Advertise on podcast: Working in Hockey

Nick Bowins is joined by Carter Hutton, longtime NHL goaltender and co-host of DFO Live at Daily Faceoff, to share his path from Thunder Bay to the NHL and now into hockey media, offering valuable insights for aspiring hockey professionals. Carter Hutton built his game from the ground up in Northern Ontario, developing through the SIJHL and four seasons as a starter at UMass Lowell before a long NHL career primarily with the Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, and Buffalo Sabres. His media career began while he was still playing, from live in-game headset interviews on Predators broadcasts alongside Pete Weber and Terry Crisp to "Zero to Sixty" locker room segments in St. Louis, which led to co-hosting with Nick Alberga on the Nation Network, and eventually to a daily chair on DFO Live at Daily Faceoff. We talk about how the move to an 84-game season could affect goalie workloads, which goalies to watch this year, how goaltender interference could be made clearer, how he stays authentic and relatable on air while respecting the players he covers, and how the mental side of the game shaped his career. If you're trying to break into hockey media, broadcasting, or content creation, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - How live in-game interviews as a backup goalie launched his media career - Goalie workloads, tandems, and what the 84-game season could mean around the league - Ideas for bringing more clarity to goaltender interference - Staying authentic, relatable, and prepared as an analyst covering the whole league - His best advice for anyone looking to work in hockey media: be yourself and put in the work 👉 Subscribe to @WorkinginHockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #CarterHutton #DailyFaceoff #HockeyMedia #Goaltending

Nick Bowins is joined by Nick Olczyk, one of the voices of the Utah Mammoth, to share his path from the minor leagues to the NHL broadcast booth, offering valuable insights for aspiring broadcasters and hockey professionals alike. Nick Olczyk's love for broadcasting led him from two seasons of Division I hockey at Colorado College, to the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, where he got his first play-by-play opportunity, while working behind the scenes at NBC Sports Chicago, cutting highlights and using telestration software that later took him to the Olympics and ESPN's college football coverage. From there he stepped in with the Chicago Blackhawks, spent two seasons with the Seattle Kraken, and is now heading into his third season as a founding voice of hockey in Utah, where he hosts the pregame, intermission, and postgame shows, works between the benches at ice level, and serves as lead analyst on road games. We talk about how fast the game looks from the glass, how he prepares differently for every role, the lessons he learned from his dad (a Hall of Fame broadcaster and a mentor) about being yourself, and what it means to help a brand new market fall in love with the game. If you're trying to break into broadcasting, studio hosting, or sports media, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - Nick's path from Colorado College hockey to the Indy Fuel, the Blackhawks, the Kraken, and Utah - A look inside the between-the-benches role and how fast the game moves at ice level - How he prepares as a studio analyst, a between-the-benches reporter, and a lead analyst - The side quests, from Olympic telestration to college football, that shaped his career - His best advice for aspiring broadcasters: never say no, be yourself, and love what you do 👉 Subscribe to @WorkinginHockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #NickOlczyk #UtahMammoth #Broadcasting #SportsMedia

Nick Bowins is joined by Ken Daneyko, three-time Stanley Cup champion and "Mr. Devil," to share his journey from a 20-year playing career to the broadcast booth, offering valuable insights for aspiring broadcasters and former players alike. Ken Daneyko is the New Jersey Devils' all-time leader in games played and penalty minutes, and after spending his entire playing career with one organization, he turned his passion for the game into a media career, beginning in 2006 and growing into his role as the Devils' color analyst, alongside years of work as an NHL Network analyst and as an ambassador for the club he's been a part of for 42+ years. We talk about how a conversation with Lou Lamoriello shaped his next chapter, the mentors who taught him the finer points of broadcasting, how he balances honest analysis with respect for the players he travels with, and what today's champions, from the Carolina Hurricanes to his own 1995 Devils, have in common. If you're a former player, student, or young professional trying to break into broadcasting or hockey media, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - Moving from a 20-year playing career with one team into broadcasting - The mentors who helped him learn the ropes, and the best advice he received: be yourself - Why respectful, constructive analysis matters when you're covering a team you love - What the Stanley Cup champions of every era, from the '95 Devils to today's Hurricanes, have in common - His best advice for former players and aspiring broadcasters looking to break into the industry 👉 Subscribe to @workinginhockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #KenDaneyko #NewJerseyDevils #Broadcasting #SportsMedia

