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JUNE 7, 2010 THN.Mobi There’S No Shortage of Brain Wattage in the Game, but Some Minds Dwarf the Crowd

JUNE 7, 2010 THN.Mobi There’S No Shortage of Brain Wattage in the Game, but Some Minds Dwarf the Crowd

22 | JUNE 7, 2010 THN.mobi There’s no shortage of brain wattage in the game, but some minds dwarf the crowd. They’re the people who think the game in a flash, are on the cutting edge of innovation, have incredible recall, intuit winning strategies. They’re hockey’s geniuses, and we’ve identified 10 of them.

A few hours before Game 3 of the Western Conference final in 1998, Red Wings GM was summoned to ice level from his office by then-Red Wings coach . Bowman pointed up to the scoreboard at the where ESPN had mounted a camera to follow the play. He pointed out to Holland that when Dal- las defensemen Richard Matvichuk and Derian Hatcher cleared the zone, they did so by shooting the puck off the glass, At 76 years old with but Wings Nicklas Lidstrom and Larry Murphy were more nine Stanley Cups as inclined to flip the puck high into the air. a bench boss, William “He said if one of them hit that camera the faceoff would ‘Scotty’ Bowman has be in our zone,” Holland recalled. “And he said was 60 percent on the draw and we were 52 percent on the draw; earned the right to idle they might win the draw and score and that might be the dif- away his days far from ference in the game. I just gave him a blank stare and went the ice. Instead, he back to my office and when I came back down there were 15 remains the guru of all people taking down the camera.” things hockey Later in that same series, the Stars had won Game 5 in and were feeling good about their chances to ex- tend the series with a win back in Detroit. “I really thought we had momentum and we had a lot of good players who were playing really well,” said Ken Hitch- cock, who was coaching the Stars. “In Game 6, Scotty had the right players on the ice all game. They dialed up the check- ing game to where we could barely get it across center ice and that was a real lesson for me. The players all talked about it over the summer and we all learned a valuable lesson.”

THN.com JUNE 7, 2010 | 23 Scotty Bowman’s final hurrah as a coach was Detroit’s 2002 win.

There are hundreds of stories like that about Bowman, far too many to contain here. Everyone who speaks of Bowman or has worked with him describes him as the greatest coaching mind the game has ever seen. Nobody can quite describe what Bowman sees in a hockey game that others don’t, but they all agree his ability to do so is uncanny. But what we do know made Bowman such a good coach are four main things – his incredible sense of recall, his attention to detail, his ability to have the right players on the ice almost all the time and his ability to know which players are at the top of their games at that moment. of time on ice and things like that. He didn’t led the team to successive Stanley Cups.

“He had a great feel for how to manipu- have to look at stat sheets, so he could do He would measure the distance between mages /NHLI late a game from the drop of the puck,” said it quickly during the course of a game.” benches and the ice to make sure it ett y I

Bowman’s son Stan, who is GM of the To be sure, Bowman’s mind moves faster conformed to standard. He still watches be- /G n Blackhawks. than almost anyone else’s in hockey both tween three and five games a night. o

It helps that Bowman, whose playing on and off the ice. His ability to adapt to “He’s watching matchups most of the idge career was cut short in junior hockey by a game situations is legendary, as is his pen- time,” McGuire said. “He’s watching faceoff m P skull fracture after being hit in the head by chant for recalling the most minute details plays a lot. He’s watching end zone cover- the stick of Jean-Guy Talbot, spent his for- in games that were played decades ago. age and he’s watching away from the puck. mative coaching years learning at the feet “You could ask him about the Stanley He’s watching what most people wouldn’t of , , Frank Selke and Cup final in 1962 and he could tell you who consider important. Did they have the right Claude Ruel. You get the sense, though, played and who was making all the plays,” coverage if they lost the draw with the mages ; this: To page that Bowman would have found his way Holland said. “And he could talk about it goalie pulled? Did they have the right stick ett y I regardless of who mentored him. like he just saw the game the night before.” positioning on the -kill? Most people “I believe him to be a mathematical As the accomplishments piled up for would think it’s ridiculous, but that’s how he /NHLI v ia G genius,” said broadcaster and coaching Bowman they gained him a lot of currency, watches a game.” protégé Pierre McGuire. “One of the rea- which he used to be innovative and daring Friends tell a story about the 1979 final mith sons he was such a great line matcher was with his strategies. when the Canadiens faced the Rangers in ill S that he could break down times for players. During the mid-1990s the thought a quest for their fourth consecutive Stanley He didn’t need stopwatches or anything around the league was that you couldn’t Cup. Every time Rangers coach Fred Shero else. He just had it in his head because he win with too many Europeans, but he put tried to get out on the ice, pening spread : B could calculate numbers so quickly in terms together the in Detroit and it Bowman countered with checking center o

