Part II: Interview with the Wolf Pack’s Bob Crawford

January 30, 2010

By Dan Canavan

Here’s Part II of my interview with Bob Crawford, voice of the Hartford Wolfpack.  Click here to read Part I of the interview.

Dan Canavan: As you get ready to call a game, what is your average game day experience here at the XL Center?

Bob Crawford: On game day, I usually start off the morning working with my game day assistant to put together all the media related materials such as game notes and stats, and press credentials.  At this time of year, we will begin to see more NHL scouts in the building as the big league clubs approach the trading deadline, and we are obviously working with the league to process those requests.  Typically, the team will have a morning skate around 10:00 a.m., and if the visiting team is already in town, they will also have access to the rink before noon.  I will usually attend the morning skates to pick up interviews or other interesting story lines that I can use later for on-air discussions or during intermission reports.  That process usually takes me through lunch, and I typically use the afternoon hours to study the visiting squad’s personnel and become more conversant on issues relating to that team.  Around 4:00 p.m., I will head back up to arena and film a short video with the Wolf Pack coaches, which is unique to that night’s game.  I will then grab a quick dinner and head up to the booth to call the game. 

DC: This organization has always put a strong hockey product on the ice, qualifying for the Calder Cup playoffs for 12 straight seasons.  Who are a few current players that stand out on this year’s squad?

BC: Well, it’s hard to not notice Corey Locke, who is having a great offensive year.  He has a ton of skill, and he is a great offensive player in this league.  He can make something out of nothing, and not being a big guy, he finds a way to get it done.  The big question for Corey is whether he will have an opportunity to make the jump to the next level. 

In goal, we have Chad Johnson, who is real nice prospect.  For a big goaltender, he plays under control, stays in position, and reads the play well.  He squares up to the puck, and doesn’t make a lot of flashy saves.   Johnson also has a real calm demeanor, which I think will help him in the long run.  He has a lot of raw talent, and like all prospects, he will need more time to develop.

Jordan Owens is also fun to watch.  While he isn’t a scoring machine, he is a great skater and is a solid physical presence.  If he can make it to the big leagues, he will go up as a role player. No one heard of him when he came in on a try-out, but he is now on a two-way contract.

Dale Weise is also a dynamic player.  He has great size, and skates well.  With regard to his physical play, he just doesn’t hit people, he goes through them.  He wasn’t drafted until he was 20, which is a little older than most of his peers, but his numbers are starting to trend up, which is obviously important. Dale has the whole tool box, but he needs to become more consistent and continue to grow as a professional, which you can say about most of the players in this league.

DC: As ctsportslaw.com has continued to reach new readers, we routinely receive emails seeking advice on how to start a career in the sports industry. Do you have any advice for those looking to break into the industry?  

BC: The most common and effective path these days is through internship programs.  There are fewer jobs in the sports industry as compared to other fields, which makes it very difficult to get a foot in the door.  Internship programs give students a chance to meet and work for people in the industry, which is always important to starting any career.  And once you get into an organization on any level, you need to work hard, prove that you can be an asset, and showcase a specific skill set that brings value to the group.

DC: You have watched a lot of Wolf Pack hockey in this building over the years.  Are there any moments that stand out from the rest?

BC: The moment that first comes to mind is the overtime winning goal in Game 7 of the Conference Finals over the Providence Bruins in 2000.  The Pack came back after trailing in the game to tie it up and force overtime. We had a full barn that night, and from a hockey fan’s perspective, you couldn’t ask for much more.  People forget that we were down in Game 5 of that series and should have been eliminated, never mind force a Game 6 or force overtime in Game 7.  The momentum from that overtime win carried over into the Calder Cup Finals, where we won the Championship over the Rochester Americans.  While the finals were exciting, that Game 7 in this building against Providence was special.

Also, when we moved the club here in 1997, I’ll never forget walking out into the arena on opening night.  We had over 12,000 fans here that night, and this place was jumping.  You have to remember that the Wolf Pack had just moved from Binghamton, which only had about 4,800 seats.  I remember looking out at the crowd and thinking that this was a wholly different experience.

For more on the Hartford Wolf Pack and Bob Crawford, check out Crawford’s Corner at HartfordWolfPack.com.   You can also follow the Pack on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HtfdWolfPack.