Nick Bowins is joined by John McCarthy, Head Coach of the AHL's San Jose Barracuda, to share his path from playing in the San Jose organization to leading its AHL bench, offering valuable insights for aspiring coaches and hockey professionals alike. John McCarthy played more than 10+ years of pro hockey, capping a standout college career at Boston University with a national championship, before stepping behind the bench at 33 as an assistant coach with the Barracuda. From there he spent two seasons in player development, a role he credits with helping him grow into the head coaching job, which he has now held for four seasons. We talk about how the AHL has evolved into a faster, more skilled league, why coaching today is far more about relationships than X's and O's, how his staff divides responsibilities, and how the Barracuda balance developing one of the best prospect pipelines in hockey with the goal of winning. He also shares what having the Sharks and Barracuda under one roof means for players and coaches, and the non-negotiables he sets early each season. If you're trying to break into coaching, player development, or hockey operations, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - His path from playing in the San Jose organization to head coach of the Barracuda - How the AHL has become a faster, more skilled league in recent years - Why building relationships matters more than X's and O's in today's game - Balancing prospect development with winning, and the advantage of sharing a building with the Sharks - His best advice for aspiring coaches: lean on your network and build connections early 👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #AHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #JohnMcCarthy #SanJoseBarracuda #HockeyOperations #Coaching

Nick Bowins is joined by Anthony LaPanta, TV play-by-play voice of the Minnesota Wild, to share the story behind a lifelong dream come true, offering valuable insights for aspiring broadcasters and hockey professionals alike. Anthony LaPanta knew from age seven that he wanted to be a play-by-play announcer, spending his childhood calling backyard games and soaking up broadcasters on AM radio before building his career one opportunity at a time; volunteering to call any sport he could on Twin Cities public access, breaking through with Minnesota Twins radio, joining Fox Sports North for pre- and postgame shows and University of Minnesota hockey, and eventually landing his dream job with the Minnesota Wild in his hometown, where he's now in his 15th season. We talk about the value of saying yes to every opportunity along the way, why calling games across multiple sports made him a better broadcaster, the behind-the-scenes teamwork that goes into every broadcast, and the preparation habits he's refined over decades in the booth. If you're trying to break into broadcasting, play-by-play, or sports media, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - How a childhood dream turned into a career calling games in his hometown - The value of saying yes to any sport, any level, early in your career - Building a full broadcast team mentality and sharing ideas with the crew - His approach to preparation, from game files to reviewing his own calls - His best advice for aspiring broadcasters looking to sharpen their craft 👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #AnthonyLaPanta #MinnesotaWild #Broadcasting #SportsMedia

Nick Bowins is joined by Bobby Sanguinetti, assistant coach of the AHL's Charlotte Checkers, to share his transition from a pro playing career to coaching at the pro level, offering valuable insights for aspiring coaches and hockey professionals alike.Bobby Sanguinetti's playing career ended abruptly during COVID while he was overseas in Europe, forcing him to figure out his next step almost overnight; a series of calls to former teammates and coaches eventually reconnected him with his old assistant coach, Geordie Kinnear, who brought him on board when the Charlotte Checkers split with Seattle, giving him his first opportunity behind the bench. We talk about the mental shift from thinking only about his own game to managing 20-plus players, how he balances development and winning with prospects moving in and out of the lineup, what he learned from veteran leaders during his own playing days, and what a real week looks like for an AHL coaching staff. If you're trying to break into coaching, player development, or hockey operations, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight.🏒 In this episode:- How his playing career ending during COVID led him into coaching- The mental shift from playing for yourself to coaching a full roster- Balancing prospect development with the pressure to win in the AHL- A breakdown of a typical week for an AHL coaching staff- His advice for young professionals trying to break into coaching👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #AHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #BobbySanguinetti #CharlotteCheckers #HockeyOperations #Coaching