24 | JUNE 7, 2010 THN.mobi Steve Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images Bowman. Bowman. around forus.” , anditreallyturnedtheplayoffs we playedoneofourbestgamesinthe such ahurrytogetridofthepuck.’ we thinkdo.We don’tneedtobein our guys,‘We havealittlemoretimethan “And weweren’tdoingthatsohejusttold the puck andhavingcomposure,” said. Stan on things. gavetheHawkscoaches histake Bowman and lookedterribleinGame3,theelder the firstroundtoNashvillePredators When theBlackhawks wentdown2-1in now asasenioradvisortohissonStan. game. Andhe’sstillimpartinghiswisdom, tohisabilityadaptthe is atestament and wonCupsineach onebutthe1980s toEsposito. man said daggersatBowman. , staring censed andglareddownthebench atone pull Espositoofftheice.wasin- ,atwhich pointSherowould Just anotherdayattheofficeforScotty “It tookholdasthegamewentonand “We liketocontrolthegamebyhaving coachedThat infivedecades Bowman “All night,Phil,all(expletive)night,”- Bow his geniusrep. helped tocement under Bowman Cups inthe’70s ’s five anybody who has spent much time playing against Chris Pronger can tell you Cold calculation is the a lot of what he does smart. The whack name of the game for the on the back of the leg; the little cross- never-frivolous Flyer check that lands just above the pants, but below the back of the shoulder pads; the whole thing where he uses his 6-foot-6, There’s a reason 215-pound frame to paste people against so many people the boards. care about what But for all the advantage his physical Chris Pronger has to say. attributes and sour state of mind provide him, what stands out most about Pronger to those who really watch him is not so much what he does, but when he decides to do it. Whether it’s using an infraction as an investment for future deterrence Nelson, noted bully from The Simpsons, or simply knowing when to go all out to solving Sudoku puzzles, while shaking chase a loose puck in the corner, there’s down kids for lunch money. an economy of movement to the big man’s Then again, Pronger has excelled at a game that allows him to get the most out of thinking man’s position for about 15 years. every asset he posses. When some theorized he’d go the way of “I don’t think there’s a player in the Derian Hatcher following the post-lockout league who observes (the game) and con- rule changes, he simply re-adjusted his serves energy as well,” said TV analyst and game to the new hockey world and went former NHLer Ed Olczyk about Pronger. about leading his teams – the “(He knows) when to sit back and when to Oilers and – to consecu- go ahead and try to put somebody in the tive appearances in the Cup final. fourth row. Pronger is an astute follower of all league “I really think he has the ability to – happenings off the ice (“I like to know realistically – play 40 minutes in a what’s going on. It is my business and it af- game because of his smarts, his fects me.”), and it would be no surprise if he stature, his awareness, his ability one day ascends to a GM’s position. When to conserve energy and still be he’s on the ice, he’s as much mathemati- an effective player on the ice.” cian as mad man. We understand conceptu- “You have to understand the game and alizing Pronger as a hockey understand where guys are going to be,” genius is a bit like imaging Pronger said. “You have to understand if you’re shooting on a goalie’s pad, where it’s going to bounce. There’s mathematics involved, geometry, whatever. You shoot the puck at a pad this way and it’s going to bounce over there. Oh, is that where our guy is? “A lot of it is just calculating the odds.

Now it’s instinct.” mages Joe DiPenta played alongside Pronger on ett y I the Ducks blueline during the team’s 2007 championship season. When he watches his old teammate play, he’s still struck les /NHLI v ia G

by the subtle things, the little decisions o

Pronger makes that pay off in a big way. edk “I saw the other night when he was in p : L en R

front of his own net and waited until the o forward got the puck and had his back to

