How I Think and Do: In-Game Host Abby Labar

What can you do with an NC State degree in communication? Ask Abby Labar, in-game host for the Carolina Hurricanes. 

In her role, Labar (Communication ’17) helps connect fans with the National Hockey League team by producing and hosting in-game shows, interviewing players and leading promotional contests and games. 

“I’m the person fans can talk to, and connect with, and find more information about the Canes,” Labar says. “They want to know more and their connection with me is like their connection to the team, so that’s something that’s really special and really cool about this job.”

In addition to her role with the Hurricanes, Labar is also a digital media reporter for the NC State fan website Pack Pride. There, she interviews high school recruits and current NC State players and coaches. 

Labar also recently added sideline reporting duties to her resume and has covered several ACC football games for regional sports networks. 

“In sports media, it doesn’t matter whether you want to be in front of the camera or behind the camera, you have to be versatile, and NC State did a really great job at that,” Labar says. “It wasn’t just learning sports broadcasting in those classes, it was learning about film, and broadcasting in general, and how to storytell through video, and that’s something I’m able to use.”

Thinking back on her NC State experience, Labar says she values the friendships she made.

“Those relationships, and those internships, and those opportunities that I got with NC State, whether it was projects for class or my internships with NC State athletics, all that 100% got me to where I am today,” Labar says. “I would not be where I am without NC State, that’s for sure.”

This post was originally published in College of Humanities and Social Sciences.