Dan Canavan is an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut.  As a featured columnist for Connecticut Sports Law, Dan regularly covers business and legal issues facing the hockey industry for.  Dan is also the Carolina Hurricanes correspondent for The Hockey Writers.  He has appeared as an on-air guest with regard to the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy proceedings on CBC Radio’s World Report. His analysis and commentary have also been published in various media outlets including The National Post, The Windsor Star, The Star Phoenix, The Montreal Gazette, The Edmonton Journal, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Faceoff.com, and the Sports Litigation Alert.  You can follow Dan on Twitter at twitter.com/DanielRCanavan.  Dan can be contacted directly at dcanavan@ctsportsgroup.com.

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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

Interview With Bob Crawford, Voice of the Hartford Wolf Pack

January 28, 2010
 By Dan Canavan 
Bob Crawford

With the hockey season in full swing, I thought it would be a great time to catch up with Bob Crawford, voice of the Hartford Wolf Pack and Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for Northland/AEG.  Bob is currently in his thirteen season with the Wolf Pack, and has over twenty years of experience as a play-by-play broadcaster in the American Hockey League.   

I had the opportunity to sit down with Bob in the XL Center and discuss how he broke into the sports industry, his current role with the Wolf Pack, and his view from the broadcasting booth.  Many thanks to Bob for taking the time out of his busy schedule to share his insight on the inner workings of the New York Rangers’ AHL Affiliate.   Here’s Part I of the interview, with Part II to follow on Friday. 

Dan Canavan: As the voice of the Wolf Pack, you have been bringing the game to Hartford hockey fans for over a decade.  How did you get your start as play-by-play announcer?   

Bob Crawford: Growing up, I was always a real sports nut.  I was a student of all different sports, but my favorite was always hockey and I was interested in radio broadcasting.  My father was in radio, and I was always around it.  Knowing that I was never going to be a player, I thought being an announcer was a great way to stay involved in the sport.  While attending Harvard, I was able to get a chance to broadcast games on the student radio station, which basically had the exclusive on the hockey team.  I did games at Harvard for three years, and after graduation I made a tape and sent it out to every minor league team that I could find.  

Detroit’s minor league affiliate in the American League was called the Adirondack Red Wings, and their announcer at the time was John Kelly, who is now the voice of the St. Louis Blues. But Kelly was also doing the Ranger games on MSG Radio that Marv Albert couldn’t cover, which ended up being most of them because Marv was doing so many other things.  So Adirondack needed someone to do the games in Kelly’s absence, and they were looking for someone who was trying to break into the industry.  They liked my tape, and I’m still in the same league 20 years later. 

DC: Prior to the Wolf Pack’s relocation to Hartford in 1997, you had been with the franchise when it was known as the Binghamton Rangers.  How has your experience been here in Hartford?   

BC: Hartford has been tremendous. The Wolf Pack is a great franchise, the XL Center is a terrific building for the AHL, and Hartford is a tremendous market. My family and I love being here.  My wife and I didn’t have any children when we moved here, but now we have one in middle school and one in the fourth grade, and Hartford is our home.  It’s been by far the place that I have worked the longest in my professional career.  We have been lucky that the Wolf Pack has had some great teams over the years, and I have gotten the chance to work with some really great people in this organization. 

DC: How has your role with the Wolf Pack evolved over the years? 

BC: When we first moved here in 1997, I was doing the play-by-play and I also had a role in advertisement sales.  Since then, my role with the organization has expanded into public relations.  I oversee all of the Wolf Pack media needs, including press releases, media notes, as well as processing press credentials and interview requests.  I’m also the liaison between the Wolf Pack and the league public relations office, and I also share some public relations responsibilities on behalf of the XL Center. 

DC: You have worked in professional hockey for many years. What is it like to work with the Wolf Pack organization? 

BC: For a minor league professional team, we have a huge staff, consisting of marketing, sponsorship, ticketing and game day. Northland/AEG handles all he business aspects of the team, while MSG is responsible for the hockey related operations, such as the coaching staff, players, equipment and medical personnel.  

The Wolf Pack is a big time operation; the type of operation you would see at the major league level with all the big time expectations. It takes a lot of work to put on these games, and we invest a lot of people hours and creative efforts into everything we do to produce a great game experience.  We understand that the market place becomes more competitive every year, and we are always looking for ways to improve our product.  Whether it’s reevaluating ticket price points, expanding concession options, or creating new and exciting in-game promotions, our efforts are always evolving.  And while we have a core base of hockey fans that make up our season ticket holder list, we are always exploring new ways to get more people to the game.  

