Latest news with #Okposo
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
'I wanted to stay in the game': Kyle Okposo makes post-retirement leap, joins NHL Players' Association in strategic leadership role
Kyle Okposo (via Getty Images) Months after claiming the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers and announcing his professional hockey retirement in September 2024, Kyle Okposo is already guiding the future of the sport from a very different vantage point. The veteran NHL winger, who suited up more than 1,000 times in his 17 seasons in the league, has officially signed on with the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) as a business development and player engagement adviser. Kyle Okposo brings leadership experience and player perspective to NHLPA Kyle Okposo's switch from the ice to an executive advisory position comes as part of a strategic hire announcement by the NHLPA, which also welcomed Steve Scebelo to serve as chief commercial officer and Stephanie Maniago as manager of communications and media relations. 'I knew that I wanted to stay in the game,' Okposo told The Associated Press by phone this week. 'I love it. It's given me everything that I've had in my adult life, and I wanted to continue to stay in it, and I think that this is the best route for me to go right now.' A bridge between past and present players At 37, Kyle Okposo will be a key bridge between active players and the leadership of the union. His new connections with active athletes and outside perspective as someone who just recently left the ice make him an ideal communicator and innovator for player outreach. 'Being freshly retired, I have relationships with a lot of different players and have some different ideas on how we can create excitement and engagement with the current members of the union,' Okposo said. 'For me, just having the relationships with those guys and being able to talk to them like we're in a locker room is going to be, I think, an asset to the PA.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo He comes aboard a leadership group under Marty Walsh and assistant executive director Ron Hainsey , both of whom appreciate Okposo's combination of player trust, executive experience, and business acumen. NHLPA looks to new opportunities under new leadership In addition to Okposo, Steve Scebelo's hiring adds significant background from the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), where he managed the licensing program. Scebelo gave the impression of possible innovations in the NHLPA's commercial programs, including collaborations with start-ups and sport-related companies linked to the grassroots of the sport. Also read: Stanley Cup Playoffs heat up: May 2 game times revealed Kyle Okposo might have shut the door on his NHL playing days, but his next chapter is set to be just as significant. His transition into NHLPA leadership is the start of a meaningful post-playing career—one founded in advocacy, innovation, and connection. Supported by influencers such as Marty Walsh and Ron Hainsey, Okposo is redrawing the lines on what it means to lead from the locker room and beyond.
NBC Sports
01-05-2025
- Business
- NBC Sports
Kyle Okposo joins the NHL Players' Association months after winning the Stanley Cup and retiring
Kyle Okposo is joining the NHL Players' Association as business development and player engagement adviser. The NHLPA announced the hires of Okposo, chief commercial officer Steve Scebelo, and communications and media relations manager Stephanie Maniago. Okposo retired in September after playing 17 seasons in the league and winning the Stanley Cup last June with the Florida Panthers. Okposo was a prominent member of the search committee formed in 2022 to find a new executive director that ended with U.S. Secretary of Labor and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh landing the job in February 2023. 'I knew that I wanted to stay in the game,' Okposo told The Associated Press by phone. 'I love it. It's given me everything that I've had in my adult life, and I wanted to continue to stay in it and I think that this is the best route for me to go right now.' The 37-year-old who played more than 1,000 regular-season and playoff games with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Panthers from 2008-24 began considering working for the union when he participated in the executive director search. He and Walsh clearly hit it off to get Okposo in the fold after spending some time together at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. 'I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him,' Okposo said. 'He's done a lot for the PA in a very short amount of time. We have plans to keep moving this thing forward, and Marty, I think he's the right person to lead it.' Okposo, who wanted to take some time to make sure he had the emotional energy to devote to a gig like this, wanted to be on the business side and expects his role to be fluid as he feels out his place at the NHLPA, working under Walsh and assistant Ron Hainsey. Walsh said Okposo's experience as a player and an executive board member makes him a well-respected, trusted resource. 'Being freshly retired, I have relationships with a lot of different players and have some different ideas on how we can create excitement and engagement with the current members of the union,' Okposo said. 'For me, just having the relationships with those guys and being able to talk to them like we're in a locker room is going to be, I think, an asset to the PA.' Scebelo comes from running his own sports and licensing consulting firm after spending more than a decade with the NFLPA, most recently serving as president of the union's licensing program, NFL Players Inc. 'Some of thing that we were able to do at the NFLPA do lend themselves to this,' Scebelo said. 'There could potentially be opportunities for the NHLPA to work with emerging companies — small or early-stage companies who may have some endemic ties to hockey as a sport that there could be investment opportunities that allow a players association to grow with that company as they grow.'