Nick Bowins is joined by Aaron Portzline, senior writer for The Athletic covering the NHL and Columbus Blue Jackets, to share his nearly three-decade journey through sports journalism, offering valuable insights for aspiring writers and hockey professionals alike. Aaron Portzline started out writing local sports stories in high school and expected to become a baseball writer, covering the Columbus Clippers' run of future New York Yankees stars in the 1990s, before the NHL's 1998 expansion into Columbus turned him into the Blue Jackets' beat writer from day one, a role he'd hold through the Columbus Dispatch and then The Athletic starting in 2017. We talk about what it actually takes to build trust as a beat writer over decades, how the news cycle and storytelling process have transformed in the social media era, the personal features that still challenge him most after all these years, and the flexibility and values it takes to survive in a rapidly changing media business. If you're trying to break into sports journalism, beat writing, or media, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - Covering the Columbus Clippers and riding the bus with future New York Yankees stars before pivoting to hockey - Building the Blue Jackets beat from the ground up during the team's 1998 expansion - How reporting and storytelling have transformed in the social media era - The personal, deeply reported features that still challenge him the most - His advice on flexibility, values, and standing out in today's media landscape 👉 Subscribe to @WorkinginHockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #AaronPortzline #TheAthletic #ColumbusBlueJackets #SportsJournalism

Nick Bowins is joined by Ian Beckenstein, video coach for the Vancouver Canucks and Founder of Pro Hockey Video Coaches, to share his path into one of hockey's most unique and technical roles, offering valuable insights for aspiring hockey operations professionals and fans alike. Ian Beckenstein's hockey career started as an equipment manager for a local U18 AAA team at 18, before he landed a role as a referee video coach with the IIHF at the World Juniors, leading to nearly five years at SportLogic, a hockey ops assistant role with the AHL's Laval Rocket, a video coach job standing up the brand-new Abbotsford Canucks, and now his current role with the Vancouver Canucks. Along the way he has also built Pro Hockey Video Coaches (https://x.com/video_coaches) and the Behind the Keyboard newsletter (https://behindthekeyboard.substack.com/), two phenomenal resources that have become go-to tools for aspiring video coaches around the game. We talk about what a video coach actually does on both practice and game days, the technology and platforms shaping the role, what it takes to set up a coach's office on the road, and what separates candidates in a field with fewer than 100 jobs across the NHL and AHL combined. If you're trying to break into video coaching, hockey operations, or analytics, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - A day in the life of an NHL video coach, from practice days to game day - The platforms and technology every aspiring video coach should learn - Ian's unique path through the IIHF, SportLogic, the AHL, and now the NHL - Building Pro Hockey Video Coaches and the Behind the Keyboard newsletter - What separates candidates trying to break into a field with limited jobs 👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #IanBeckenstein #VancouverCanucks #HockeyOperations #VideoCoaching

Nick Bowins is joined by Cam Moon, play-by-play voice of the Edmonton Oilers, to share his path into broadcasting, offering valuable insights for aspiring broadcasters and hockey professionals alike. Cam Moon's broadcasting career started with a Radio Shack cassette recorder in the stands, calling a junior game from the crowd just to build a demo tape after a play-by-play job in Nanaimo came open with no experience to speak of. That tape landed him the gig, which ultimately led to 22 years as the voice of the WHL's Red Deer Rebels, all while freelancing colour and play-by-play for Sportsnet and Shaw on the side, before eventually landing his dream job calling games for the Edmonton Oilers, the team he grew up loving. We talk about learning play-by-play completely on the fly, the differences between calling a game on radio versus television, how relationships built through junior hockey opened doors over and over again, and what it's like broadcasting a generational talent like Connor McDavid night after night. If you're trying to break into broadcasting, play-by-play, or sports media, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - How a homemade cassette tape from the stands landed his first play-by-play job - 22 years building a career and a community as the voice of the Red Deer Rebels - The differences between calling a game on radio versus television - Landing his dream job with the Edmonton Oilers and what that transition was like - His candid take on watching Connor McDavid, and his best advice for breaking into broadcasting 👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #CamMoon #EdmontonOilers #Broadcasting #SportsMedia

