I would highly recommend to anyone with a goal of pursuing a career in professional hockey that they give serious consideration in attending the SMWW Hockey Career Conference which is absolutely an incredible value for the return on the investment.
Sheryar Abdullah
Mat Billette
Jacob Gollapalli
SMWW’s Hockey Career Conference provides a strong foundation for building a career in the hockey industry and growing the network to do so. The speakers are incredibly knowledgeable and approachable. The entire staff at SMWW is driven and committed to helping you reach the next level in your career.
Las Vegas, Nevada: June 27-29th, 2024
2024 Hockey Career Conference at the NHL Draft
Join us for the SMWW Hockey Career Conference at the NHL Draft as Las Vegas becomes the epicenter of the NHL. Network with top hockey executives, gain career advice, and add valuable experience to your resume. Rub elbows with Coaches, GMs, DPP's, Scouts, Media, Agents, and more. For anyone looking to develop a career in hockey, this conference is a can't-miss opportunity to build your professional network! Register now.
2024 Hockey Career Conference Agenda
Thursday, June 27th, 2024 1 - 2 pm PST: Check-in Table opens
Tuscany Suites and Casino
255 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Thursday, June 27th, 2024 2 pm - 5 pm PST SMWW Conference Part 1
Tuscany Suites and Casino
255 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
2:00 pm: Welcome from Dr. Lynn Lashbrook
2:10 pm: Hockey Media on the National Level
EJ Hradek - NHL Tonight, Lead Analyst
Julie Stewart-Binks - SNY Host & SMWW Alumni
Jeff Marek - SportsNet Hockey Broadcaster
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook - SMWW President and Founder (Moderator)
2:50: Break
3:00 pm: Getting Started and Getting Ahead in Hockey
Amanda Fleming - Vegas Golden Knights Sr. Director Group & Events
Darlene Navarro - Vegas Golden Knights Vice President of Human Resources
Ike Worth - SMWW Business Operations Manager (Moderator)
3:50 pm: Break
4:00 pm: The Life and Role of an NHL Agent
Rick Curran - NHLPA Agent with ORR Hockey Group/SMWW Mentor
Mike Curran - NHLPA Agent with ORR Hockey Group
Lucas Pettersson - NHL Draft Prospect, Modo Hockey (SHL)
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook - SMWW President and Founder (Moderator)
Thursday, June 27th, 2024, 7 - 9 pm PST: Welcome Reception
AmeriCAN Beer and Cocktails
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Friday, June 28th, 2024 7:30 am - 2:30 pm PST SMWW Conference Part 2
Tuscany Suites and Casino
255 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
7:30 am Registration Table opens & Coffee/Bagels
7:50 am Welcome to the 2024 NHL Draft!
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook - SMWW President & Founder
8:00 am Life of an NHL Team President/GM/Head Coach
Doug MacLean - Former NHL Team President/GM/Head Coach and SMWW Mentor
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook - SMWW President and Founder (Moderator)
8:45 am - Coffee Break
9:00 am Hockey Operations and Scouting
Dylan Seca - Sarnia Sting (OHL) General Manager
Dino Caputo - Tri-City Americans Scout/SMWW Mentor
Zoran Rajcic - Everett Silvertips Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook - SMWW President and Founder (Moderator)
9:45 am - Coffee Break
10:00 am The Importance of Technology in Hockey
Derek Arnold - Sport Logiq Director of Business Development
Brian Suslow - University of Nebraska Omaha's Men's Hockey Director of Operations
Mike Oke - Peterborough Petes General Manager/SMWW Mentor (Moderator)
10:45 am - Coffee Break
11:00 am A Look into Digital Marketing in the Modern Era
Elicia Stevens - Canadian Hockey League Digital Operations Manager
Mike Oke - Peterborough Petes General Manager/SMWW Mentor (Moderator)
11:45 am Welcome to our College Groups and Honor SMWW Advanced Certificate Graduates
12:00 pm Lunch - Tuscany Suites and Casino
1:00 pm The Art of Broadcasting and Media in Hockey
Victor Findlay - Play-by-play Montreal Canadian radio broadcaster
Brian McCormack - Henderson Silver Knights Broadcaster
Mike Oke - Peterborough Petes General Manager/SMWW Mentor (Moderator)
2:00 pm Closing Remarks
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook
Mike Oke
Dino Caputo
2:30 pm Network in The Sphere
3:50 pm Be in your seats for Live Cameras
4 pm 1st pick of the NHL Draft at The Sphere
Saturday, June 29th, 2024
8:00 am PST: The Sphere doors open
8:30 am PST: NHL Draft Round 2 starts
Note: Saturday is on your own. You can come and go as you please. We encourage you to wear your name badge and continue to network on The Sphere's concourse. This is the who's who of the hockey universe, take advantage of it. Exchange business cards. Thank the speakers that you see and do the SMWW Shake & Bake!
Our annual Hockey Career Conference provides all ages with a desire to work in professional and collegiate hockey insight and exposure they can't get anywhere else:
- Network with hockey executives
- Receive career guidance from hockey insiders
- Discover who is hiring and what you need to know to get hired
- Connect with other hockey career-minded individuals
- Learn strategies to catapult your career to the next level
- Ask questions of hockey executives, scouts, media members, and more
- Tickets to Round 1 are available for additional purchase after registering for the Hockey Career Conference.