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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

Authors

January 27, 2010

Connecticut Sports Law thanks the following guest authors for their insight, expertise and contributions to the site: 

Dan Canavan, Featured Columnist 

Dan Canavan

Dan Canavan, an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut, is a featured columnist for Connecticut Sports Law.   Dan frequently provides unique analysis of the legal, labor and business issues facing the hockey industry.  Most recently, Dan landed interviews with Howard Baldwin, the former owner of the Hartford Whalers and Bob Crawford, the voice of the Hartford Wolfpack and Director of Broadcasting and Media Relations for Northland/AEG.  Dan is also the Carolina Hurricanes correspondent for The Hockey Writers, covering team news, player development and franchise history in a weekly a column. 

Richard Kent

Richard Kent, Guest Columnist 

Veteran sports writer Richard Kent has authored a number of sports books, including Lady Vols and UConn: The Greatest Rivalry, Inside Women’s College Basketball: Anatomy of a Season, and Inside the US Open.  Most recently, Kent released a novel entitled The Racket, which tells the story of a African-American tennis player in Hartford, Connecticut.  In addition to his prodigious writing, Kent is a matrimonial lawyer in Fairfield, Connecticut. 

Ben Berger

Ben Berger, Guest Columnist 

Attorney Ben Berger, an avid fan of soccer and MLS, is an attorney at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, in Hartford, Connecticut as well as Connecticut Sports Law’s soccer expert.  Ben is the publisher of the blog Footiebusiness, which covers the business of soccer in the United States. 

Rob Romano, Guest Columnist 

Rob Romano is the founding partner of The Romano Sports Agency, which specializes in representing NCAA and Professional League Coaches in all aspects of contract negotiations.  Rob is also a contributing editor for the newsletter Legal Issues in High School Athletics.

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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

UFL Commissioner to Address Connecticut Sports Lawyers

January 19, 2010

Michael Hugyhue, Commissioner of the United Football League (UFL), will address the Connecticut Bar Association’s Sports & Entertainment Law Section on Tuesday night at 6 pm, at Rentschler Field in East Hartford.  Hugyhue will discuss some of the legal and business issues faced by the UFL as well as the speculation surrounding the league’s addition of a franchise in Hartford. 

Tours of Rentschler Field will also be available.  For more information on the event, see the CBA UFL Event Flyer

There are still a few spaces left.  If you’re interested, please email me at dfitzgerald@uks.com or call me at 860-548-2613.

For some perspective on the UFL’s potential move to Hartford, see the following Connecticut Sports Law articles, which Dan Canavan and I wrote after watching the UFL’s first game from the Rentschler Field press box:

True Color of Hartford’s UFL Fans Remains to be Seen

Come to the UFL in Hartford – I Swear its Fun

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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

Howard Baldwin Brings the Whalers to Hartford – 35 Years Later

January 11, 2010

By Dan Canavan

Thirty-five years ago today, the Whalers played their first game in Hartford on January 11, 1975.  Somewhere in the then new Hartford Civic Center, Whalers founder Howard Baldwin was busy greeting fans, receiving accolades, and entertaining community leaders.  Baldwin had just uprooted his World Hockey Association squad from Boston, and moved the renegade Whalers to Hartford.  An enthusiastic and inquisitive crowd had packed the arena to cheer for the new “home” team, who had already won an Avco Cup two years earlier.  And by the time Don Blackburn scored the first goal in Hartford history at 11:21 into the first period, Baldwin was well on his way to establishing a Hartford legacy.  The Whalers, and big league hockey, had arrived. 

Thirty-five years later, I had an opportunity to sit down with Howard Baldwin and reminisce about our favorite Whaler memories, muse over hockey lore, and reconfirm our belief in Hartford as a big league market, a belief that first inspired Baldwin back in 1973.

“It was the simplest deal I have ever done” recalled Baldwin, his large youthful smile still intact.  “We knew we had to get out of Boston.  We were sharing the Garden with the Bruins, who were in their prime, and the Celtics, which were a big draw, and the AHL Boston Braves.  And we were getting killed with dates.”  Baldwin had heard that Hartford was building a new arena, and after the city’s preliminary deal for an ABA team had fallen through, he called Bill Lillyman, manager for the new Civic Center, on a whim.  A few weeks later, Baldwin and his partners chartered a flight to Hartford in early December 1973.  Upon their arrival at Brainard Field, Baldwin immediately announced that he was not planning on flying back.  Perhaps it was the Nor’ Easter that had terrorized their plane on the short, yet turbulent flight from Boston, or just maybe Baldwin understood something his partners did not yet realize.  The youthful ownership group rushed off to the second floor of the then Capital Bar & Grill to meet with Lillyman and Don Conrad, Aetna’s Chief Financial Officer, who had been overseeing the development of the Civic Center.  After 30 minutes, Baldwin emerged from the back room with a deal.  The Whalers were moving to Hartford he announced, and Baldwin would never look back.    