Chris before he went to the corner, where mages ; t most guys would rush in there,” DiPenta said. “The forward did not see Chris com- ett y I

ing and he surprised him, took the puck off /G saac I his stick and the Flyers broke out easily. c He changes momentum. It’s hard to get im M

anything going when he is on the ice.” left : J

26 | JUNE 7, 2010 THN.mobi Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images O but agents understand his value doesn’t care for spotlight, the Arbitration, cap expert salary top ofhisheadandwhoanyoneiscompa- playeragents. regarded amongNHL is partofthereasonwhyhesohighly andputitintoaleague-widecontext salary earning potential.That’s mymantra.” just heretohelpthemmaximizetheplayers’ frontlines…they doalltheheavylifting.I’m to theagentsandplayers.They’re onthe “Igiveallthecredit bitration andtheCBA. background,” Lee,thego-toguyforar- said capandmarketplace. salary NHLPA’s associatecounselanddirector, and spaceheneedstofulfillhisroleasthe hind thescenesgivesRolandLeetime its mostpublicity-averse.Butoperatingbe- Players’Associationalsoisoneof the NHL ne of the the of ne “He knowseveryone’scontractoffthe Lee’s abilitytorememberanyplayer’s inthe staying “I’m quitecomfortable most important employeesof most important cess aswell.” time aplayeravoidsit,weseethatassuc- through thearbitrationprocess.Soany of arbitrationistonothavetheplayergo agent andtheplayer…andrealgoal on oneplayer’saward,” Leesaid. tion, butyoudon’tjudgeeverythingbased come aboutinanumberofdifferentways. for 15years,successinarbitrationcan team hasn’ttriedtohirehimaway.”NHL arbitration. I’veneverunderstoodwhyan resource, especiallyasitrelatestosalary He isveryanalyticalandaninvaluable the storybehindeveryGroup2contract. good deals,thebaddealsandprettymuch rable to,” oneagent.“Heknowsthe said “It’s a total collaborativeeffortwiththe “It’s atotal “We’ve arbitra- donefairlywellinsalary For Lee,whohasbeenwiththeNHLPA – ADAM PROTEAU tion thissummer. goes toarbitra- case ifIanWhite likely beonthe Roland Leewill He’s been leading the way in what he does since before there was even a title for it getting strength and condition- training,” said Rich Hesketh, the ing coaches to hero themselves is next to Flames strength and conditioning coach. impossible, but raise the name Mike Boyle At BU his charges have included Keith and you can hardly shut them up. Tkachuk, and Tony Amonte, “He has a huge following, whether it’s along with countless other future NHLers. NHL, collegiate, all up and down,” said Ray When Boyle got his start, strength Tufts, the head athletic coaches were the witch doctors of hockey; trainer and president of the PHATS side their nouveau practices considered dubious of PHATS/SPHEM, the organization for at best. But Boyle helped changed that. hockey trainers and equipment people. In the ’80s and ’90s he pioneered sprint The 50-year-old Boyle has been at training in hockey – short bursts followed University for nearly 30 years and by longer rest periods – to mimic game an integral part of BU’s hockey program situations. Sprint training is now the norm. for about 25 of those. From 1991 to ’99 Boyle continues to be cutting-edge – he was the ’ strength coach. single-leg exercises, because you skate one He writes articles that change people’s leg at a time, is his latest – but the proof mindsets within the industry and travels the of his genius is so many of his apprentices Mike Boyle’s globe to give speaking engagements. now have NHL and NCAA jobs; he’s the players are con- sistently some “Mike has always been regarded as the trainer who trains future pro trainers. of the NCAA’s guru out in the Boston area for hockey – john grigg fastest.

The Bruins assistant coach excels in all aspects of his job and young players benefit most

If an NHL head coach stayed employed ning and, during the for all but one of the past 15 seasons and past three seasons, helped lead a team to a Stanley Cup, he the Bruins. would be hailed as one of hockey’s all-time He understands great minds. what it means to be But that’s exactly what Craig Ramsay an assistant – to de- has done as, for the most part, an assistant. velop younger players; Yes, Ramsay has had two stints as a to focus on and break bench boss. The first came in Buffalo, down the sport’s As much a where he followed up a sterling, 14-season smaller aspects; and to act as a buffer teacher as he is playing career with the Sabres by serv- between the players and the head coach. a coach, Craig ing as an interim coach and replacement Ex-Lightning GM Jay Feaster, who Ramsay is valued for the immortal Scotty Bowman in 1986; worked with Ramsay when the Bolts won behind the bench and in Philadelphia, where he took over for the Cup in 2004 under coach John Tor- mages

Roger Neilson for a season in 2000. torella, still swears by Ramsay’s abilities. “In Tampa, he was the good uncle, the ett y I However, for the most part – and fairly “Rammer is one of the best teachers in patient one, the guy who takes a little extra or unfairly to Ramsay – he has most often the game, if not the best,” he said. “He was time to find the right words for players. found a home as an assistant (or associate, very cerebral as a player and I think players “He was the perfect yin to (Tortorella’s) /NHLI v ia G if you prefer). He’s played that role for the now respect everything he’s done in the yang.”

