A championship season in Cleveland was the cherry on top of a successful first year of the affiliation, and now with several Monsters playing key roles for the Blue Jackets, fans are starting to see the developmental pipeline in action.
And it's not just prospects, games and promotions that help foster a strong partnership - it's community outreach and networking, as well.
The Blue Jackets brought John Davidson, Bill Zito and Jody Shelley to Quicken Loans Arena for an event hosted by Hockey Players in Business (HPIB) earlier this month. Those in attendance were treated to a happy hour networking session at The Q before the Monsters took on the Milwaukee Admirals, and later, had the chance to hear from Davidson, Zito and Shelley about their wide-ranging career experiences in hockey.
Davidson began as a goaltender in the 1970s before retiring early and becoming a broadcaster - and is now considered one of the best color analysts of our generation. He entered the Hockey Hall of Fame as a broadcaster before changing careers to become the architect of the St. Louis Blues, where he spent seven years before joining the Blue Jackets in 2012.
He told the group that, of all the work he's done in a decorated hockey career, building relationships has been the most important.
"Networking, to me, is work and it's trust and it's helping other people too - not just yourself," Davidson said. "It's very important. You have to do it the right way."
Zito was a player, then a successful player agent, and now an assistant GM with the Blue Jackets overseeing the Monsters. It's a full plate for Zito, who also deals with contract negotiations and scouting in addition to managing the team's AHL affiliate.
Shelley, a Blue Jackets fan favorite during his playing days, got his NHL start in Columbus before a trade to San Jose in 2007. He also played for the New York Rangers and Philadelphia Flyers before retiring and joining the Blue Jackets front office as a team ambassador and color analyst for FOX Sports Ohio broadcasts.
For HPIB, an organization that has a mission "to help hockey players in business expand their professional network, further their professional development through learning, and give back to the game of hockey through charitable giving," having the opportunity to hear from three people with diverse backgrounds was a great experience. The Cleveland-based chapter of HPIB is the founding chapter of the organization.
"We had a great time while raising money to give back to the game we all love," said HPIB president Rob MacKinlay.
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