Photo from whahockey.tv

A year later, a sold-out crowd of 10,507 would join Baldwin on that first opening night, a ritual that would be repeated in Hartford for 22 seasons.  The first night in Hartford was “unbelievable” remembers Baldwin with a grin.  You could still hear the enthusiasm in his voice as he explained that “we were fired up, we were in a new building, and the game went into overtime.”  Baldwin added that “Gary Swain had the winner, and Al Smith was in goal.  Gosh, we still had Dorey and Selwood, Webster and Pleau.  We had a good team.”  There was an excitement in the air, and anything was possible.

And while speaking to Baldwin, you quickly realize that anything is possible.  In the early 1970s, Baldwin and his friend, John Coburn, had the audacity to apply for the WHA’s New England franchise, and “we had no business getting it” Baldwin would latter quip.  Baldwin was only 28 when he founded the Whalers, and he readily admits that “there were times, when I was over my head.”  But with the aid of Coburn and countless others, Baldwin built the Whalers.  “We always gave the fans a good product” boasted the proud executive. “We were always good in the WHA and in the first year of the NHL, and then we hit the skids for a few years.  But we had great support from the fans right from the get-go.” 

And with a lot of hard work, ingenuity and determination, the team took hold in their new city.  The Whalers would go on to play over 1,000 more games in the Hartford Civic Center, first against WHA foes and the Soviet National Team, and later against NHL opponents.  Rivalries quickly formed with the nearby Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.  Throughout the 1980s, Baldwin continued to build the Whalers into a “community asset.”  Off the ice, Baldwin was developing new fans through community outreach programs; on the ice, he was fielding the best teams the Whalers would ever offer.  Ultimately, Baldwin would step out of the front office, selling his share of the Whalers in 1988.  And almost 10 years later, the Whalers would step out of Hartford. 

Photo from whahockey.tv

“It was so sad” described Baldwin, about receiving the news that the Whalers would leave Hartford in 1997.  “I kept thinking this can’t be, but there it was.”   But long before Connecticut would sell off its “community asset” to a stranger, Baldwin had established a legacy that would capture the imagination of the Hartford area and spark a new generation of sports fans.  The Whalers may have begun as a dream in suburban Boston, but the legacy that continues to endure to the present day was born in Hartford on January 11, 1975.

Over the next thirty-five years, Baldwin would go on to build franchises, manage an outlaw league, and leave his permanent signature on the sport.  He would draft future Hall of Famers, take a pass on the Great One, and sign an All-Star family.  He would go on to both wage a war and broker a peace between the upstart WHA and the old guard NHL.  His leadership would spur a new generation of coaches and front office executives that continue to guide NHL teams and shape the future of professional hockey.  He would win a Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992, and would later represent the club on the NHL’s Board of Governors.  Later, he would produce films for the big screen, casting major league stars in box office hits such as Ray and Mystery, Alaska.  And one sunny April afternoon in his home in the Hollywood Hills, he would find it difficult to watch his beloved Whalers take the ice for the very last time. 

“It’s hard to believe it’s been thirty-five years” opined Baldwin after reminiscing about his Whalers.  And it’s been quite a ride.  If you were at that first opening night in Hartford in 1975, you would have watched Garry Swain score the game winning goal in overtime, securing the first Whaler victory in Hartford.  You would have been one of the first patrons to walk through a Civic Center turnstile, and you would have witnessed a spirited crowd welcome big league sports to Hartford.  And somewhere high above the stands, you would have seen Baldwin’s large, generous smile.  His Whalers were off to a great start in their new city, and no one could have imagined all the adventures that would lie ahead.

Special thanks to Howard Baldwin for sharing his time, memories and thoughts on the Whalers’ legacy in Hartford.  And to Mark Willand of http://www.whahockey.tv/ for making this article possible.

Dan Canavan is an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut. Dan regularly covers business and legal issues facing the hockey industry for ctsportslaw.com. He has appeared as an on-air guest with regard to the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy proceedings on CBC Radio’s World Report. His analysis and commentary have also been published in various media outlets including The National Post, The Windsor Star, The Star Phoenix, The Montreal Gazette, The Edmonton Journal, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Faceoff.com, and the Sports Litigation Alert, a leading sports industry publication that is circulated throughout the United States.  Dan is also the Carolina Hurricanes correspondent for The Hockey Writers.  You can follow Dan on Twitter at twitter.com/DanielRCanavan.  Dan can be contacted directly at dcanavan@ctsportsgroup.com.

