Quick Interview with Alec Brownscombe of MLHS

Today we are joined by Alec Brownscombe of the website Maple Leafs Hotstove, which has gained enormous popularity since it was founded in 2008. ‘MLHS’ is regarded as one of the premier unofficial Leafs resources on the internet for opinions and insider scoop.

Peter Morrow: Thanks for joining me, Alec. I understand you’ve been pretty busy this summer between the new magazine and developing the website. You guys are coming up to one full year of MLHS, any reflections?

Alec Brownscombe: I can say without embellishment that the growth of the site over the course of the year has been beyond my wildest dreams. When you reminded me that our one-year anniversary is approaching, I started flipping through the archives of the site to remember the exact date of our inception (as it turns out, September 3rd), and it was funny to see that the comment numbers were rarely north of ten in the beginning. When I clicked back onto the home page and saw a few of the blogs’ comment figures in the triple digits now, it really registered what we’ve managed to accomplish in a short period of time at MLHS. It speaks to the relevancy and quality of the content our bloggers are producing, as well as the demand for it out there in Leafs Nation. I’d be remiss not to acknowledge the role of the mainstream media’s seeming inability to produce that type of apposite conversation that’s inspired many of our readers to originally turn elsewhere. I’d also be neglectful not to thank fellow bloggers across the Leafs blogosphere for their hospitable adoption into the Barilkosphere community – particularly Pension Plan Puppets who are great at branching out with their daily FTB (From the Branches) linkups and surely helped us get off the ground in the early stages. The Score’s sponsorship was also a major bonus and we’re glad to be a part of the Federation there. To say it’s the blogging team that deserve all the credit would be unmindful of the fact that many readers come for the conversation generated by the blogs, too, which is a testament to our generally informed, passionate and respectful readership base. The amount of responses, compliments and suggestions we receive from our readers is overwhelming in a very good way, and we obviously ultimately owe them a lot of our thanks for their loyalty and interest.

Peter: For your magazine, Maple Leafs Annual, you collaborated with Maple Street Press and a lot of good writers from the Leafs blogging world. Exciting? Strenuous? All of the above?

Alec: It was admittedly daunting at first, but when I started getting contributions from the number of informed, insightful and talented writers across the Barilkosphere I knew we’d be just fine, and that I was in a really fortunate position to be consolidating its voices. Exciting would therefore be understating it. Even to those that weren’t involved directly, this is something to cherish as a symbol of what we’ve managed to accomplish as a community. If we all get behind it, it’ll be back for second and third and fourth rounds in the future, when we can involve more and more of the talented voices that are out there, growing in strength and number by the day. Enough cannot be said about Maple Street Press, either; they deliver on what they promise with products truly dedicated to us junkies (and I’m not trying to be self-serving when I say it’s visually absolutely stunning). The reviews from the contributors who have received advanced copies have been nothing but positive and I’m confident Leafs Nation will love this thing, and that we’re headed nowhere but up from here.

Peter: I noticed you’ve an interview with head Leafs scout Dave Morrison in the Annual magazine. Did you manage to convert him into a MLHS fan?

Alec: A question actually comes up in our interview in the Annual that ended up leading to his discussing of how much stock they put into online reports, and he says he reads it all… so he’d be remiss not to stop by. Seriously though, he’s been kind enough to dig up some information for us in the past so I’m sure he checks it out now and again. Additionally, when I conducted the predraft interview for the site, he seemed impressed by some of the questions our readers generated for him.

Peter: A few of the MLHS writers seem to be fairly in tune with Leafs rumours that make their way around the mill. Have any of you heard something that you really wanted to post but felt it would be irresponsible to do so?

Alec: There have been a few instances in which I’ve had an opportunity for a scoop but would’ve had to roll over my source to do so. It’s a difficult situation to find yourself in but it’s part and parcel with the rumour business. Our MLHS blogging team isn’t necessarily trying to compete scoop for scoop or ‘e1’ for ‘e1’ but we do like to pass along what we’re hearing if it’s provocative - and we hope the readers appreciate having heard what we’ve heard as opposed to remaining in the dark. We always preface it accordingly, and for the most part I believe our readers understand that and appreciate it for what it is. At MLHS, we also follow some old fashioned principles like corroborating leads/rumours between our featured bloggers whenever possible - it’s one of the strengths of having a good crew of writers: each with their own resources.

Peter: Over the last season covering the Leafs, have you made any solid contacts with the club? How aware do you think the front office is of the service MLHS provides to Leafs fans?

Alec: Dating back to my Hockeybuzz (*coughs*) days I’ve managed to make a few contacts within the club and around the league. Brian Burke and Cliff Fletcher have been nice enough to answer a few of my questions but I try to bother them as little as possible, particularly with Mr. Burke as I’d fear for my health if I were to cross him. Dave Morrison has been a pleasure to meet as a kind, down-to-earth guy and an excellent interview. I’ve heard stories of scouts professing their love for MLHS and of MLSE employees complimenting us on our accuracy as well. So I’d like to think the front office regulars MLHS, but I’d settle for them simply knowing of its existence.

Peter: Where do you see MLHS a year from now?

Alec: Much the same as it is now but better… With continued support we’ll work at upgrading the site in all areas to continue to grow the site into a home for Leafs fans. An upgrade to the comments section is already in the works that should make them more interactive and better poised for game day chats and the like. There’s soon to be an exciting announcement concerning a forthcoming podcast, and we’ll continue hosting our cover-it-live specials on those key dates that all rabid fans live for. We have lots in store for the upcoming year, and we thank the readers for their enthusiastic support of the site in its inaugural year. Our ultimate goal is to create a virtual club house, where fans can relax and chat with a crew who have something informed to say about their favourite sport and team.

Peter: Last question – what are your thoughts on the Leafs this upcoming season? Are we playoff bound?

Alec: PLAYOFFFSSSSSS!!!!!!!111

Peter: Couldn’t have said it better myself. Thanks a lot for doing this. Best of luck with the website; I know a lot of Leafs fans will be tuned in throughout the season. Go Leafs Go!

Alec: Thanks Peter.

Alec’s Maple Leafs Annual magazine will be available on September 8th in Chapters across Canada as well as several retail outlets in the greater Toronto area. You can preorder it now.

Comments

Leave a comment