Sabres, Flyers, Panthers, Senators, Light- league, both on the ice and as a coach. – adam proteau is L acasse o ranc m : F o tt o b

28 | JUNE 7, 2010 THN.mobi is a student of the game and mature beyond his 22 years.

Chicago’s never even considered the notion being average was an acceptable option

There’s an extreme irony to the fact young hockey players are almost exclusively referred to as ‘kids,’ yet it’s very easy to forget the fact that’s exactly what they are. have. Right off the bat, before you even see “It’s apparent when you talk to him, he’s Stars. Future millionaires. Role models. him play, he sets himself apart.” clued in to what you’re saying,” Bowman Lucky little SOBs. Because they’re already Toews was just coming off his freshman said. “He’s not half-listening. He’s a student household names before being drafted, we season with the North Dakota Fighting of the game that way.” tend to think of high-end NHL prospects Sioux at the time. In order to get to UND The result is a player whose contribu- as a lot of things other than what they really by age 17, he crammed three years of high tions can’t always be quantified with stats. often are, which is a teenager only a few school into two. “Right now, it’s easy to measure Jonny’s years removed from collecting And the fact he chose the play in terms of points,” Hakstol said. “But I an allowance and watching college route when the majority think what you really have to do to appreci- cartoons. of top prospects opt for major ate him as a player is take a sum of all the Then along comes somebody junior provides further insight little things he does during a 60-minute like Jonathan Toews, a ‘kid’ who into the sharp, determined mind hockey game and you add that up, and probably had cocksure NHL of a 22-year-old who’s frequently usually what you end up with is a guy who suits ready to refer to him as kidded about the fact he comes has a major impact on the outcome of that ‘Mister’ by the end of his pre- off as being 10 years older than game.” interview. he is. Added Bowman: “He’s certainly able worked in the “He’s a very intelligent to anticipate plays, that’s why he’s such a ’ hockey young man and he’s successful good penalty-killer. You have to be smart, operations department for eight because everything he does, you have to be able to read what’s going to years prior to being named the team’s GM he expects to do well,” said Dave Haks- happen and he can certainly do that.” last summer. He vividly recalls speaking tol, Toews’ coach for two years at UND. Toews’ knowledge base is ever expand- mages with Toews mere months before the Hawks “There’s no one part of his life that he just ing, mostly because he takes every oppor-

ett y I took him third overall in the 2006 draft. pushes aside and says, ‘It’s OK to be aver- tunity to improve very seriously. “It was like night and day with some of age.’ ” “It’s often said he gets mad when he /G saac I the kids you interview,” Bowman said. “He That is certainly the case on the ice, loses a faceoff, but he really does,” Bow- c looks you in the eye, he gives you straight, where Toews is constantly striving to add to man said of Toews’ practice habits. “It’s not im M thoughtful answers and he’s got a pres- what is already an incredible collection of an act. It bothers him.” th : J o b ence about him kids that age just don’t content between his ears. That’s just how Mr. Toews is.

THN.com JUNE 7, 2010 | 29 Late-blooming Bruins goalie is among Acme’s late-rounders.

Acme agency founder cares for a cluster of stars overlooked by teams and other representatives

