What does it take to be a hockey broadcaster? This 17-year-old is finding out

Thomas McComber reached a conclusion about his career plans when he was in Grade 6.

"I love hockey, I love being around the game of hockey and whenever I would watch a hockey game, whenever there's a broadcast, I was like, 'That's what I want to do with my life,'" said the 17-year-old from Kingston, N.S.

He does colour commentary for the home games of the Valley Wildcats of the Maritime Junior Hockey League, who are based in Berwick, N.S. McComber started in the role midway through this season and took part in 12 games.

To prepare, McComber pores over statistics from the league's website. He said he was nervous doing his first game.

"But then I just remembered to stay calm and to just make sure that I'm not speaking in a rush or speaking in a hushed tone, to just project my voice and make sure that I'm clear," he said.

The Wildcats were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs, but McComber, a Grade 11 student, plans to stay in the position next season.

Kevin Hubert does the play-by-play for the Wildcats. He said McComber has a lot of passion and is a good listener.

"He has that gumption, that energy that he brings in every game," said Hubert.

McComber said one of his favourite sports broadcasters is TSN's Gord Miller. McComber said he likes Miller's personality and the way he describes the on-ice action.

CBC News contacted Miller to see what advice he'd have for an aspiring sports broadcaster.

"The most important thing is that it needs to be your passion," he said. "It needs to be something that you really want to do, not because you want to be famous or make lots of money, but just because you want to do it.

"And if it's your passion, you'll find that it's not work at all."

Miller said being a successful sports