2009 NHL Conference Photos and Recap

Sports Management Worldwide hosted yet another very successful career conference at the NHL Draft in Montreal on June 25th and 26th, 2009. The conference hosted approximately 175 attendees (from over 25 states & provinces, and five countries), who gained invaluable insight from front office executives, scouts, agents, coaches and former professional hockey players on how to obtain a career in hockey.  Speakers included Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke with son and Philadelphia Flyers Scout Patrick Burke, Former Boston Bruins GM Harry Sinden, London Knights Governor Trevor Whiffen, Edmonton Oilers Assistant GM Rick Olczyk, former Minnesota Wild Asst. GM Tom Lynn, NHL Agent Matt Keator, 2009 Draft Prospects Mike Lee and Chris Kreider, OHL Commissioner David Branch and QMJHL Commissioner Gilles Courteau, and AHL Executive VP Jim Mill, as well as many others shared their knowledge and experiences of their journey into a successful career in Hockey. Moderators included Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President and Mike Oke, International Scouting Services Chief Executive Scout.

In addition to the conference, SMWW conference attendees were invited to attend the NHL Hockey Draft hosted by the Montreal Canadians at the Bell Center. The Draft gave our attendees an inside view of the different facets of Professional Hockey from the front office executives on the ground floor to the numerous draftees wandering around the concourse with their families and agents in nervous anticipation of hearing their name announced. All attendees and speakers wore “Shoot for the Cure” lapel pins that “Shoot for the Cure” Director, Kerry Goulet, distributed. “Shoot for the Cure” is a non-profit group raising the awareness of spinal cord injuries in the game of hockey.

The two day conference included information about the business of hockey, from scouting, digital video editing, sports media, coaching, agency, ownership, management, operations, breaking into the sporting industry via Sports Management Worldwide courses. A favorite of the conference was Brian Burkes preconference media interview that conference attendees were able to experience first hand followed by the Brian Burke, Patrick Burke father son hockey conversation about their respective sport career stories. The Major Juniors panel with Trevor Whiffen, QMJHL Gatineau Olympique GM Charles Henry, GM and Vice President of the 2009 OHL Memorial Cup Champion Windsor Spitfires Warren Rychel and GM of the OHL Peterborough Petes Jeff Twohey was another conference favorite. Panelists interacted with the executives about the benefits of playing Major Juniors opposed to playing for a university as well as gaining insight into the business side of the OHL and QMJHL. EJ Hradek with ESPN, Howard Berger with The Fan 590 and Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News Writer & Editor along with Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune Sports Writer educated us on how media and sports coverage is constantly changing.  Added excitement came when our two conference draft prospects were drafted, Chris Kreider went 19th overall to the New York Rangers and Mike Lee went 91st overall to the Phoenix Coyotes.

Montreal knows how to host a NHL Draft, networking around downtown Montreal were agents, draftees, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, NHL Executives and coaches. First and second overall pick by the New York Islanders John Tavares and Tampa Bay Lightning Victor Hedman were spotted near our event and took time to interact with our attendees.  After hours, many conference attendees, SMWW Staff, SMWW Alumni, and hockey execs were spotted “networking” the night away on Crescent Street, the center of Montreal’s hot spots! The Conference was a huge success all thanks to our conference speakers, SMWW attendees and SMWW alumni, the city of Montreal and the National Hockey League.

Special Thanks to our SMWW Hockey Faculty for assistance in organizing the event: Harry Sinden, Former Boston Bruins GM, International Scouting Services, Steva, and Rinknet.

Special Thanks to Amy Florez for her photos of the event.

Thanks to everyone who came out and helped make this a great success and we’ll see you at the 2010 NHL draft!

Thursday, June 25th, 2009:
4pm-6pm - Registration
6pm: No host cocktails and Welcome Reception
6:30pm-7:30pm: Special Guests: 
Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs GM
Patrick Burke, Philadelphia Flyers Scout
Harry Sinden, former Boston Bruins GM

7:30pm-8:30pm - Networking

Friday, June 26th, 2009:
8am Registration
9am Welcome - Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President

9:30am-10:30am Hockey Operations Panel:
Rick Olczyk, Edmonton Oilers Asst. GM
Tom Lynn, Minnesota Wild Asst. GM

10:30 Break

10:45am-11:30am Media & Sports Broadcasting, Journalism Panel:
EJ Hradek, ESPN
Howard Berger, The Fan 590
Ryan Kennedy, The Hockey News Writer & Editor
Rob Rossi, Pittsburgh Tribune Sports Writer (Stanley Cup)

11:30-12:15am Major Junior Hockey Panel:
Jeff Twohey, OHL Peterborough Petes GM,
Warren Rychel, OHL Windsor Spitfires GM
Trevor Whiffen, OHL London Knights Governor
Charles Henry, QMJHL Gatineau Olympique GM

12:15-1:30 Lunch

1:30-2:30pm Agent Panel:
Matt Keator, NHL Agent
Potential 1st rounders Mike Lee and Chris Kreider

2:30pm-3:30pm - League Management:
Gilles Courteau, QMJHL League Commissioner
David Branch, OHL Commissioner
Dave Andrews, AHL President

3:30pm Break

3:45pm-4:45pm Sports Management Worldwide Faculty Panel:
Harry Sinden, Boston Bruins GM
Mike Oke, International Scouting Services Chief Scout
Ron Mathurin,  Steva President
Jim Price, Rinknet President

4:45pm-5:30pm - Mike Smith, Chicago Blackhawks former GM

5:30pm - Wrap Up with Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President
6pm - Head over to the NHL Draft at Bell Centre- Have your picture taken with the Stanley Cup and Fan Fest hosted by the Montreal Canadiens
7pm - 2009 NHL Entry Draft 1st Round at Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec begins (Draft tickets provided at registration. Do not lose this ticket as it is for both days!)

Additional Speakers:
Kerry Goulet – Shoot for a Cure & 29 Sports
Kyle Kosior – USHL (SMWW Alumni)
Pat Edwards – International Scouting Services Scout (SMWW Alumni)

Saturday, June 27th, 2009:
10am - 2009 NHL Entry Draft continues at Bell Centre