UNLESS You’re Either from or you’re a serious hockey geek, you probably don’t know a whole lot about Linus Klasen. Among his high-profile clients are John But Zito is increasingly getting those But you will. After all, he’s represented by Madden, Brian Rafalski and Antti Niemi. Not 30 guys to say yes. He and his associates . one of them drafted. Madden and former have an ability to spot talent where others A batboy for the Brewers Zito client Glen Metropolit were products of don’t see it, particularly when it comes to when they went to the World Series in two of the toughest subsidized housing proj- Finnish players or North Americans playing 1982, Zito is hockey’s version of the Statue ects in . One of his first clients was in Europe. of Liberty. “Give me your undrafted, your , who was taken with the third-last Five years ago, Niemi was a full-time ignored, your overlooked, pick (239th overall) in 1996. Tim Thomas Zamboni driver and a part-time player in the wretched refuse of is a client, as is (250th in ’s first division league. This summer, your teams,” might as 1993), Adam Burish (282nd in 2002) and Zito will get him a very rich contract. well be the corporate Antti Miettinen (224th in 2000). Zito said former Milwaukee Brewers star motto for Acme World In fact, if you take the Zito clients who Ted Simmons used to make him do his Sports, the hockey either were undrafted or cut loose by their homework in the clubhouse before games. agency founded by Zito. teams, there are six Stanley Cups, a Vezina, It’s obvious Zito listened. He was accepted Which brings us back Selke and Jennings Trophy and five All-Star at Harvard, but went to Yale, where he to Klasen, a 5-foot-8 Games. played hockey for four years before a brief sublimely skilled 24-year- “In few other industries in the world are pro career in Finland. When he wrote the mages old who recently signed a one-year deal with opportunities a captive currency,” said the LSAT test to get into law school, he scored ett y I the . Klasen was never 45-year-old Zito. “If I had a great lawyer and 47 out of 48. drafted, which puts him in good company the firms say no, I’ll open my own. If he’s a “And I appealed the one (I got wrong) /NHLI v ia G with most of Zito’s clients. You see, the man great baker and people say no, you make and said it was a grey area, but they said has a knack for finding players nobody else your cakes and walk around giving them to no,” Zito said. “It wouldn’t have changed my thinks can play and getting them chances to people. But here, it only takes 30 guys to percentile, but it would have been fun to say

prove they belong in the NHL. say no and I’m out of luck.” I didn’t get any wrong.” brian B abineau

30 | JUNE 7, 2010 THN.mobi Predators goaltending coach has had success churning out plenty of top puck-stoppers

By including him in this story, we’re giving Mitch Korn his ‘props.’ But he already had lots of props to begin with. In fact – and let’s hope the Predators goaltending coach extraordinaire doesn’t take this the wrong way – Korn is the hock- ey equivalent of a famous prop comedian. “Mitch is the Carrot Top Dan Ellis, left, of the NHL,” said Nashville Korn, who tended net and coached at and Pekka goalie Dan Ellis, one of Kent State in the 1970s and ’80s, first Rinne are two many elite netminders gained acclaim when working with Dominik of Mitch Korn’s Korn has helped develop Hasek during the his Vezina and Hart top students. since he joined the Preda- Trophy-winning seasons in Buffalo. tors in 1998. “He’s got In his dozen seasons with the Preds, “You’re used to doing traditional goalie screen boards, deflection Korn has turned out a small army of NHL- drills, but what Mitch asks you to do im- boards, mini-pucks, white caliber goalie talent, including Ellis, Tomas proves your vision and (puck)-tracking,” Ellis pucks and other props. He has a whole Vokoun, Chris Mason and Pekka Rinne. said. “He’s also there to support you from a bunch of tools he uses to make our prac- The 53-year-old Korn may not do things mental perspective. He’s been really good tices as hard as possible, so games will be the ‘normal’ way, but his ability to steer his for me – and the whole organization, really.” that much easier for us.” students to success can’t be debated. – ADAM PROTEAU

and Byers, a high-tech venture capital firm in Silicon Valley, to invest millions of dollars into Google in 1999 that made the company billions of dollars. Compton A prescient owner in a market downplays his part in the move, just as he that needs one – Compton has does his prominence as an NHL owner, but made some good decisions those who know him say differently. Those close to NHL ownership say One day when Kevin Compton was Compton has the ear of commissioner seven years old in southern Missouri, he and other new-guard owners was playing army with his friends on a around the league. construction site. Rather than get captured “He’s not going to vote on where the by his pals in the rafters of the house that All-Star Game is going in two years,” said

mages was being built, he decided to jump into a one source, “but Gary listens to him and pile of sand below. But he missed and was other owners listen to him. He could be a ett y I

