@MapleLeafs

By Launy "The" Schwartz

@MapleLeafs (game), sittin’ in the press box.

That’s Twitter lingo for, “We are at the Leafs game sitting in the Foster Hewitt Media Gondola.”

This is a new experience for Hockey54.com, and a new experiment for the most financially successful franchise in the NHL.

Today, new media is overshadowing traditional print media. With the emergence of Internet-based social media, information is delivered instantaneously. Almost all the new words added to the Oxford Dictionary, seem to be from the new medium that delivers a new message.

To many organizations, this is a scary concept: Traditional media is “coffee” – new media is “espresso.”

For a team that has no trouble attracting attention, it is a bold step for the Toronto Maple Leafs to invite H-54 to cover the game, so we UNcovered it.

Now, let’s hope Oxford is paying attention, and has room under the letter “T”:

Tweetlight – noun a single message highlighting key information during a sporting event, within a series of rapid messages on Twitter.

Hockey54FOTG Tweetlights

@MapleLeafs Roloson does not go to net until anthems are done.

@MapleLeafs At 19:54 the puck went out of play... coincidence?

@MapleLeafs Insider info: When in the media gondola you hear an extra little penalty call... Who needs 3M sticky notes when you’ve got that.

@MapleLeafs Vesa with a save, a rebound, another save, another save... Awesome.

@MapleLeafs Roloson saves again. And again. And again.

@MapleLeafs Tavares is on again... but oddly was really only noticeable on one shift so far.

@MapleLeafs John Mitchell - lower body injury - out for night.

@MapleLeafs Toronto is 0-3 on power play with 6 shots on goal... Wait! Another goal. 3-0 shorthanded – Bergenheim SCORES. 20,000 unhappy people.

@MapleLeafs Kessel SCORES! 20,000 happy people. Great set-up by Stajan.

@MapleLeafs Now in goal for Toronto - MONSTER.

@MapleLeafs Shots are 42-18 Leafs-Isles... Roli is rocking.

@MapleLeafs Funny… The Platinums - clapping. Standing room - drinking beer.

@MapleLeafs Hagman has the hands too. SCORES. Nice dangle. Nice goal. 3-3.

@MapleLeafs Last time #Leafs put in more than 50 shots on goal - March 11, 2008 vs. #Flyers with 55 shots.

@MapleLeafs Monster stones Tavares. Tavares stays with play. Okay. We noticed him.

@MapleLeafs Last minute of play in OT. Nope. Game over. #12 Josh Bailey on the open net. 4-3 Isles.

@MapleLeafs Can't blame Toronto's coaching. Can't blame the players. Blame Dwayne Roloson for saving 58 shots.

(Of course there were several – hundred – observations we made, but you can follow us on Twitter, @Hockey54FOTG, for all the Tweetlights.)

With new media as a tool, the speed of language and exchange of information can make Al Iafrate’s slap shot cower in a corner.

In the eighties, it took a lot of courage for a goalie to step in front of that howitzer. Now that we are almost a decade into the new millennium, the Toronto Maple Leafs are like Jacques Plante. They have the new mask on, and ready to take a shot from Hockey54.com, and the rest of the new media.