If you want to start a career in hockey or advance your current one, attending the SMWW NHL Draft Career Conference is the move you need to make. Find out who is hiring and for what roles, network with hockey executives, and learn strategies to catapult your career to the next level.

"Our NHL Draft Career Conference provides an invaluable opportunity for attendees to learn about careers in the NHL while networking with some of the biggest names in the industry," says Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, president of Sports Management Worldwide. "Agents, GM's, directors of player personnel, and marketing executives all will be present, meeting, and speaking with attendees. This is a unique event!"

Past conference speakers have included team executives like the Pittsburgh Penguins Brian Burke and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland, powerful sports agents like Pat Brisson and Rick Curran, media members like NHL Network Senior Reporter EJ Hradek, head coaches, personnel executives, scouts, and more.

"SMWW gets the best speakers year after year, who are all able to speak with confidence and experience regarding a wide variety of topics in the hockey industry. Every moment at the conference was time well spent," confirms Dylan Skubel, Ontario Minor Hockey Association referee and linesman.

Montreal becomes the center of the hockey universe as NHL club executives, scouts and coaches will all be present on the NHL Draft floor joined by hundreds of print, television and radio media.  SMWW puts you in the 100 level so you can watch the hockey executives interact and make decisions, while the media reports it to the world. Be in the heart of the action!

Hockey careers start with Sports Management Worldwide, and our annual NHL Draft Career Conference is a great way to get introduced to the people behind the scenes that make the game great.

"If you are thinking about a career in hockey, SMWW is a cutting-edge program that offers you the training, skills, vital networking, mentoring, and hockey specific training that will assist you in breaking in or advancing your career in professional hockey. They have hundreds of graduates now working at all levels of the game," says Pittsburgh Penguins President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke.

2019 Featured Speakers
*Speakers are subject to change. 2022 Speakers will be announced later.

 
Ken Holland
Edmonton Oilers GM
 
Rick Curran
The Orr Hockey Group
NHL Agent  
Daniele Sauvageau
Canadian Women's Hockey Head Coach
 
EJ Hradek
NHL Network & NHL.com Sr. Reporter. NHL Live Host
 
Mike Johnston
WHL Portland Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach
 
Wade Klippenstein
Colorado Avalanche Scout
 
John Shannon
Sportsnet.ca
Sportscaster  
Ryan Bowness
Pittsburgh Penguins Professional Scout
 
Nicole Lee
NHL Senior Director Integrated Marketing
 
Damian Echvarrieta
NHL Player Safety Group Vice President
 
George Parros
Former NHL player, NHL Director of Player Safety
 
Jeff Ulmer
Arizona Coyotes Coordinator, Skill Development / Assistant Director of Special Projects
 
Dana Clark
Vancouver Canucks Sr Director, Human Resources
 
Lisa Hollenbeck
WHL Portland Winterhawks
Senior Director Business Operations  
Mike Oke
Peterborough Petes
General Manager  
Patrick Burke
NHL Director of Player Safety & You Can Play President
 
Manny Schmidt
Link Management NHL Agent
 
Harkie Singh
Uptown Hockey
NHLPA Agent  
Dino Caputo
WHL Tri-City Americans Scout
 
Ella Chan
Vancouver Canucks Vice President Hospitality
 
Lynn Lashbrook
President & Founder of SMWW. Certified Sports Agent. Former NCAA Athletic Director.

2022 NHL Draft Career Conference details:

As the NHL updates their NHL Draft schedule, we will update these approximate times below.
Note: Times will change. The dates are confirmed.

Wednesday, July 6th, 2022  
What:  SMWW hosts the Hockey Career Conference at the NHL Draft Welcome Reception
When: Approximately 7- 9pm eastern time
Location: Winston Churchill Pub Complex, Karina's Club, 3rd Floor in downtown Montreal, Quebec, Canada
1455 Crescent St, Montreal, Quebec H3G 2B2, Canada
(Must be 18 or older)

Thursday, July 7th, 2022 
What:  SMWW hosts the Hockey Career Conference 
When: Approximately 8am- 5pm eastern time
Location: Hotel Bonaventure, 900 Rue De La Gauchetière O, Montréal, Quebec, Canada H5A 1E4

Thursday, July 7th, 2022 
What:  The 2022 NHL Draft 1st Round
When: Approximately 7- 9pm eastern time
Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Friday, July 8th, 2022 
What:  The 2022 NHL Draft, 2-7 Rounds
When: Approximately 11am- 3pm eastern time
Location: Bell Centre,  Montreal, Quebec, Canada

SMWW’s Industry Leading Courses Featured In:

Check Out Our Photos From The 2019 Conference In Vancouver!

Past Speakers

Note: Due to team meetings, speakers are not guaranteed and will change. The closer we get to the date, the more accurate the schedule becomes as executives do not yet know their team meeting schedules. Keep coming back to this agenda to see the most recent additions all the way up to the draft day!

► Other Speakers by the Year

Scholarships for the NHL Draft Career Conference Are Available

SMWW will award a limited amount of full and partial scholarships for each SMWW Career Conference. You must be 18 years or older to be considered. If interested, fill out an application, submit your resume and a one-page letter explaining why you should receive a scholarship to info@smww.com.

Scholarships do not include lodging or airfare. Those who have completed an SMWW training program will be given preference.

Download a Copy of the
2019 NHL Draft Hockey Program Here