Nick Bowins is joined by Ryan Crelin, Commissioner of the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), to share his journey from a reluctant college internship to running one of pro hockey's fastest-growing development leagues, offering valuable insights for aspiring hockey business professionals and fans alike. Ryan Crelin's career started with an ECHL internship he almost didn't take out of Seton Hall University, twenty years ago. From there he worked his way through ticket sales, corporate partnerships, and hockey operations before eventually becoming Commissioner, overseeing everything from the league's business strategy to its ongoing expansion toward 32 teams. We talk about the rising talent level across the ECHL, how the league's affiliations with the NHL and AHL have grown, what actually goes into bringing a new market or franchise, and the mindset that took him from an entry-level internship to the top job in the league. If you're trying to break into league operations, hockey business, or sports management, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - The rising level of talent across the ECHL and its growing NHL/AHL affiliations - What actually goes into an expansion process, market by market - A day in the life of running a professional hockey league - How embracing new technology and streaming is growing the fanbase - His best advice for standing out early in a hockey business career 👉 Subscribe to @workinginhockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #ECHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #RyanCrelin #HockeyBusiness #SportsManagement #HockeyOperations

Nick Bowins is joined by Pascal Daoust, General Manager of the PWHL's New York Sirens, to share his path through hockey and his vision for building a winning program from the ground up, offering valuable insights for aspiring hockey operations professionals and fans alike.Pascal Daoust's path to becoming a PWHL front office executive started on the ice at 18 months old, running through decades as a hockey camp owner, a power skating coach for NHL prospects, an on-ice official, a U Sports head coach at the University of Montréal, and an eight-year run as GM of a QMJHL team before an unexpected call led him to the newly forming PWHL and the expansion New York Sirens. We talk about navigating this year's expansion draft, what it actually takes to build a program rather than just a roster, why he values communication and culture as much as talent when evaluating coaches and players, and the advice he'd give anyone trying to find their own winding path into hockey operations. If you're trying to break into scouting, team management, or the growing world of women's hockey, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight.🏒 In this episode:- Navigating the expansion draft and rebuilding a roster on the fly- Why he's building a "program," not just a team, in New York- What he looks for in a coach beyond just hockey knowledge- His unique path from hockey camps to PWHL general manager- His advice for young professionals trying to break into hockey operations👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #PWHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #PascalDaoust #NewYorkSirens #WomensHockey #HockeyOperations

Nick Bowins is joined by Jackie Redmond, reporter and broadcaster for both the NHL on TNT and the WWE, to share her amazing journey through sports media, offering valuable insights for aspiring reporters and media professionals alike.Jackie Redmond's path started with Gillette Drafted, a Canadian broadcaster competition show, before cutting highlights on the desk, hosting NHL Now at NHL Network for seven years, and eventually landing her current role reporting for the NHL on TNT, all while also building a broadcasting career with WWE. We talk about what an NHL on TNT game day actually looks like behind the scenes, how she built trust and relationships with players and coaches over years of showing up prepared, what wrestling has taught her about chasing an emotional "pop" moment in an interview, and her best advice for staying authentic in a crowded media landscape. If you're trying to break into broadcasting, reporting, or sports media, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight.🏒 In this episode:- A behind-the-scenes look at a full NHL on TNT game day- How she built trust with players, coaches, and GMs over years of preparation- What years working with WWE taught her about chasing a great interview moment- The value of saying yes to every opportunity when you're starting out- Her best advice on authenticity, feedback, and building a broadcasting career👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #JackieRedmond #NHLonTNT #Broadcasting #SportsMedia

