Mark Scheig

I am a fully credentialed writer who covers the Columbus Blue Jackets, Cleveland Monsters and Erie Otters as well as the Ontario Hockey League and NHL Draft. The 2023-24 season will mark 10 seasons with the Hockey Writers. I am also the site's Credentials Manager. Please take note of the updated Twitter handle: @mark_scheig.

Blue Jackets Understand Task At Hand

The Columbus Blue Jackets know what they need to do. Now they have to let their play do the talking.

It’s not often that a team’s fifth game of the season is a virtual must-win. But tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs is just that for the Blue Jackets; a virtual must-win.

Very little has gone right for the Blue Jackets to this point. At 0-4, they are off to the worst start in franchise history. For a team in the midst of a bad start, their locker room today was upbeat.

They know the task at hand, and it begins with tonight’s game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

I got the chance to talk with captain Nick Foligno, Gregory Campbell and David Savard about how important tonight’s game is, how close they think they are to a breakthrough, and whether there is some chemistry issues that still need to work themselves out.

There is a confidence in the room. They know that the season has a long way to go. They know what they need to do. It starts by simplifying the game and taking care of their end of the ice. The team spent most of their practice by working on drills in their own end. The rest will work itself out.

You can hear my conversations below.

Nick Foligno

Gregory Campbell

David Savard

McLaughlin, Beauts Ready To Make History Sunday

The day that they have waited for is almost here.

On Sunday, the four teams of the new National Women’s Hockey League will drop the puck on their inaugural season. It’s a moment that they’ve hoped to celebrate for some time. Their dream is about to come true.

The excitement of the moment is tangible. Just by one quick glance at the expression in their faces, you can tell the women of this league are ready to embrace this moment. But they also realize that the moment is bigger than themselves.

The Buffalo Beauts made a trip to Erie to play an exhibition game against the Mercyhurst College women’s team. Prior to that game, we had the honor of talking to U.S. Olympian and Buffalo Beauts star Brianne McLaughlin. We talked about a lot of things.

First, we chatted about Sunday’s home opener and the emotions leading up to the puck drop. We then switched gears and talked about the league and where it can go in future years. We also talked about how the women’s game is overlooked in many areas in comparison to the men’s game. We then wrap up by talking about the growth of hockey in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and what she’s doing in her spare time.

You can hear the entire conversation by clicking on the link below.