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.
Mat Billette
Sheryar Abdullah
Alyssa, Since the NHL Draft Conference, it's been a game-changer to me. The amount of confidence I was able to obtain and how people think at your conference is on another level. I can't thank you, Dr. Lashbrook, and the rest of the SMWW team enough for changing my mentality and the opportunities I’ve been given in hockey. Thanks to the conference, I will be working with a hockey academy in Calgary Alberta Canada this upcoming season. Thank you!
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.
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' bustling Linq Promenade
3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Hockey Career Conference Sessions:
Thursday, June 27th - 2pm-5pm
Friday, June 28th - 8am-3 pm
Location: Tuscany Suites & 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 4pm
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).
2019 Featured Speakers
*Speakers are subject to change. 2020 Speakers will be announced later.
Ken Holland
Edmonton Oilers GM
Rick Curran
The Orr Hockey Group NHL Agent
EJ Hradek
NHL Network & NHL.com Sr. Reporter. NHL Live Host
Mike Johnston
WHL Portland Winterhawks General Manager & Head Coach
John Shannon
Sportsnet.ca Sportscaster
Nicole Lee
NHL Senior Director Integrated Marketing
Damian Echvarrieta
NHL Player Safety Group Vice President
George Parros
Former NHL player, NHL Director of Player Safety
Jeff Ulmer
Arizona Coyotes Coordinator, Skill Development / Assistant Director of Special Projects
Arizona Coyotes Coordinator, Skill Development / Assistant Director of Special Projects
Dana Clark
Vancouver Canucks Sr Director, Human Resources
Lisa Hollenbeck
WHL Portland Winterhawks Senior Director Business Operations
Mike Oke
Peterborough Petes General Manager
Patrick Burke
NHL Director of Player Safety & You Can Play President
Manny Schmidt
Link Management NHL Agent
Harkie Singh
Uptown Hockey NHLPA Agent
Dino Caputo
WHL Tri-City Americans Scout
Ella Chan
Vancouver Canucks Vice President Hospitality
Lynn Lashbrook
President & Founder of SMWW
Former NCAA Athletic Director
Certified Sports 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
NOTE: The 2024 Hockey Career Conference agenda will be made available two weeks prior to the event date.
2023 Hockey Career Conference Agenda*
*This is last year's agenda to give you an idea of what to expect.
6 pm CST - 9 pm CST SMWW Welcome Reception
Redneck Riviera: 208 Broadway St, Nashville TN 37201
Wednesday, June 28th, 2023 - Residence Inn - Americana Room
7:30 am Coffee
7:50 am Welcome to the 2023 NHL Draft!
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President & Founder
8:00 am Life of an NHL GM on Draft Day
Ken Holland, Edmonton Oilers GM
8:30 am Hockey Management
Ricky Olczky, Seattle Kraken Assistant General Manager
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President and Founder (Moderator)
9 am The Impact of Analytics on Hockey
Josh Pohlkamp-Hartt, Boston Bruins Data Scientist
Brendan Kumagai, Zelus Analytics Data Scientist
Chace McCallum, The Action Network Hockey Analytics Writer
Ed Palumbo, Elite Prospects Director of Hockey and Events
Mike Oke, Peterborough Petes General Manager/SMWW Mentor (Moderator)
10:00 am Representing a Player in the NHL Draft
Rick Curran, NHLPA Agent with ORR Hockey Group/SMWW Mentor (Moderator)
Mike Curran, NHLPA Agent with ORR Hockey Group
Denver Barkey, London Knights Center, Client of ORR Hockey
Luca Cagnoni, Portland Winterhawks Defenseman, Client of ORR Hockey
Will Kawam, NHLPA Agent with ORR Hockey Group
10:45 am - Coffee Break
11:00 am The Business of Media in Hockey
EJ Hradek, NHL Network Insider, and NHL Now! Host
Paul Krotz, Premier Hockey Federation SVP of Communications
Craig Button, TSN Head Hockey Scout
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President and Founder (Moderator)
11:45 am Welcome to our College Groups and Honor SMWW Advanced Certificate Graduates
12:15 pm Lunch - Residence Inn, Bar/Terrace Area
1:15 pm Jobs in Hockey Operations
Mike Johnston, Portland Winterhawks Head Coach, GM, & Team President/SMWW Mentor
Zoran Rajcic, Everett Silvertips Chief Operating Officer
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook, SMWW President and Founder (Moderator)
2 pm The Explosion and Growth of Women in Hockey
Reagan Carey, Premier Hockey Federation Commissioner
Stephanie Jackson, USA Hockey Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Lisa Hollenbeck, Portland Winterhawks Vice President of Hockey Operations
Dino Caputo, Tri-City American Scout/SMWW Mentor (Moderator)
2:45 pm Break
3 pm Secrets to Getting Hired in Hockey
Courtni Mosley, Nashville Predators Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Margie Horwitz, Nashville Predators Senior Director of Human Resources
Sydney Haykel, Nashville Predators Senior Coordinator of Human Resources
Ike Worth, SMWW Business Operations Manager (Moderator)
3:45 Closing Remarks
Dr. Lynn Lashbrook
Mike Oke
Dino Caputo
4:30 pm Top prospects arrive on the red carpet at Bridgestone Arena
4:30 pm Network on the Bridgestone Arena Concourse
5:50 pm Be in your seats for Live Cameras
6 pm 1st pick of the NHL Draft
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
