Working in Hockey

Nick Bowins is joined by three hockey apparel founders for a special roundtable on building a brand in and around the game: Matt Keeler of Just Dishin, Gavin Karp of the Gavin Karp brand, and Frank Berenguer of Buddy Hockey Club, offering valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, creators, and hockey professionals alike.Matt Keeler started Just Dishin as a Twitter page in 2012 as a high school sophomore and has grown it into a Buffalo-based brand with its own HQ, collaborations with the Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, and New Era, and their brand, Skate Skins. Gavin Karp turned a 10-year passion project that began while he was in school in Philadelphia into a brand worn throughout the hockey world, including custom caps for Flyers players. Frank Berenguer co-founded Buddy Hockey Club with a community-first mission and has built purpose-driven collaborations, including a "House Money" project with Brandon Bussi supporting autism awareness. We talk about how each brand got started, how hockey’s small world leads to meaningful collaborations, the behind-the-scenes work that powers a brand, what each founder has done best and what they’ve learned along the way, and the advice they’d give to anyone starting their own business. If you’re an aspiring founder, creator, or someone who wants to build a career around your passion for the game, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight.🏒 In this episode:- Each founder’s origin story, from a Twitter page to a Philadelphia-inspired logo to a community-driven brand- How collaborations with NHL teams and players come together, including Blackhawks, Sabres, and Brandon Bussi- Building community around a brand and giving back to the game- Behind the scenes of running an apparel business, from suppliers to shipping- Each founder’s best advice for starting a brand: find your passion, learn from the ground up, say hi to people, and stick with it👉 Subscribe to @WorkinginHockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #JustDishin #GavinKarp #BuddyHockeyClub #HockeyApparel #Entrepreneurship

Nick Bowins is joined by Ethan Reilly, founder of So You Want to Work in Sports and Account Manager at Octagon, along with 2-time guest David Herman, Senior Content Creator at FloHockey and resume expert, for a special roundtable conversation on resumes, networking, and professionalism, offering valuable insights for students and young professionals hoping to break into hockey and sports.Ethan Reilly built So You Want to Work in Sports (https://www.soyouwanttoworkinsports.com/) to help others find their path into the industry, and he shares how a goal of speaking with someone at every MLS club before graduating helped him land interviews for nearly every role he applied to. David Herman brings his resume expertise from the hiring side, including an ideal resume template for students the 5-to-7-second first look recruiters give a resume. Together we talk about how to stand out in crowded applicant pools, why applying early matters, how to craft an outreach message that gets a response, and what makes a great first call. We also break down how to build a clean, parsable resume, quantify your impact instead of listing tasks, tailor your resume to each role, order your sections, and make the most of every league and team on your experience. If you’re trying to break into hockey operations, sports media, or the business of sports, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight.🏒 In this episode:- How to stand out in a crowded applicant pool, and why connecting with someone on the team before you apply matters- A methodical approach to networking: goals, outreach, follow-ups, and staying in touch- What makes a great resume in 2026: format, sections, skills, and showing quantifiable impact- Tips for tailoring your resume, customizing your LinkedIn URL, and highlighting leagues and teams you’ve worked with- Professionalism and etiquette: crafting a specific ask, being flexible, doing your research, and sending a thank-you👉 Subscribe to @WorkinginHockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #ResumeTips #Networking #SportsIndustry #CareerAdvice

Nick Bowins is joined by Kate Pettersen, Nashville-based hockey host, reporter, and creator, to share how she built her career by betting on herself and what's next with her upcoming journey to all 32 NHL arenas in 35 days, offering valuable insights for aspiring broadcasters and hockey professionals alike.Kate Pettersen grew up around the broadcast booth, watching her father's career with TSN, and built her own path with a politics degree from Queen's University, internships, local cable gigs, and a ski resort snow report that became the demo tape for her first on-air job at Global News in Regina. From there she worked in production at Sportsnet, spent four seasons with the CFL on TSN Radio and with the Argos, got her big break as "Kate the intern" at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, and went on to roles with the Edmonton Oilers, Nashville Predators, Vancouver Canucks, and a fill-in stint with the Colorado Avalanche, along with hosting at Vanderbilt. We talk about the value of relocating for opportunity, how a persistent cold email to a Titans broadcaster opened doors in Nashville, building community in every new city, standing out by being yourself, and how she's turning her passion for the game into a fan-powered tour of every NHL arena. If you're trying to break into sports media, broadcasting, or content creation, this conversation is packed with real, valuable insight.🏒 In this episode:- The story behind Kate's upcoming 32-arena, 35-day NHL tour and how fans can be part of it- Her path from small-market TV to the Olympics, the CFL, and multiple NHL teams- The power of persistence, networking, and a well-timed cold email- How to build community and make connections in every new city- Her best advice: be yourself, be prepared, and bet on yourself👉 Subscribe to @WorkinginHockey for more conversations with the people building careers in the game. #Hockey #NHL #WorkinginHockey #SportsCareers #KatePettersen #HockeyMedia #Broadcasting #ContentCreator

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