Working in Hockey

Working in Hockey
  • 3.7 (3)
  • Hockey
  • Updated Weekly

Working in Hockey is the single best resource for anyone looking to land a career within the great game of Hockey. The weekly show features guests across the hockey industry, from media personalities, hockey operations executives, coaches, sales and marketing experts, and everything in between! Founded in April 2024 by Nick Bowins, Working in Hockey features a FREE weekly email newsletter containing EVERY open job in hockey, plus booming social media channels with job postings and career advice, and this podcast which dives into the various career paths those in the industry have taken.

  1. 2d ago

    The Athletic's Aaron Portzline on Building a Career in Sports Journalism

    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

  2. 6d ago

    Inside an NHL Video Coach's Job with Ian Beckenstein

    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

  3. Sep 7

    Cam Moon: The Edmonton Oilers Play-by-Play Voice

    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

  4. Sep 3

    ECHL Commissioner Ryan Crelin on the League's Path to 32 Teams

    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

  5. Aug 31

    New York Sirens GM Pascal Daoust on Scouting, Expansion, and Growing Women's Hockey

    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

  6. Aug 27

    Jackie Redmond's Career in Sports Media: NHL, WWE, and much more!

    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

  7. Aug 24

    Texas Stars' Head Coach Toby Petersen on Analytics, Development, and Building Trust

    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

  8. Aug 20

    Inside USA Hockey's Communications Team with Dave Fischer

    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

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Ratings & Reviews

3.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Working in Hockey is the single best resource for anyone looking to land a career within the great game of Hockey. The weekly show features guests across the hockey industry, from media personalities, hockey operations executives, coaches, sales and marketing experts, and everything in between! Founded in April 2024 by Nick Bowins, Working in Hockey features a FREE weekly email newsletter containing EVERY open job in hockey, plus booming social media channels with job postings and career advice, and this podcast which dives into the various career paths those in the industry have taken.

Information

  • Creator
    Working in Hockey
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    60
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Working in Hockey
  • Show Website
    Working in Hockey

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