A Kick Save and a Beauty » everett silvertips

Eagle has landed

admin — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:36:44 +0000

Well I’ve been here in Everett for a week and a bit now and its already been a hell of a time. I spent most of the first few days in various states of unconsciousness on couches and beds as I tried to get over the most wicked jet lag I’ve ever experienced (I’d never had a problem with it flying to the States before) and adjusting to the cold.

In the first week I’ve been here, the team’s gone 4 from 5 games (I like to think I’m lucky because they’d won 3 from the last 12 before that), made some minor rights trades and a released a player. Sadly, the player released was a very good friend of mine, Dale Hunt. Unfortunately this meant the most time we spent hanging out involved packing his life into a suitcase so he could head back to Manitoba. However, with the team also releasing his rights (a classy move) he’s able to carry on his hockey career whether in the W or another league where the opportunity presents itself. He’s received a lot of interest from MJHL teams back towards home and with one more year left on his eligibility he’s looking forward to atleast another good year of hockey ahead of him.

It was rough though, to see first hand the necessary business side of hockey when it is someone you care about and know well, and particular when it is kids, teenagers who are being shipped around the country between what they know. However, as any of them will tell you, its what they agree to in order to play the game. I know if I had the option, I’d agree to the exact same thing And that’d just to be able to work for the team!

A lot of my time so far has been spent observing and I’m learning a lot about ticket sales and promotions, different marketing and merchandising initiatives and coming up with some great ideas and plans to implement when I get back home. So far I’ve already emailed my team back home with Sponsorship Proposals and merchandising plans, and I’m working on something regarding season tickets at the moment. They’re going to get sick of me soon enough!!

Anyway, the team’s off the ice from practice, JR’s got some adjectives for me to look up for the broadcasts, and I’m off to Seattle this afternoon for the night’s game. So it’s time for me to scoot. Blog to you all soon.

Sasky

Hockey Home-ward Bound

admin — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 02:19:21 +0000

My plane leaves in a handful of hours and I’ll be heading North towards Everett on my next big adventure. Keep your eyes peeled to this space to read, not only more about hockey, but the adventures I have whilst on my travels.

See you on the other hemisphere side.

Sasky

It’s Happening!

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:43:58 +0000

It’s really happening. Once again I’m off to the wide world of North America to work with a hockey time. This time it’s the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, my first choice and absolute dream team to be heading to! Doug Soetaert (who’s name gives me so much trouble with spelling) the teams General Manager has been so incredibly generous with his allowing of me to come and work with his team for two and a half months. For this I am incredibly excited, and will be eternally grateful. Everett truly is a model franchise, and the success they’ve had in a mere 6 and a bit seasons producing the likes of Peter Mueller, Zach Hamill and Taylor Ellington and consistently figuring in the WHL playoff race has been incredibly. I can’t wait to get there and learn all I can.

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