I hit send and haven’t heard back: my e-mail to local columnist

On Sunday, I ripped through the morning’s paper. Looking for news. Hockey news. Because Saturday had been a big day in Minnesota hockey. And I wanted to read about it.

But I couldn’t. Because no one wrote about it.

There was one measly reference to HDM2012 in the Wild’s recap. But nothing significant.

So, I took matters into my own hands. Or so I’d like to think. And expressed my freedom of speech; my opinion on the lack of hockey coverage.

Here is the real letter I e-mailed to a local columnist on Sunday evening. I have yet to hear back from him. Do you think my e-mail warrants a response?

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Dear Sports Columnist,

Though I’m of the Facebook, iPhone, and online news generation, I am a loyal ink-on-my-fingers newspaper reader. More specifically, as a Minnesota hockey supporter and fan, I thoroughly enjoy soaking in the sports section every high school, college, and NHL season.

Not only do I read the game highlights and stats, information necessary for any sports fan, I ponder the prose and poetry found in the family-friendly stories of real hockey kids, moms, dads, coaches, teammates, and fans. Stories that Minnesotans live and breathe.

Sadly, the day after a heart-warming Hockey Day Minnesota, I opened my Pioneer Press to find no such stories. No anecdotes about Jack Jablonski. No  photos of ice rinks and rink rats captured by photojournalists. No sentimental or thought-provoking words written for readers to absorb.

Was Hockey Day Minnesota 2012 not newsworthy?

Are the people and places of Minnesota hockey not deserving of articles and word counts?

If a story as big as the 130-some thousand dollars raised for the Jack Jablonski fund doesn’t make the cut, what other hockey stories will the Pioneer Press overlook and ignore?

Sports writers and journalists, like yourself, talk about traditions and legacies. But traditions must be passed on. And I believe that your position and platform in Minnesota is a mighty place to share those stories of tradition and sportsmanship to the hockey kids, moms, dads, coaches, teammates, and fans. Stories that they, that we, as Minnesotans, can relate to.

Patiently waiting real Minnesota hockey stories,

Megan Nyberg

Sent from my iPhone