1 Comment | Connecticut Local News, Connecticut Sports Recruiting, Hartford Whalers, National Hockey League, New Hartford Civic Center | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

CT Sports Law’s Top 10 Story Lines of 2009: Part I

December 29, 2009

With 2009 coming to a close, I have compiled a list of the top story lines and accompanying blog posts from the past year.  Part I will list story lines 6 through 10; Part II will be posted tomorrow and will include 2 through 5; and the top story line will be posted on New Year’s Eve.  Thank you for your readership, comments, questions and support this year.  I look forward to another year covering the intersection of sports and the law.

6.  Legal issues in high school athletics.  From defamation suits against parents, to criminal actions against coaches, to national letters of intent, to selling advertising rights, the legal and business aspects of sports permeated high school athletics in 2009.

Is the National Letter of Intent Legally Enforceable?

National Signing Day: Beware of the National Letter of Intent

Corporate Advertising in High School Athletics

Title IX Applies to High School Athletics

Connecticut Coach Awarded $88k in Libel Lawsuit Against Parent

Advertising and Title IX in High School Athletics

Recruiting and Specialization in High School Athletics

Interview with Mary Anne Bojko

Part II of Mary Anne Bojko Interview

Trial of Coach in Player’s Death May Change High School Athletics

7.  Quinnipiac eliminates volleyball team and is hit with a Title IX lawsuit.

Quinnipiac Faces Title IX Lawsuit Over Elimination of Women’s Volleyball

Title IX Lawsuit Brings More Unwanted Attention for Quinnipiac

Quinnipiac Volleyball Players Testify in Title IX Lawsuit

Expert Analysis of Quinnipiac’s Compliance With Title IX

Quinnipiac Volleyball Team Reinstated After Injunction

8.  Phoenix Coyotes file for bankruptcy; NHL attempts to keep team in desert.  CT Sports Law contributing editor Dan Canavan provided the most comprehensive legal analysis of the Coyotes bankruptcy of anyone on the internet and did so with an eye towards Connecticut and the former Hartford Whalers.

Phoenix Coyotes Seek Bankruptcy Protection, Sale: Winners & Losers

Will The Attempted Relocation of The Phoenix Coyotes Help Bring The Whalers Back to Hartford?

Dan Canavan Interviewed on CBC Radio Regarding Phoenix Coyotes Sale

Part I: Bankruptcy Court Yet to Rule on Phoenix Coyotes Case

Part II: Bankruptcy Court Yet to Rule on Phoenix Coyotes Case

NHL Wins the Battle in the Desert, But Will it Win the War?

Phoenix Coyotes Auction to Favor Local Bidders

As Phoenix Coyotes Saga Continues, Hartford is Silent

Dan Canavan Interviewed on Phoenix Coyotes Bankruptcy

NHL Declares Victory Over Balsillie in Bankruptcy Case

NHL Finally Takes Ownership of Phoenix Coyotes

9.  UConn football makes presence known in NFL Draft; agents flock to Connecticut.

UConn’s Donald Brown Reverses Field, Headed to NFL

UConn Football Plays Major Role in NFL Draft

UConn Football’s Success Brings More Agents to Connecticut

10.  Colleges and Universities flex muscles asserting trademark rights in school colors.

Can Universities Trademark Their Colors?

1 Comment | Agents, Blog News, Colleges and Universities, Connecticut Local News, Connecticut Sports Recruiting, Friday Night Rights, Hartford Whalers, High School Sports, NCAA, Natick Redmen, National Football League, National Hockey League, Quinnipiac, Sports Litigation, Sports business, Title IX, UConn Sports, intellectual property | Tagged: , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

Part II of Interview with AHL’s Bill Scott

December 18, 2009

Here’s Part II of Dan Canavan’s Interview with Bill Scott, the Director of Hockey Operations for the American Hockey League.  Click here to read Part I.

Dan Canavan: While each franchise is operated differently throughout the league, how are the teams’ operating costs typically shared between local ownership and NHL parent club?

Bill Scott: For the independent owners in the AHL, they will reach an affiliation agreement with a NHL club where the AHL club pays the NHL parent club an agreed upon amount of money for the use of the NHL parent club’s players.  Affiliation agreements can also include coaches, athletic trainers and equipment managers, etc.  It is dependent on the relationship between the two organizations and how they want their affiliation to operate.

DC: The NHLPA has been in the news a lot lately. How much does the uncertainly surrounding the NHLPA and its governing body affect AHL players?

