Inside the Press Box: Craig Custance

Storming the Crease is conducting a series of interviews with people who cover (or work for) the Caps and the NHL. You can find a link to the series archives on the right sidebar. Today's 27th installment: Sporting News hockey writer Craig Custance.

1. Take us through your transition from Thrashers beat writer to your current gig.

It's been just over a year since I left the Atlanta Journal-Constitution for the Sporting News and it's been a blur. It was a challenge right away because we were launching two new products in Sporting News Today -- the daily digital sports section, and the revamped magazine last summer. It was exciting to be a part of both new products and to see the overwhelmingly positive response. Now the focus is on constantly improving them.

For me, the biggest challenge was developing sources and contacts outside of Atlanta. Nothing beats the daily interaction you get as a beat writer in terms of building relationships with players and people within an organization, but I've also learned that the world of hockey is smaller than you might think. You also won't find a sport with more accommodating, helpful people, and that certainly helped.

2. Describe what it's like balancing the print edition, SportingNews Today, blogs, and Twitter feed.

I'm still finding that balance. Each presents a unique challenge, but at the same time, each offers different ways to tell a story. With Sporting News Today, we typically use alternative story forms -- categories, lists, Q and As, anything to break up the usual block of text. The Web site offers an opportunity to blog, show some personality and opinion. And I'll always enjoy tackling a long narrative for the magazine, although the magazine is also a great mix of different story forms. Honestly, I'm thankful to be a part of a traditional news organization that values hockey content. The editors at Sporting News are excited about the sport and always looking for ways to do more; sometimes I wonder if that's the case at other news outlets.

As for Twitter, I enjoy the interaction with readers and the race to get news out first. Most writers are extremely competitive, especially beat writers. Sometimes breaking a story comes down to just a few minutes and it's hard to beat Twitter in terms of getting news and ideas out quickly.

3. What's the best rivalry in the NHL right now?

From my perspective, I absolutely love what's going on between Pittsburgh and Washington. I know die-hard hockey fans are tired of hearing about those two teams, and about Ovechkin and Crosby. I get that. But the buzz that surrounded Game 7 in Washington during the Eastern Conference semifinals was unbelievable.

It was such a crucial moment for hockey in the United States, there was more mainstream buzz and talk about that game than any in the playoffs, and that includes Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals. I think the Pittsburgh/Washington rivalry transcends the game, at least in the U.S. It'd be hard to say that for any of the others.

4. What are some of your favorite hockey-related memories?

I'm happy to say that my best hockey-related memories are going on right now. I feel blessed to have the job I have and enjoy it thoroughly every day. Just recently, being on the ice when the Pittsburgh Penguins were passing around the Stanley Cup, and seeing the tears in the eyes of the players as they were celebrating decades worth of work was unbelievable. Especially when their families and kids rushed out to join them.

Or walking out of an empty Wrigley Field as one of the last to leave following the Winter Classic, and sneaking up a concourse for one last look at the rink in one of America's most historic ballparks. It was breathtaking. Yes, this job takes the fan out of you. I haven't cared about who wins or loses a hockey game in a long time, but the trade-off is that we get to witness and tell some incredible stories. I'll take that trade.

5. What occupies your time when you're not working?

Right now, moving and unpacking. But since my job takes me away from my family so much during the season, I try to spend as much time with my wife and two kids as possible when I'm not covering hockey. I have a four-year-old son and a one-year-old daughter who are both wildly entertaining.