April 14, 2014 - American Hockey League (AHL) Utica Comets If you've been to a Comets game in The AUD then you know where the in-game videoboard "magic" is created. You may not be aware of it, but the room with the glass windows opposite the team's merchandise store is where it all happens.

Teamwork, a term used frequently when attempting to explain success, regardless the process and its level of complexity, is alive and well at Comets home games. Stationed in the press box well before the game or pre-game skate takes place, is Gina Nassivera - Comets Director of Game Presentation. Throughout the night, seamlessly and with anonymity, Nassivera centers a majority of all that is seen and heard on the video boards, and by script ensures all sponsorships and fan interaction goes off as planned.

Creating "magic" to satisfied fans by Nassivera comes by carefully designing a pleasing package. Having spent the past three seasons as game operations and event manager for the Rockford IceHogs, Nassivera came to Utica knowing what hockey fans want beyond how the team would skate. With her headset on, the Washington County (NY) native calls the shots to the "magic" room, located on The AUD's concourse.

Similar to the "war room" in Toronto, where NHL officials staff on game day, to answer requests from on and off-ice officials, the newly built and equipped "magic" room is where the fan experience are born. North Utica native Eric Kowiatek, 27, is the equivalent of an assistnat coach/coordinator for Nassivera on gameday. Taking commands, verbally as well as following the script, brings to life animation combined with video to the video boards as well as the halo video part of the scoreboard.

At a Comets-Albany game, around 5:30pm, 15-minutes prior to doors opening to season ticket holders, Kowiatek is already in position for his night's work. By day, the Comets' graphic designer, Kowiatek goes largely unnoticed to the hockey public roaming the concourse due to his back to them. Sitting to the left of Kowiatek is the evening's technical director Doug Moreau of Sauquoit. Moreau will be working the switcher; the board where he takes shots from the three cameras covering the game and brings them up on-line to the video boards.

From an outsider's perspective there is an unusual relaxed atmosphere. There are seven screens attached to the wall in front of Kowiatek. He also has a laptop computer at the ready to his right. The main screen in front of Kowiatek is pre-loaded with the various graphics, many of which he designed since signing on with the team this past summer. Throughout the night, on command, these pre-loaded graphics are what he will pull from and bring to life on the video boards. Kiss cam, dance cam, all what have become fan favorites and expected rituals for Comets fans halfway through the inaugural season in The AUD come from here.

Throughout the game even though the binder holding the evening's script is being followed, additions are added on the fly. At about 6pm, a Comets staffer enters Kowiatek's domain with a card, a hand written request to be added to the birthday announcements (graphic already created). Without hesitation, Kowiatek effortlessly moves to his lap top and pulls up the birthday graphic and seconds later the addition is complete.

"I'm in communication with Gina on the headset, and we also are in contact with Tom (Comets Public Address Announcer Tom Coyne)," says Kowiatek, while lining up in proper order the evening's announcements.

While going about combining his in-game ingredients of fan fun for the game, fans stop to see how this person, similar to the great and powerful Wizard of Oz works his "magic". One of the green guys, who sits by the visiting penalty box taunting opponents, makes an appearance unbeknownst to Kowiatek, and does his shtick before moving on.

Timing is everything for the Comets game presentation to have a successful evening. A partnership between Kowiatek and Moreau on this Friday game is clear. Two hand-held cameras are on ice level, one on the blue seats level. "There are media time outs, we have to be ready for intermissions, goals being scored, and during the national anthem(s)," Kowiatek said.

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Inside the Comets: Comets Graphic Designer Eric Kowiatek