BS: When players are playing in the AHL they are bound to the terms and conditions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that we have with the PHPA (Professional Hockey Players’ Association) and that minimizes the direct effect that the NHLPA’s proceedings have on our players.  However, 84% of the players in the NHL were developed in the AHL, so it is important for the players at our level to be aware of any developments that take place within the NHLPA since there is a great chance they will soon be a part of that association.

DC: The league is currently comprised for 29 teams, one short of the 30 NHL franchises.  Are there any plans to add a team for the 2010-2011 season that you can share with our readers?

BS: Our goal is to reach the 30/30 model (30 AHL teams and 30 NHL teams) as soon as possible.  We believe this is best not only for the American Hockey League but also for the National Hockey League as it will allow every NHL team to secure their own affiliate.  This would eliminate the situations where a NHL team has to spread their prospects out amongst a few different AHL teams.  Right now there is no news on this issue for the 2010-2011 season, however we are constantly looking at new markets where the AHL could be successful. 

DC: With the addition of Abbotsford to the AHL, the league has expanded to the Pacific Time Zone for the first time. How has the league expansion west affected scheduling and other team logistics?

BS: Scheduling certainly became more of a challenge this offseason with the addition of Abbotsford.  Fortunately for us they were terrific to work with and had great building availability which made scheduling games easier for us and the team.  We definitely wanted to minimize the number of road trips they would have to take due to the distance and cost of their flights.  Travelling such a long distance can also take its toll on the players so we did our best to give them ample rest time in between games when travel was involved.  We took the same consideration for the teams travelling to Abbotsford as well.

DC: How, if at all, is the AHL affected by the 2010 Vancouver Olympics?

BS: From a scheduling side of things we made sure that Abbotsford went on a road trip during this time.  The increase in cost and congestion around Vancouver and Abbotsford during that time would have adversely affected our teams so this made a lot of sense for everyone involved.  

We should see an influx of players sent to us from the NHL during the Olympic break.  NHL teams will likely want to have their younger players continue to play over the break so we expect some very skilled players to come to the American Hockey League for those couple of weeks. 

The Syracuse Crunch have taken the Olympic break as an opportunity to showcase the AHL through the first ever AHL Outdoor Game to be held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse, NY against the Binghamton Senators.  It should be a great event for the Syracuse community, the state of New York and the American Hockey League.

Dan Canavan is an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut.  He has appeared as an on-air guest with regard to the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy proceedings on CBC Radio’s World Report.  Dan’s analysis and commentary have also been published in various media outlets including The National Post, The Windsor Star, The Star Phoenix, The Montreal Gazette, The Edmonton Journal, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Faceoff.com, and the Sports Litigation Alert, a leading sports industry publication which is circulated throughout the United States.  Dan is also the Carolina Hurricanes correspondent for The Hockey Writers.  You can follow Dan on Twitter @DanielRCanavan, and he can be contacted directly at dcanavan@ctsportsgroup.com or at (860) 665-3276

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Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

Interview with Bill Scott, AHL Director of Hockey Operations

December 17, 2009
By Dan Canavan

Bill Scott

With the hockey season well underway, I thought it would be a great time to catch up with Bill Scott, Director of Hockey Operations for the American Hockey League.  Bill is currently in his fourth season with the AHL, after serving as the Coordinator of Hockey Operations for the East Coast Hockey League.  

I recently had the opportunity to sit down with Bill and discuss the sports industry, the current state of hockey, and the inner workings of the AHL.  My sincere thanks to Bill for taking the time out of his busy schedule to share his insight.  

Here’s Part I of the Interview, with Part II to follow tomorrow.  

Dan Canavan: As ctsportslaw.com has continued to reach new readers, we routinely receive emails seeking advice on how to start a career in the sports industry. How did you get your start, and do you have any advice for those looking to break into the industry?  

Bill Scott: In high school I did an internship for the local Junior ‘A’ hockey team which dealt with a range of things, from marketing to playing the music during the games.  I then attended Michigan State University and was able to work as a student manager for the hockey team.  It was there that I made a lot of good contacts and developed some great relationships in the hockey world.  Upon graduation I sent out my resume to about 55 different people in the hockey industry to see if there were any job openings.  David Poile, GM of the Nashville Predators, called me and offered me an internship in their hockey operations department.  From there I was able to connect to the ECHL where I became the Coordinator of Hockey Operations.  I am currently in my fourth season in the American Hockey League.  