Welcome Reception:
Thursday, June 27th | 7-9pm
Location: American Beer & Cocktails, located in Las Vegas's bustling Linq Promenade
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Hockey Career Conference Sessions:
Thursday, June 27th - 2 pm - 5 pm
Friday, June 28th - 8 am - 2:30 pm
Location: Tuscany Suite & Casino Conference Rooms
255 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
NHL Draft First Round: (Reserved tickets with conference participants and staff available for additional purchase after registering)
Friday, June 28th at 4 pm
The Las Vegas Sphere
255 Sands Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Note: Rooms are available in the SMWW Room Block at the Tuscany Suites & Casino. A link to book your hotel room will be emailed to you after registering.
If you want to start or advance your career in hockey, attending the 17th annual SMWW Hockey Career Conference at the NHL Draft is the move you need to make. Find out who is hiring and for what roles, network with hockey executives, and learn strategies to catapult your career to the next level.
"Our Hockey Career Conference provides an invaluable opportunity for attendees to learn about careers in the NHL while networking with some of the biggest names in the industry," says Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, president of Sports Management Worldwide. "Agents, GMs, directors of player personnel, and marketing executives all will be present, meeting, and speaking with attendees. This is a unique event!"
Past conference speakers have included team executives like the Pittsburgh Penguins Brian Burke and Edmonton Oilers GM Ken Holland, powerful sports agents like Pat Brisson and Rick Curran, media members like NHL Network Senior Reporter EJ Hradek, head coaches, personnel executives, scouts, and more.
"SMWW gets the best speakers year after year, who are all able to speak with confidence and experience regarding a wide variety of topics in the hockey industry. Every moment at the conference was time well spent," confirms Dylan Skubel, Ontario Minor Hockey Association referee and linesman.
Las Vegas becomes the center of the hockey universe as NHL club executives, scouts, and coaches will all be present on the NHL Draft floor joined by hundreds of print, television, and radio media. SMWW puts you in the 100 level so you can watch the hockey executives interact and make decisions, while the media reports it to the world. Be in the heart of the action!
"If you are thinking about a career in hockey, SMWW is a cutting-edge program that offers you the skills, vital networking, mentoring, and hockey-specific training that will assist you in breaking in or advancing your career in pro or collegiate hockey. They have hundreds of graduates working at all levels of the game," says Brian Burke, Executive Director of the Professional Women's Hockey League Players Association (PWHLPA).
2024 Featured Speakers*
*Speakers are subject to change and are not guaranteed
Ken Holland
Edmonton Oilers President of Hockey Operations and GM
Doug MacLean
Former NHL Team President/GM/Head Coach
Rick Curran
ORR Hockey Group NHLPA Agent
NHL Agent
Julie Stewart-Binks
Sports Broadcaster
Darlene Navarro
Vegas Golden Knights VP of Human Resources
Brian McCormack
Silver Knights Dir. Broadcasting & Communication
Amanda Fleming
Vegas Golden Knights Sr. Dir. Groups & Events Suites
Victor Findlay
Montreal Canadians Play-by-play Radio Broadcaster
Dylan Seca
Sarnia Sting (OHL) General Manager
Elicia Stevens
CHL Digital Operations Manager
Lucas Pettersson
NHL Draft Prospect - Modo Hockey (SHL)
Derek Arnold
Sports Logiq Dir of Business Development
EJ Hradek
Sr Reporter for NHL Network & Host, NHL Now!
Ryan Crelin
ECHL Commissioner
Zoran Rajcic
CSH Chief Operating Officer Everett Silvertips
Mike Oke
OHL Peterborough Petes General Manager, SMWW Faculty
General Manager
Dino Caputo
WHL Tri Cities Americans Regional Scout, SMWW Faculty
Mike Curran
RR Hockey Group NHLPA Agent
Phil Pritchard
Hockey Hall of Fame VP, Curator/Keeper of the Cup
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook
SMWW President & Founder, & NFLPA Agent
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I would highly recommend to anyone with a goal of pursuing a career in professional hockey that they give serious consideration in attending the SMWW Hockey Career Conference which is absolutely an incredible value for the return on the investment.
— Patrick Edwards, International Scouting Services — Hockey Scout
SMWW’s Industry Leading Courses Featured In:
Check Out Our Photos From The 2019 Conference In Vancouver!
Past Speakers
Note: Due to team meetings, speakers are not guaranteed and will change. The closer we get to the date, the more accurate the schedule becomes as executives do not yet know their team meeting schedules. Keep coming back to this agenda to see the most recent additions all the way up to the draft day!
Scholarships for the Hockey Career Conference Are Available
SMWW will award a limited amount of full and partial scholarships for each SMWW Career Conference. You must be 18 years or older to be considered. If interested, fill out an application, submit your resume, and a one-page letter explaining why you should receive a scholarship to info@smww.com.
Scholarships do not include lodging or airfare. Those who have completed an SMWW training program will be given preference.
Download a Copy of the
2023 SMWW Hockey Career Conference Program Here