Fox Sports
01-05-2025
- Business
- Fox Sports
Kyle Okposo joins the NHL Players' Association months after winning the Stanley Cup and retiring
Associated Press Kyle Okposo is joining the NHL Players' Association as business development and player engagement adviser. The NHLPA is announcing the hires of Okposo, chief commercial officer Steve Scebelo and communications and media relations manager Stephanie Maniago on Thursday. Okposo retired in September after playing 17 seasons in the league and winning the Stanley Cup last June with the Florida Panthers. Okposo was a prominent member of the search committee formed in 2022 to find a new executive director that ended with U.S. Secretary of Labor and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh landing the job in February 2023. 'I knew that I wanted to stay in the game,' Okposo told The Associated Press by phone this week. 'I love it. It's given me everything that I've had in my adult life, and I wanted to continue to stay in it and I think that this is the best route for me to go right now.' The 37-year-old who played more than 1,000 regular-season and playoff games with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Panthers from 2008-24 began considering working for the union when he participated in the executive director search. He and Walsh clearly hit it off to get Okposo in the fold after spending some time together at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. 'I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him,' Okposo said. 'He's done a lot for the PA in a very short amount of time. We have plans to keep moving this thing forward, and Marty, I think he's the right person to lead it.' Okposo, who wanted to take some time to make sure he had the emotional energy to devote to a gig like this, wanted to be on the business side and expects his role to be fluid as he feels out his place at the NHLPA, working under Walsh and assistant Ron Hainsey. Walsh said Okposo's experience as a player and an executive board member makes him a well-respected, trusted resource. 'Being freshly retired, I have relationships with a lot of different players and have some different ideas on how we can create excitement and engagement with the current members of the union,' Okposo said. 'For me, just having the relationships with those guys and being able to talk to them like we're in a locker room is going to be, I think, an asset to the PA.' Scebelo comes from running his own sports and licensing consulting firm after spending more than a decade with the NFLPA, most recently serving as president of the union's licensing program, NFL Players Inc. 'Some of thing that we were able to do at the NFLPA do lend themselves to this,' Scebelo said. 'There could potentially be opportunities for the NHLPA to work with emerging companies — small or early-stage companies who may have some endemic ties to hockey as a sport that there could be investment opportunities that allow a players association to grow with that company as they grow.' ___ AP NHL: recommended
Hamilton Spectator
01-05-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Kyle Okposo joins the NHL Players' Association months after winning the Stanley Cup and retiring
Kyle Okposo is joining the NHL Players' Association as business development and player engagement adviser. The NHLPA is announcing the hires of Okposo, chief commercial officer Steve Scebelo and communications and media relations manager Stephanie Maniago on Thursday. Okposo retired in September after playing 17 seasons in the league and winning the Stanley Cup last June with the Florida Panthers. Okposo was a prominent member of the search committee formed in 2022 to find a new executive director that ended with U.S. Secretary of Labor and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh landing the job in February 2023. 'I knew that I wanted to stay in the game,' Okposo told The Associated Press by phone this week. 'I love it. It's given me everything that I've had in my adult life, and I wanted to continue to stay in it and I think that this is the best route for me to go right now.' The 37-year-old who played more than 1,000 regular-season and playoff games with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Panthers from 2008-24 began considering working for the union when he participated in the executive director search. He and Walsh clearly hit it off to get Okposo in the fold after spending some time together at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. 'I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him,' Okposo said. 