Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Wismer.
Hi Samantha, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started covering the Philadelphia Flyers and their minor league affiliates in 2021. At the tail end of the 2022-2023 season, I started to complete player interviews to get the stories out there of minor league hockey players.
In the summer of 2023, I started taking pictures and creating content for a summer professional league named Jersey Pro League, which has many professional and college players ranging from NHL players to SPHL players. I still continue to do work for them every summer!
In the beginning of the 2023 season, I moved into a social media position for one year. I learned a lot about the ins and outs of social media, behind the scenes of hockey game days, and broadcasting.
At the beginning of the 2024 season, I moved and took on covering the Pittsburgh Penguins and their minor league affiliates full time.
I currently cover the entirety of the AHL and the ECHL for The Hockey News along with Pittsburgh and their minor league affiliates for Pittsburgh Hockey Now. I am also a color commentator in the NAHL for the New Jersey Titans.
I specialize in player interviews and have completed 130 player interviews and currently work with ECHL teams in the South that include Atlanta Gladiators, Savannah Ghost Pirates, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, and Florida Everblades.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t always been a smooth ride. Struggles along the way were disagreements, learning that not every one understands or likes the minor leagues, learning to not rebuttal back on social media and letting the comments slide off of the back.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a hockey writer, media creator, interviewer, photographer, and storyteller. I specialize in bringing the people and stories behind the game to life. I also work in hockey broadcasting and color commentary, create social media content for a college and summer league, and host my own hockey-focused podcast.
What I’m known for is more than simply reporting what happens on the ice. I want to understand the person behind the jersey. Their journey, the setbacks they have gone through, the small victories, and the moments that shaped a player or coach. Whether I’m writing a feature, conducting an interview, photographing a game, or calling a broadcast, I try to make the story of that particular person feel personal and authentic.
I’m most proud of how far I’ve come. I’ve built my place in hockey media through persistence, hard work, and a willingness to keep showing up, even when the path wasn’t easy. Covering local and ECHL hockey to earning opportunities with The Hockey News at the AHL level has been a huge milestone for me. I covered my first NHL event this past summer at an event called Shoulder Check. I’m proud that I’ve been able to create opportunities for myself while still continuing to shine a light on players, teams, and stories that deserve to be seen.
What sets me apart is the combination of my storytelling background, genuine relationships with the people I cover, and my ability to connect with audiences across different platforms. I bring the human aspect to my reporting without losing the honesty that the sports world requires. I’m not interested in just checking a box and publishing a story , I hope and want my readers to feel something when they finish it.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: every player has a story, every team has a story, and every season leaves behind moments worth remembering. I want to be the person who helps tell those stories.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I can always be reached by my email, X, Instagram, or even LinkedIn.
X- @SamanthaWismer
Instagram- @samanthawismermedia
LinkedIn- Samantha Wismer
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.substack.com/pub/thepenguinspressbox
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthawismermedia?stkn=MWVrc2RobXRyYnp1OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-w-20874b139?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Twitter: https://x.com/samanthawismer?s=11&t=hpo4KdPL7Z7gZSgie4d_vg
