Eastlink TV’s Dan Robertson nominated for 2012-13 CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award

(HALIFAX, N.S.) - Atlantic University Sport is pleased to announce that Dan Robertson, Senior Sports Producer and Play-by-Play announcer at Eastlink TV is the 2012-13 recipient of the AUS Media Award and is the Atlantic conference's nominee for the CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award.

The Fred Sgambati Media Award is presented annually to a member of the news media who has made a major contribution to the development and growth of Canadian university sport. Each of the four Regional Associations may submit one nominee for consideration. The most recent recipient of the CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award was Monty Mosher, the Atlantic conference nominee from The Chronicle Herald in Halifax, who took home the award in 2010-11.

This year's award will once again be presented in conjunction with the 2013 CIS annual conference in Toronto, Ont.

“Dan Robertson is a true professional and his work in covering our student-athletes throughout the season and during AUS and CIS championship play hasn’t gone unnoticed,” says Phil Currie, Executive Director of Atlantic University Sport. “Dan is always well prepared and does a great deal of research in advance of each event. He often finds the details in a story that add a personal touch and truly connect the viewers with our student-athletes and coaches. Dan’s efforts have certainly helped promote and raise the profile of university sport in our region and we are proud to recognize his contributions with the 2013 AUS Media Award submit him as the AUS nominee for the 2013 CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award.”

Robertson has been with Eastlink TV since 1999 and for over 14 years has been the play-by-play voice for countless university basketball, hockey and football events in the Maritimes.

Dan has hosted or been the play-by-play announcer for every Loney Bowl (AUS football championship) since 2000 and every AUS men’s basketball championship since 2003. He has also called a number of AUS men’s hockey playoff games over the years.

Robertson typically calls an AUS regular season football game every Saturday during the fall season and in the winter months he is either courtside or in the press box each Saturday to cover AUS men’s and women’s basketball events or an AUS men’s hockey game.

In the past, Dan has also hosted and produced a 30-minute pre-season show as well as a 30-minute playoff preview show that aired on Eastlink TV.

In March of 2012, Robertson served as the on-air voice of the 2012 CIS Final 8 men’s basketball championship in Halifax, as Eastlink and Shaw partnered with CIS to make their live broadcasts for all games available to regional cable carriers ensuring fans across Canada could watch the championship games live. That year, Dan also co-hosted the CIS men’s basketball all-Canadian awards gala dinner.

From 2008-2012 Dan provided content on a regular basis for the AUS website in the form of a column called “Thoughts from the Booth” where he provided insight from his perspective on university sport.

He has been a past member of the CIS football top 10 voting committee, has filed stories nationally for Sportsnet and two years ago he also called one university basketball game and five American Hockey League (AHL) games for CBC.

He figures he has put over 10,000 km on the company van annually in covering sports for Eastlink TV.

A graduate of Saint Mary’s University, Dan grew up in Trenton and currently lives in New Glasgow with his wife Kathy and two children, Victoria and Clark.

“I have enjoyed covering AUS and CIS events over the years and I am pleasantly shocked to be considered for this recognition,” says Robertson. “The athletes and coaches are among the best in the country and have allowed us to be a part of many memorable moments throughout the years. I truly look forward to the university sport season each year.”

Notes: Fred Sgambati was a well respected reporter/broadcaster who was a great supporter of university athletics in Canada. A former University of Toronto athlete and university football official, Fred Sgambati was the radio voice of the College Bowl (now the Vanier Cup) for its first thirteen years...Past Atlantic conference nominees to have received the CIS Fred Sgambati Media Award include Monty Mosher, Halifax Chronicle Herald (2011); Scott Matthews, Atlantic Television Network (1985); Wally Sears, Sackville Tribune Post (1980) and Hugh Townsend, Halifax Chronicle Herald (1974).