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.

2023 Featured Speakers
*Speakers are subject to change.

 
Ken Holland
Edmonton Oilers General Manager
 
Rick Curran
The Orr Hockey Group
NHL Agent  
Daniele Sauvageau
Canadian Women's Hockey Head Coach
 
EJ Hradek
Sr Reporter for NHL Network & Host, NHL Now!
 
Mike Johnston
Portland Winterhawks President, GM, and Head Coach
 
Wade Klippenstein
Colorado Avalanche Director of Amateur Scouting
2022 Stanley Cup Champion  
Ryan Bowness
Pittsburgh Penguins Professional Scout
 
Mike Oke
Peterborough Petes’ General Manager
General Manager  
Harkie Singh
NHLPA Agent
 
Dino Caputo
Tri City Americans Regional Scout
 
Jeff Baidoo
Former Minnesota Wild Account Executive
 
Mike King
Ottawa Senators Video Coach
 
Bill Guertin
800-Pound Gorilla CEO
 
Jeff Scott
NHL Vice President of Community Development & Growth
 
Brian Blake
Senior Director, Diversity & Inclusion – National Hockey League
 
Mike Curran
NHLPA Certified Agent with ORR Group
 
Casey Torres
AHL Hartford Wolfpack Asst Coach
 
Claire Cornish
OHL Scout and SMWW Hockey Faculty
 
Peter Brauti
Seattle Kraken Principle Owner
 
Ian Beckenstein
Abbotsford Canucks Video Coach
 
Jack Brauti
Left Defenseman in Greater Toronto Hockey League (GHTL)
 
Reagan Carey
Commissioner, Premier Hockey Federation (PHF)
 
Phil Pritchard
Hockey Hall of Fame Vice President
 
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook
SMWW President & Founder, & NFLPA Agent

2023 NHL Draft Career Conference details:

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

Tuesday, June 27th, 2023  
What:  SMWW hosts the Hockey Career Conference at the NHL Draft Welcome Reception
When: Approximately 6- 9 pm Central Standard Time
Location: TBD 
(Must be 18 or older)

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023
What:  SMWW hosts the Hockey Career Conference 
When: Approximately 8 am- 5 pm Central Standard Time
Location: TBD

Wednesday, June 28th, 2023
What:  The 2023 NHL Draft 1st Round
When: Approximately 7- 9 pm Central Standard Time
Location: Bridgestone Arena - Nashville

Thursday, June 29th, 2023
What:  The 2023 NHL Draft, 2-7 Rounds
When: Approximately 10 am- 3 pm Central Standard Time
Location: Bridgestone Arena - Nashville

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