PR Exec Launches Hockey Parent Web Site
Public relations industry veteran Mark Gilman is out with a new Web site, www.MiHockeyKid.com, that he says meets a need that until now has been totally unmet -- creating a place where hockey parents can have their voices heard, not to mention learn things that will actually make them better hockey parents.
Gilman used the talents of the company he founded, Decus Strategic Communications in Clarkston, over several months for the new site.
"There are 50,000 hockey players in Michigan and if you do simple math, the chances are that there are at least 100,000 parents who, until now, haven't had a voice," said Gilman. "Add that to the fact that there isn't a place to get good information about rinks, equipment, training, or related information, and we feel this site really fills a niche."
Gilman, who along with his wife, Patti, has watched three of their kids go through the hockey ranks in Michigan, has long understood that anything that will appeal to hockey parents has to be written by someone who's taken the time to freeze in a rink at early morning and late night practices and drive ridiculous amounts of miles to get there.
"I'm well aware that most of us are a special breed and yes, maybe a bit nuts," said Gilman. "So I've definitely created MiHockeyKid.com with that perspective in mind."
MiHockeyKid.com is a technologically advanced, fully interactive Web site for visitors to post comments, take part in polls and follow tweets from the MiHockeyKid team. It is fully engaged with other social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter. The goal is to make it the site for hockey news as well as league and tournament experiences.
Topics ranging from head injury prevention and locker room behavior to equipment and training will be featured on the site, which aims to do what other sites have not done -- educate. And, coming soon, MiHockeyKid.com will feature video interviews with coaches, parents and trainers.
"Actually I'm most proud of what this site isn't," Gilman said. "There are no 'Daddy-rankings' where parents determine where their kid's team match up and then fight about it endlessly. Nor are we a repository for cheap shots against parents, coaches and kids -- comments that have dominated discussions on other Michigan-based bulletin boards and forums. I understand that we are sometimes rabid about our kids and their teams, but at least on MiHockeyKid.com, we're going to seek out higher ground."
For more information about MiHockeyKid.com contact Mark Gilman at mihockeykid@gmail.com or (248) 942-5896.
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