/G impaled by a steel rod that went in through kingmaker down the road.” hn San Jose is a o his thigh and out his intestine. Compton was also instrumental in the

bs success in part o “So if I’m the smartest guy in the room,” team owning the China Sharks of the Asian because of Kevin Compton said, “it’s a pretty small room.” League and after getting involved in the Compton’s busi- ed J ac Compton is the majority shareholder in Sharks bought up a number of local arenas, ness acumen. m : J o the San Jose Sports and Entertainment which are run by the team. tt o Enterprises Ownership Group that owns The 52-year-old still plays twice a week faith to believe I came from two amoeba the San Jose Sharks. Pretty smart invest- and is a devoted family man and devout meeting in a pond and made their way up mages ; b ment, given that the Sharks are among the Christian. He can explain his belief in cre- through primates and became this. I just

ett y I league’s most profitable franchises with ationism over evolution using reason rather don’t believe that happened. I happen to one of the most rabid and loyal fan bases. than passion. believe there’s a master plan and a master Not quite up there, though, when he led “Show me where you’ve ever created creator.” the charge for Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield matter,” he once said. “I don’t have enough – ken campbell ussell /NHLI v ia G hn R p : Jo o t

THN.com JUNE 7, 2010 | 31 Detroit’s European super-scout has kept the Wings flush without the luxury of high draft picks

Perhaps the most widely recognized Scouting is an element that can’t be name from the scouting realm of the hockey done by just one person, though. While world is Hakan Andersson, the Detroit Red Andersson leads the charge, he is also Wings director of European scouting. successful because of the work done by A native of , Sweden, Anders- Vladimir Havluj, Evgeni Erfilov and Ari Vouri. son has been with the Red Wings for 20 Andersson himself was somewhat of a years and been credited with unearthing late-round pick. Before he joined the club, late-round gems such as the Red Wings’ hot scout was Christer (210th overall), Jonathan Ericsson (291st Rockstrom, who was credited with finding overall) and (171st overall). stars such as Nicklas Lidstrom (53rd over- What makes Andersson so successful is all). When Rockstrom moved to the New hard work and an innate sense of “special.” York Rangers, the Red Wings needed to Red Wings assistant GM noted find somebody to take his position. Before Andersson doesn’t employ any unusual or long, fate pointed the Red Wings towards unique techniques in his job, but does it by Andersson, who was working as a fishing the book and with a foundation of dedica- guide for a travel company. One of the Wings tion to the game. “He was just looking for a job and he best late finds is “Our philosophy here is skill and he fo- was hired,” Nill said. “Hakan was the guy winner Henrik cuses on skill players,” Nill said. “It’s about and Christer recommended him to us.” Zetterberg. going to games; you have to go to games.” – rory boylen

Arenas and hockey helmets don’t design themselves, these companies do – and they do it better than everyone else

when it comes to barn-raising, no aesthetic philosophy, we want to open one designs arenas like Populous, the up the buildings as much a possible.” international sports architectural firm. Clark, who works out of the Kansas Populous is in charge of Pittsburgh’s City, Mo., office of Populous, also worked new Consol Energy Center and has on the city’s brand-new Sprint Center, mages

worked on many NHL buildings. which is awaiting either an NHL or NBA ett y I “They tend to push the envelope,” said tenant. Kevin Reichard, editor of leading industry A designer for more than two decades, website ArenaDigest.com. “They turn the he also knows the impact a good arena /NHLI v ia G building inside-out.” can have on the team it supports.

That means lots of openness and “You try to do whatever you can to is L acasse o attention to aesthetics. Reichard cites make the building as intimate as pos- Minnesota’s Xcel Energy Center as a sible,” he said. “You want to provide that ranc m : F

great example of Populous’ work. home-ice advantage.” o tt “One whole city block is glass,” In the hockey equipment world, it’s churn out many different products, such o he said. “It has a very open footprint Easton that is making the most waves in as composite skates (much lighter than

whether you’re on the ground floor or an terms of innovation. traditional boots and featuring carbon mages ; b

upper level.” “If there’s any company that is ex- fibers woven in) and the Z-Shock helmet, ett y I This means fans aren’t crammed into pected to have a fresh take and execute another lightweight innovation. claustrophobic concrete blocks when it, it’s Easton,” said one industry insider. “We wanted it to feel like you weren’t they want to buy a beer or a pretzel. “And they weren’t even in hockey 30 wearing a helmet at all,” said Easton “The paradigm of the building has years ago.” Hockey vice-president Ned Goldsmith. eginek /NHLI v ia G changed,” said Brad Clark, a lead Indeed, but the company with baseball “We get a lot of feedback from players v e R designer at Populous. “They used to be roots has used that non-traditional re- and that’s a critical part of what we do.” a p : D o

functional boxes to hold fans in. From an search-and-development background to – RYAN KENNEDY t

32 | JUNE 7, 2010 THN.mobi

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