the equipment to play hockey and there aren't really many rinks around, so it just never comes up - guys especially don't seem to get into sports that they can't play themselves. I guess its all to do with whats around when you're a kid - I've never been to a professional football match but spent a lot of my time in rinks when I was a little, so I was never going to get into the traditional Brit sports! (Though my dad did his best to get me into cricket!)

    I have had people change my spellings for the American ones. I do find it fairly annoying, especially as an English student, but seeing as I'm writing about North American sports for a North American website I think it's something I'll have to get used to. I'll always know deep down that it should be 'favourite' though!

    Hev

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