Nick Bowins is joined by Toby Petersen, head coach of the AHL's Texas Stars, to share his path from 900+ combined NHL and AHL games as a player to building a coaching career from the ground up, offering valuable insights for aspiring coaches and hockey professionals alike. Toby Petersen made the leap from playing to coaching immediately after retiring in 2014, taking advice to get into the game while his contacts were still fresh and sending resumes out old-school to land his first job with the Columbus organization. From there he coached in Rochester under Chris Taylor, spent time as a skills coach for the Colorado Avalanche working alongside stars like Nathan MacKinnon, and is now back with the Texas Stars, an organization he once played for, as head coach. We talk about the mental shift from playing to coaching, the value of building daily relationships with players, the small details even NHL stars are still refining, and what actually separates successful coaches in today's game. If you're trying to break into coaching, player development, or hockey operations, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - Making the leap from playing straight into coaching, and why timing matters - Lessons learned from Jared Bednar and building trust with players - Inside his time as a skills coach with the Colorado Avalanche - The small, unglamorous skills even NHL stars are constantly working on - What separates successful coaches, and his best advice for breaking into the game 👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #AHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #TobyPetersen #TexasStars #HockeyOperations #Coaching

Nick Bowins is joined by Dave Fischer, Senior Director of Communications for USA Hockey, to share his career building the sport's national storytelling machine, offering valuable insights for aspiring hockey professionals and fans alike. Dave Fischer's path started as a volunteer helper for the sports information director at Minnesota Duluth, leading to 17 years as head sports information director and eventually assistant athletic director at Michigan Tech, and now 23 years and counting as a communications leader for USA Hockey; a run that's included launching the American Development Model in 2009 and helping steward Team USA through a historic year that saw the men's, women's, and para teams all win Olympic gold. We talk about what his role actually involves day to day, how youth hockey development and safety shape everything USA Hockey does, the explosive growth of the sport nationwide, and where he sees the next wave of hockey jobs emerging. If you're trying to break into hockey communications, marketing, or governing-body work, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - Life inside USA Hockey after a historic Olympic gold medal sweep - What a day in the life of a communications director actually looks like - Building the American Development Model and growing the game nationwide - Where he sees the next wave of jobs in hockey coming from - His best advice on networking, curiosity, and building a long career 👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #USAHockey #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #DaveFischer #Olympics #HockeyOperations #SportsMedia

Nick Bowins is joined by Steve Mears, play-by-play broadcaster for the Columbus Blue Jackets, to share his journey from a small-market minor league booth to nearly two decades calling NHL games, offering valuable insights for aspiring broadcasters and hockey professionals alike. Steve Mears knew he wanted to be a broadcaster by age 10, building his foundation at Bowling Green State University before taking his first job with the Shreveport Mud Bugs of the CHL, then working his way up through the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, NHL Network, and MLB Network before landing his current role with the Columbus Blue Jackets. We talk about the willingness to relocate and grind through minor league jobs, how networking and small-world connections shaped his path, what it takes to prepare for an NHL broadcast, and the resilience it takes to bounce back from layoffs and setbacks in a constantly evolving industry. If you're trying to break into sports broadcasting, play-by-play, or media, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight. 🏒 In this episode: - Building a broadcasting foundation at Bowling Green and breaking in with minor league hockey - The importance of relocating, networking, and connecting the dots to land jobs - His path through the Islanders, Penguins, NHL Network, and now Columbus - What real game-day preparation looks like for an NHL broadcaster - His best advice on resilience for young professionals trying to break into broadcasting 👉 Subscribe to Working in Hockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #SteveMears #ColumbusBlueJackets #Broadcasting #SportsMedia