'He's done a lot for the PA in a very short amount of time. We have plans to keep moving this thing forward, and Marty, I think he's the right person to lead it.' Okposo, who wanted to take some time to make sure he had the emotional energy to devote to a gig like this, wanted to be on the business side and expects his role to be fluid as he feels out his place at the NHLPA, working under Walsh and assistant Ron Hainsey. Walsh said Okposo's experience as a player and an executive board member makes him a well-respected, trusted resource. 'Being freshly retired, I have relationships with a lot of different players and have some different ideas on how we can create excitement and engagement with the current members of the union,' Okposo said. 'For me, just having the relationships with those guys and being able to talk to them like we're in a locker room is going to be, I think, an asset to the PA.' Scebelo comes from running his own sports and licensing consulting firm after spending more than a decade with the NFLPA, most recently serving as president of the union's licensing program, NFL Players Inc. 'Some of thing that we were able to do at the NFLPA do lend themselves to this,' Scebelo said. 'There could potentially be opportunities for the NHLPA to work with emerging companies — small or early-stage companies who may have some endemic ties to hockey as a sport that there could be investment opportunities that allow a players association to grow with that company as they grow.' ___ AP NHL:
Winnipeg Free Press
01-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kyle Okposo joins the NHL Players' Association months after winning the Stanley Cup and retiring
Kyle Okposo is joining the NHL Players' Association as business development and player engagement adviser. The NHLPA is announcing the hires of Okposo, chief commercial officer Steve Scebelo and communications and media relations manager Stephanie Maniago on Thursday. Okposo retired in September after playing 17 seasons in the league and winning the Stanley Cup last June with the Florida Panthers. Okposo was a prominent member of the search committee formed in 2022 to find a new executive director that ended with U.S. Secretary of Labor and former Boston Mayor Marty Walsh landing the job in February 2023. 'I knew that I wanted to stay in the game,' Okposo told The Associated Press by phone this week. 'I love it. It's given me everything that I've had in my adult life, and I wanted to continue to stay in it and I think that this is the best route for me to go right now.' The 37-year-old who played more than 1,000 regular-season and playoff games with the New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres and Panthers from 2008-24 began considering working for the union when he participated in the executive director search. He and Walsh clearly hit it off to get Okposo in the fold after spending some time together at the 4 Nations Face-Off in February. 'I'm looking forward to learning a lot from him,' Okposo said. 'He's done a lot for the PA in a very short amount of time. We have plans to keep moving this thing forward, and Marty, I think he's the right person to lead it.' Okposo, who wanted to take some time to make sure he had the emotional energy to devote to a gig like this, wanted to be on the business side and expects his role to be fluid as he feels out his place at the NHLPA, working under Walsh and assistant Ron Hainsey. Walsh said Okposo's experience as a player and an executive board member makes him a well-respected, trusted resource. During Elections Get campaign news, insight, analysis and commentary delivered to your inbox during Canada's 2025 election. 'Being freshly retired, I have relationships with a lot of different players and have some different ideas on how we can create excitement and engagement with the current members of the union,' Okposo said. 'For me, just having the relationships with those guys and being able to talk to them like we're in a locker room is going to be, I think, an asset to the PA.' Scebelo comes from running his own sports and licensing consulting firm after spending more than a decade with the NFLPA, most recently serving as president of the union's licensing program, NFL Players Inc. 'Some of thing that we were able to do at the NFLPA do lend themselves to this,' Scebelo said. 'There could potentially be opportunities for the NHLPA to work with emerging companies — small or early-stage companies who may have some endemic ties to hockey as a sport that there could be investment opportunities that allow a players association to grow with that company as they grow.' ___ AP NHL:
