As a woman, I know how hard it is to get your feet in the door and become a great broadcaster like Mike “Doc” Emrick and Sam Rosen. Times are definitely changing and more women are taking charge in the broadcasting role. One of those strong and inspiring women is Caley Chelios. Chelios is a broadcaster and reporter for the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey club.
Caley is the third child and oldest daughter of NHL Hall of Fame defenseman Chris Chelios and his wife Tracee. I had the pleasure of speaking with Caley about what it was like to grow up with a famous father, who inspired her to take up broadcasting, and what her advice is for female journalists.
Aly Riley: Your dad is NHL Hall of Famer Chris Chelios. Was it hard growing up with a hockey player father that everyone knew?
Caley Chelios: To me and my siblings, he was just dad. I think it helped me hold myself to a high standard in terms of work ethic, especially in sports. Sports provided a lot of structure, confidence, friends, and life lessons that shaped who I am today. It’s definitely a unique experience being the daughter of an athlete in that I can now reflect on some of the opportunities I had watching his games, and growing up around the rink.
AR: Where did you go to school and what made you go into journalism? Who inspired you?
CC: I was a junior in undergrad at Northwestern University that I decided I wanted to pursue journalism. I also attended graduate school at Medill and focused in broadcast and video, being inspired by the women I watched on NBC Sports. Kathryn Tappen’s NHL coverage really inspired me because I watched a lot of hockey and she was a lead host. I also admire Chris Simpson for Sportsnet, as well as Cassie Campbell and AJ Mleczko who have been providing color analyst work.
AR: What is the best and worst (if any) parts of your job?
CC: The best part is getting to travel around the country and just watch hockey games, and it doesn’t ever feel like work. The worst part is probably all the waiting around on busy days for interviews and press conferences.
AR: What was your most memorable career moment thus far?
CC: I’ve had a lot of great moments and experiences in my four seasons of covering the Lightning, but I’d have to say officially becoming a radio analyst and broadcaster this season has been the highlight of my career. It meant a lot to be the only female doing radio color commentary for an NHL team, and to have the support and respect of my co-workers to get there.
AR: Finally, do you have any advice for aspiring female sports reporters and journalists trying to get their big break?
CC: I think a lot of opportunities in this industry come with hard work, but also timing. It’s hard, but you have to be patient. Sometimes, there’s a little luck involved, but things open up when they’re meant to and in the mean time. I can’t stress enough the importance of critiquing yourself and asking experienced people for advice and constructive criticism. I cold-called and emailed a lot of people before and on my way to Tampa, and all those conversations were and still are valuable to me. They helped make me a better journalist.
Caley Chelios is one of NHL’s most inspiring reporters. She is the first EVER female color analyst for any big name team. She is proving that any woman out there can do it too!
