Grad Student Geraldine Paglia G’25 Showcases Work on Whalers Documentary

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Syracuse University Newhouse graduate student Geraldine Paglia G’25 answered questions on Thursday, Apr. 24, as students gathered to watch “The Whalers,” a documentary she helped produce as an undergraduate, and a project that inspired her path to graduate school.

Newhouse students gathered in The Mike Tirico Room in Room 250 of Newhouse 3. The film is about a former National Hockey League (NHL) team still near and dear to many Connecticut hockey fans.

The documentary focuses on the story of the former NHL franchise, the Hartford Whalers. The team played in the NHL from 1979 to 1997. The film discusses the team’s founding, hockey life in the Constitution State, and the decision to leave Hartford and relocate to Raleigh, North Carolina, to become the Carolina Hurricanes for the 1997-1998 season.

This documentary features never-before-seen footage and includes over 30 former players, coaches, staff members, and fans. Tal Pinchevsky and Pat Pickens co-directed the film. It is based on the 2021 book titled “The Whalers: The Rise, Fall, and Enduring Mystique of New England’s (Second) Greatest NHL Franchise,” which Pickens wrote.

“The Whalers: The Rise, Fall, and Enduring Mystique of New England’s (Second) Greatest NHL Franchise” by Pat Pickens. Photo credit: Rich Rosa

Pickens has been a sportswriter covering professional sports for more than 15 years. The New York Times, Associated Press, USA Today, and NHL.com have all published his work.

Pickens said many former players enjoyed playing for the Whalers.

“Personally, I’d say that these people loved their time there, and they loved talking about their time there again because it was unique and because it was of a different era,” Pickens said.

Syracuse television, radio, and film professor, Jordan Kligerman, hosted a Q&A after the screening with Pickens and Syracuse broadcast and digital journalism (BDJ) graduate student Paglia.

Geraldine Paglia (left), Pat Pickens (middle), and Syracuse professor Jordan Kligerman (right). Photo credit: Jill Schumacher

Pickens and Paglia both earned bachelor’s degrees from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut. The School of Communications, Media, and the Arts at Sacred Heart financially backed the documentary.

Paglia loves hockey and was introduced to Pickens, who was in the process of creating the documentary at the time. Her passion for the sport and the industry prompted him to add her to the film crew.

At Sacred Heart University, Paglia started as a business major and worked on the documentary in her senior year. Working on the film was one of Paglia’s first big opportunities in production and broadcasting.

Paglia said that when she got involved, it was all hands on deck.

“I was traveling with them. I was helping them set up the camera shots. I even got to ask a couple of questions at the end. Just doing anything and everything that I could to help out,” Paglia said

Paglia said her favorite part was traveling with the crew to film the documentary.

Through this opportunity, Paglia accompanied Pickens and the rest of the crew to Whalers Night in Raleigh, North Carolina, the 2024 NHL Draft at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada, and to Florida, where some former players reside.

“We went to Florida; we went to North Carolina; we went to the draft; like we went to all different places. I think as an undergraduate, that’s not something you get to see that often. So it was super cool that I got to have such a large hand in this documentary,” Paglia said.

Paglia said talking to fans in North Carolina for Whalers Night was a unique experience.

“We were just in the parking lot, and I was having my camera, and I was running around, going out to people asking them what they had, like Whalers signs on them, or the logo. And it was just really cool that everyone had a different story,” Paglia said.

She credits her work as an associate producer as the reason she is at Syracuse, getting a master’s degree.

Some of the people interviewed for the documentary included Peter Good, the creator of the Hartford Whalers logo; Peter Karmanos, Jr., the principal owner of the Whalers and Hurricanes from 1994 to 2018; and former head coach Paul Maurice, who coached the Whalers and Hurricanes from 1995 to 2003.

Syracuse professor Olivia Stomski, the Director of the Newhouse Sports Media Center, said she was excited to host the documentary screening.

“The fact that one of our grad students, Geraldine, had such an important part in this film is really exciting for us. So we want to celebrate all of our students and their accomplishments,” Stomski said.

Stomski and Syracuse junior Riley Underwood were handing out movie-themed snacks to students. Underwood said students received a true movie theater experience in The Mike Tirico Room.

Syracuse professor Olivia Stomski and Syracuse junior Riley Underwood are handing out movie-themed snacks. Photo credit: Matea Kanicki

If you live in the Northeast, the documentary will air twice on NBC Sports Boston in May. It will also air on SNY for New York residents and has already been on NBC Sports Philadelphia.