A nice move by NESN:
Two Jimmy Fund Clinic patients to help broadcast Bruins-Maple Leafs game on NESN on Thursday, Dec. 18
BOSTON—Two Jimmy Fund Clinic patients at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, both avid hockey fans, have been given a dream assignment: to help announce the New England Sports Network’s live broadcast of the Boston Bruins – Toronto Maple Leafs game on Thursday, Dec. 18.
Eric Miller, of Shrewsbury, Mass., and Caroline Fries, of Barnstable, Mass., have been learning the finer points of announcing a professional hockey game from NESN’s Jack Edwards, the Bruins play-by-play announcer. Miller and Fries have met with Edwards several times and have been in the broadcast booth during a game to observe Edwards and his partner, Bruins color analyst Andy Brickley, at work.
Fries, 17, was diagnosed in October 2005 with rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancer of the soft tissue. The cancer recurred in June 2007. Miller, 20, was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma on his right tibia in May 2008. Both are in active treatment for their cancers.
On the day of the game, Fries and Miller will be at TD Banknorth Garden to watch the Bruins morning skate and later take part in the pre-game production meeting. During the game, they each will take Edward’s place next to Brickley in the broadcast booth and call the play-by-play. One of them will step in during the middle of the first period, with the other during the middle of the second period.
“Eric and Caroline are amazing people who love hockey and the Bruins, so to have this opportunity to help them focus on something other than their cancer is absolutely wonderful,” said Lisa Scherber, activities coordinator for the Jimmy Fund Clinic. “We are so grateful for Jack Edwards and his NESN colleagues for being so generous with their time, for befriending Eric and Caroline, and helping them prepare for their on-air debut.”
