Paul Graham’s IIHF Media Award

A Hockey Kid from Edmonton

Like most Canadian kids, hockey was part of Graham’s childhood. The NHL was never in the cards, but that didn’t matter. Hockey remained in his blood throughout his formative years.
 
“As a kid from Edmonton, I grew up across the street from a hockey rink, and hockey was a major part of my life pretty much from day one. I played hockey up to Junior B level, wasn’t that good, went into coaching, wasn’t that good either, spent some time at hockey schools and then spent a whole lot of time in beer leagues, where I actually wasn’t that bad.”
 
He recalled his beginnings, small perhaps for him but at a major intersection in hockey history. “I got my first job in TV in 1979 when my hometown Oilers joined the NHL. It was something special to be around that dynasty in the 80s, to see the players develop into the hockey team that they became. In 1988, I was lucky enough to work the hockey venues at the Olympics in Calgary which, again, was a tremendous experience for me, and then my first official IIHF event was in 1990 in Ottawa, producing the first ever Women’s World Championship. Eight years later, I was lucky enough to produce the gold-medal game at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano.”
 
Graham acknowledged what few fans watching on TV realize—the dedication of those behind the camera to put on a game, whether it’s over Christmas or during the marathon of games that make up the Men’s Worlds, and every event in between.

“A special shout out,” Graham emphasized, “to the many men and women, talented, behind-the-scenes people, who deliver incredible pictures and sounds of these incredible games. We’re always focused on the players on the ice, as we should be, but there are a whole bunch of people behind the scenes making sure that the everything comes off without a hitch. Whether it be working many long hours in May, or being away from your family over Christmas at the World Juniors.”