I think for someone breaking into the industry, I would tell them not to be picky and be prepared to work hard.  If you aren’t a former player, odds are that NHL management won’t know who you are, so you must take the time to earn your stripes.  It’s important to get involved at any level and build your resume.  If you work hard and take pride in what you do, especially at the tedious and mundane tasks, people will notice of your attitude and you will be in a better position to advance.  The little details go a long way in this industry.  

DC: The AHL serves as a developmental league for players and referees alike.  Tell us a little about how AHL referees and linesmen are developed, reviewed and promoted to the NHL.  

BS: There are essentially three groups of referees in our league.  We have 6 NHL contracted Referees who split time between the NHL and the AHL, 5 full-time AHL referees who we would deem our core veterans and we have about 10 prospects who are working their way towards the NHL.  These referees are supervised both in person and on video.  They receive constant feedback from our hockey operations department which includes our officiating supervisors and NHL supervisors who scout on a full-time basis.   The referees also receive a DVD of each game they work so that they can review the game and self-evaluate their performance.  I think the main thing to remember is that these officials love the game of hockey and they strive to do their best each and every night.  Their job is not an easy one but they take great pride in their work.  

DC: As the Director of Hockey Operations for the American Hockey League, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?  

BS: My job description varies far and wide.  Some of the tasks I am responsible for is our Central Registry (maintaining and approving contracts and roster changes), assigning Officials, supervision of Officials, managing the Off-Ice Officials across the league and ensuring all of our teams are in compliance with our On-Ice Branding Program.  In the summer our number one priority is creating the playing schedule for the league.  Lauren Peterson and myself take on that task which is completed in August.  It is probably the single most important responsibility in the department as it plays a role in determining a portion of the financial expectations for our teams based on their home schedule and travel schedule.  

DC: The AHL is known for putting a consistently good product on the ice. What is one thing that fans probably don’t know about what goes into putting their favorite AHL squad on the ice?  

BS: It is probably just how dedicated the players and staffs are for their team.  Most American Hockey League team offices consist of 12-15 people.  This group is responsible for everything you see when you come to a game from the ticket sales, the website, in-game entertainment and marketing.  Also, the players in our league are very giving of their time in the community and are always ready to give a helping hand to those in need.  Between the practices, games, travel, workouts, video sessions and community events our players and teams stay very busy each and every day.  There is a level of commitment that both the players and team staff must have which is unparalleled in the sports industry.

2 Comments | Minor Leagues, National Hockey League, Sports Law Careers | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

Why Not Us? – Five Things Hartford Needs to Be Major League Again

November 18, 2009

By Dan Canavan

In an era where Jacksonville, Memphis, and Oklahoma City host major league franchises, Hartford sports fans are asking themselves: Why not us?  Here are 5 steps that can bring the big leagues back to Connecticut.

 1. New Building. The XL Center is at the end of its useful life and falls well below major league standards.  Without a new facility, no professional team will entertain Hartford as a legitimate candidate for relocation.  The XL Center would be a significant downgrade as compared to almost all other professional venues, and as currently configured, the arena would preclude any hope of franchise profitability.  The lone concourse is cramped, luxury seating is outdated, and vending and restrooms facilities are inadequate.  Regardless, a new facility is needed for UConn basketball, NCAA tournaments and non-athletic events.  The longer plans for a new building are sidelined, the more expensive it will become to ultimately build a facility.  If so, the XL Center, and any hope of major league sports in Hartford, may share the same fate as the former New Haven Coliseum.  The XL Center has served us well, but refusing to replace it will forever bar the return of major league sports to central Connecticut.

 2. Ownership Group:  Unlike minor league sports that peddle affordable family entertainment, a big league owner needs to win.  And to win at the major league level, an ownership group will need to spend big league money.  Hartford will need to attract a committed ownership group that will be willing to weather the inevitable financial difficulty over the short-term, while fielding an entertaining and competitive product over the long-term. 

 3. Local Corporate Support:  Any major league team in Connecticut will need significant and dedicated corporate support over the life of the franchise.  The lack of corporate sponsorship helped kill the Whalers in the mid-90s, threatened to eliminate the Travelers Championship in 2004 and again in 2006, and may very well eradicate the Pilot Pen Tournament in New Haven in 2010.  Even with a new building and a motivated ownership group, no team will have success here without the support of local corporate sponsors.

4. Portable Franchise:  Franchises are routinely bought and sold, and there is no question that teams are available and will continue to become available as the economy recovers.  Major league expansion is either unrealistic or too expensive.  The trick will be to find a financially struggling franchise that can be moved, unwind long term obligations, and relocate the team, free of preexisting liabilities, to a new building and revenue streams in central Connecticut. 

