If you are a sports media fan like myself, then you might be following all the progress that ALLCITY Network has made since starting several years ago.
AllCITY has branches in Denver, CO, Phoenix, AZ, Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL, and now Dallas, TX. It is the last location that is the subject of this article.
I was lucky enough to conduct an email interview with Sam Nestler, the Dallas Stars beat writer for ALLCITY’s Dallas branch, DLLS Sports. Sam was kind enough to tell us about how he got into hockey both as a fan and as a writer, what outlets he has covered hockey for, how he got the gig at DLLS Sports, and more.
I hope you enjoy learning more about Sam!
PH: Growing up, how did you get into hockey?
SN: It was pretty simple for me. I was given a hockey stick at a very young age, went to a few games at the Shark Tank in Northern California, and soon, it was all I wanted to do.
When my family moved to New Jersey – I was six – I got on the ice for the first time in a youth clinic. While my brothers hated every second of it and quit after just one or two practices, I could not get enough.
I played competitively pretty much from that point all the way through college.
PH: Growing up, who was your favorite team (s) and player (s)?
SN: My first NHL game that I actually remember was Game 2 of the 2000 Stanley Cup Final in New Jersey. The Dallas Stars were in town looking to tie the series, and my eyes were quickly drawn to No.9, Mike Modano.
His skill and speed, mixed with the sweater fluttering in the wind behind him, was all I needed to deem him my favorite player and Dallas my team. I was a big-time Stars fan from that day on.
I also loved Eddie Belfour, and actually played goalie all the way until high school because of him.
PH: At what point in your life did you realize that you wanted to be involved in hockey as a member of the media?
SN: It took a long time to figure out a path that actually allowed me to work in hockey. I, of course, always wanted to be a player, but once that dream was out of reach, I dismissed hockey as a career of any kind. It was not until the COVID-19 shutdown that I started combining my storytelling and writing -which I mostly used to tell funny stories at parties or write fiction – with my love for hockey.
I began a blog, got hired by The Hockey Writers, and the path started to look a bit more achievable.
PH: What outlet gave you your first opportunity to write about hockey? What did you learn while writing for this particular outlet?
SN: The Hockey Writers. Only a few months after starting my own rinky-dink blog about the Stars to kill time during COVID, I saw that THW was hiring for a few NHL teams. I reached out, basically saying I would cover any team, and was luckily hired to write for Dallas.
I learned the importance of feedback. If you are not open to honest feedback as a writer, you are not going to grow. I was, and still am, lucky to have some amazing editors and peers throughout my career, and I would not have grown as a writer, reporter, or person without them.
PH: What other outlets have you covered hockey for?
SN: I have written for DLLS, Daily Faceoff & The Nations sites, Substack, Fansided, Blackout Dallas, The Hockey Writers, NHL.com, College Hockey News, Hockey Now, and I am sure a few others that I am not remembering at this moment.
PH: You are now the Dallas Stars beat writer as well as a Dallas Stars show host for ALLDLLS. How did this opportunity come about for you?
SN: Out of absolutely nowhere, honestly. I was really happy with my role at Daily Faceoff, College Hockey News, and The Nations, I had some freelance clients in the fitness copywriting field, and I was set for a season covering Dallas and the NHL on Substack.
I began to hear rumors that ALLCITY was planning a move to Dallas – I had reached out a few times over the years about their expansion to Dallas or NJ with no luck. I tried not to focus too much on those rumors, but I listened when things came my way.
Within about two weeks, I was accepting the job while on vacation with my girlfriend and family, and was attending meetings from the beach in San Diego.
PH: What are you looking to provide readers, viewers, and listeners on a daily basis over at ALLDLLS?
SN: Our goal is to bring fans the coverage they want. It really is that simple.
We want to be our authentic selves in both our shows and writing. We listen to fans on social media, our Diehard Discord channel, and during the show, so that we can discuss what they want.
PH: What is it like to say that you are now a full-time hockey writer/personality?
SN: Well, it is the first time I have said or read it out loud… So it is pretty cool. It is something I only dreamed of during the past four years of doing this mostly for free.
I love being at the rink and around the team, so to be able to do that every day and simply focus on bringing high-quality content to fans, it is really special and I am incredibly grateful.
PH: What are your thoughts on the upcoming season for the Stars? How far do you think they can go this season?
SN: The Stars should be a very good team. They have back-to-back trips to the Western Conference Final on their resume, and I honestly think they got better this summer.
They got tougher on the blue line, have two solid goalies, and are as deep as any team in the NHL up front. I expect a very successful season and another deep playoff run.
PH: Is there anything else you would like to share with us hockey fans?
SN: Keep being the best fans in the world. You are the reason people like me get to do what we love.
It is the greatest sport in the world, and hockey fans are the greatest fans in the world. I will always stand by that.