 5. Perception: If Hartford doesn’t believe that it’s a big league town, no one else will.  It’s time for Hartford to start believing that it can be major league again.

Dan Canavan is an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut.  He has appeared as an on-air guest with regard to the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy proceedings on CBC Radio’s World Report.  Dan’s analysis and commentary have also been published in various media outlets including The National Post, The Windsor Star, The Star Phoenix, The Montreal Gazette, The Edmonton Journal, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Faceoff.com, and the Sports Litigation Alert, a leading sports industry publication which is circulated throughout the United States.  Dan is also the Carolina Hurricanes correspondent for The Hockey Writers.  You can follow Dan on Twitter @DanielRCanavan, and he can be contacted directly at dcanavan@ctsportsgroup.com or at (860) 665-3276.

9 Comments | Hartford Whalers, Pro Sports in Connecticut, Professional Sports in Hartford | Tagged: , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

True Color of Hartford’s UFL Fans Remains to be Seen

November 13, 2009

By Dan Canavan

uflWhile sitting in the Rentschler Field press box preparing for Thursday night’s UFL contest, my colleague Dan Fitzgerald leaned over and whispered: “which team is which?”   The teams had just run out on to the field through a pyrotechnic display, and with all the pregame excitement, press box buffet and Doug Flutie sighting, we lost sight of the fact that neither squad was really Hartford’s team.  And I’m sure that many of the 5,201 fans in attendance were asking themselves that very same question.

The crowd was sparse, the teams unknown and players unfamiliar.  But football is football.  And the UFL didn’t disappoint.  There were big hits and sacks, play action passes and even some wildcat formations.  And there was plenty of tailgating and cold beers to go around.  From the outset, Florida dominated, showing why they are 5-0 and headed for post-season play.  While Brooks Bollinger carved up the New York secondary and running back Tatum Bell was pushing his way across the goal line, the Sentinels were sloppy, failing to post a touchdown and limited to only a pair of field goals.

UFL_HelmetDesigns_SentinelsAlthough it is still unclear what role this league may ultimately play in the landscape of professional sports, it appears that the UFL may be headed to Hartford full-time next season.  It was widely reported Thursday that the UFL will soon announce a Hartford expansion franchise for the 2010 season.  The UFL has local ties, and league officials understand this market. 

League Commissioner Michael Huyghue attended Windsor High School, and is a great advocate for Connecticut sports.  To hear him speak about football is to hear enthusiasm – both for the UFL and the Hartford market.  Huyghue is a football guy, deeply involved in NFL Europe.  And unlike those other fallen football leagues, the UFL is built to succeed.  The UFL follows a central ownership model, with the league owning a 50% stake in of all of the franchises.  The league’s economic model places an emphasis on TV revenue and sponsorship, not on gate revenue. Thus, when the UFL announces its Hartford expansion franchise, only half of the risk will fall on the local ownership group.  And while ticket sales will be important, mediocre gate receipts won’t be fatal.

UFL_HelmetDesigns_TuskersFor some local sports fans, the UFL Hartford franchise will be nothing more than another minor league team to compliment the Rock Cats and Wolf Pack.  But to others, especially those that yearn for a major league franchise in the Greater Hartford area, the UFL will be viewed as a springboard to bigger and better things.  Perhaps an opportunity for Hartford to display its sports savvy on a larger stage, a stage that will be aired nationally on Versus and HDNet.

Much like this whole season, Thursday’s UFL matchup at Rentschler Field was an exhibition.  On the field, fringe players were testing their talent; off the field, the league was testing the Rentschler experience.  At the end of the game, the team in black jerseys lost to the players wearing teal.  But the true color of Hartford’s UFL fans will remain to be seen.

dan_canavan1Dan Canavan is an attorney in Hartford, Connecticut.  He has appeared as an on-air guest with regard to the NHL and the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy proceedings on CBC Radio’s World Report.  Dan’s analysis and commentary have also been published in various media outlets including The National Post, The Windsor Star, The Star Phoenix, The Montreal Gazette, The Edmonton Journal, The Ottawa Citizen, The Vancouver Sun, The Province, Faceoff.com, and the Sports Litigation Alert, a leading sports industry publication which is circulated throughout the United States.  Dan is also the Carolina Hurricanes correspondent for The Hockey Writers.  You can follow Dan on Twitter @DanielRCanavan, and he can be contacted directly at dcanavan@ctsportsgroup.com or at (860) 665-3276.

4 Comments | Connecticut Local News, National Hockey League, Pro Sports in Connecticut, Professional Sports in Hartford, UFL | Tagged: , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by Dan Fitzgerald

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