Featuring Brian “Red” Hamilton – Head Equipment Manager, Vancouver Canucks

SPHEM: What inspired you to pursue a career in equipment management, and how did you get your start?
RH: I was 13 when my dad, who was an executive for Minor Football in our hometown of Richmond, BC, asked me to help with the equipment for the BCJFL Richmond Raiders. A close family friend, Creighton O’Malley, the Equipment Manager for the BC Lions at the time, took me under his wing. My dad arranged for me to spend some time with Creighton and his staff to learn the ropes, and I ended up staying with the Lions instead. Creighton wanted me on his team, so I never ended up helping the Raiders.

SPHEM: You began your career with the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League. Can you tell us about your transition to the Canucks?
RH: Yes, I spent 13 years working with the BC Lions, and Jon Sanderson also worked at the BC Lions before he was hired by the Canucks. After the 2001 CFL season, I left the Lions to work in the “real world.” But a short time later, the Canucks needed a game-night staffer, and Jon passed my name along to Pat O’Neill. Next thing I knew, I was working game nights for the Canucks and The Queen was dropping the puck at GM Place. It was quick! I moved into a full-time role with the Canucks Equipment department at the start of the 2005/2006 season. I’ve always said that the only thing football and hockey have in common is laundry; football is all about working a whole week for one game, while hockey is about getting ready for whatever’s happening tomorrow.

SPHEM: This season, you’ve stepped into the role of Head Equipment Manager, succeeding the highly respected Pat O’Neill. What’s the best piece of advice Pat passed along as you began this new chapter?
RH: Be prepared. He was so prepared for any situation. Ordering, travel, or day-to-day, he could read the situation and anticipate what was coming, and because of that we were always prepared and not often caught off guard. It also allowed us time to deal with the unexpected because we weren’t running around.

SPHEM: Even though you’ve only recently taken on the Head Equipment Manager role, what advice would you give to an Assistant hoping to one day move into that position?
RH: Be a great assistant and understand how to support your Head Equipment Manager. That’s what I’m most proud of as an assistant. Be patient, stay positive, and enjoy doing what you love.  Support your Head Equipment Manager and good things will happen. 

SPHEM: So far, what has been the biggest surprise about serving as Head Equipment Manager?
RH: Thinking back to Pat and the advice he gave me, there haven’t been many surprises. He really prepared me for this. And it wasn’t just him; I’ve been lucky to learn from a lot of great people along the way. One of the biggest advantages of staying with the same organization is the familiarity – I know where everything is and I get to work with people who consistently support the equipment department.  Working with Mac, Brodie, and Johhny have made the transition not only smooth but fun! 

SPHEM: You recently joined us on the PHATS/SPHEM podcast and shared the remarkable story of how a Seattle Kraken fan helped you detect melanoma early—an experience that not only changed your life but also inspired the creation of several organizations and fundraisers to give back. Since then, has your outlook on life and career shifted? If so, how? And what advice would you share with others working in fast-paced, often stressful careers?
RH: This is a tough question to answer because I get emotional. If Nadia had not caught my attention that night in Seattle, I am now at the point, almost five years later, that my melanoma would’ve likely been fatal.  I was recently diagnosed with melanoma again, which was once again caught early enough that it didn’t spread. I am living the benefits of early detection!

I’m not alone though.  Other SPHEM members are going through so much worse right now, and I’m sure there’s many others facing health challenges that we don’t even know about. My outlook hasn’t changed too much, as I’ve always enjoyed being where my feet are.  It sounds silly, but when I’m at work I enjoy every second, and when I’m with my family, I enjoy every second. 

Jess and I also partnered with Melanoma Canada after my first diagnosis because we wanted to help raise awareness and funds for this deadly form of skin cancer. To be honest, we really didn’t know much about it before my diagnosis and have since learned that middle-aged men in BC have the highest rate of melanoma in Canada. As a result, we proudly launched the Jess & Red Hamilton Fund alongside Melanoma Canada and we have since helped raise over $200,000 which helped bring the Mole Mobile to British Columbia the last two summers (a mobile dermatology unit that travelled across BC for free, walk-in skin assessments) and helped launch the Sun Guardians program which provides kids sports leagues, camps, daycares, and rec centres with free UV protective clothing, sunscreen, shade structures and more. 

SPHEM: Traditions and rituals go hand-in-hand with sports. What’s your game day ritual, or your lucky charm?
RH: I get a text from my wife moments before the start of every game. It’s something she started doing years ago and now I look forward to it. 

SPHEM: The hours, travel, and demands of the season can be intense. What keeps you motivated?
RH: The anticipation that you never know what the next question is.  We never know who is going to walk into our room and what they are going to ask so we must be prepared for everything. Every day is different. Also, the people we meet are a big part of it.  Going into cities and seeing great people makes the travel easier and exciting.

SPHEM: Who have been your mentors over the years, and what is the best advice they’ve shared with you?
RH:  I worked for and with the following great people: Pat O’Neill, Darren Granger, Mike Burnstein, Jon Sanderson, Creighton O’Malley, Kato, Bill Reichelt, Larry Ashley, and John Forget. When I drove the truck I developed relationships with Mike Aldrich, Stan Wilson, Pete Rogers, Barry Stafford, the list goes on.  They all took time to help me along the way.  I look at that list and feel so fortunate.  The relationships that I’ve made with current staff around the league and other leagues is a huge resource for me and all of us in the equipment department.

SPHEM: On the podcast, you also spoke about the importance of working in your hometown. Can you talk about the value of having a strong support system at home during the season?
RH: It’s all I know to be honest.  I have my family here and I feel really lucky to work for my hometown team.  My family is my number one.  Jess is my rock, and my daughter Ashley is my biggest fan – and I’m her biggest fan.  Jess’s kids, Bennett and Avyn make us a loving and busy family of five. Jess and I are also really fortunate to have a tight network of friends that we consider to be extended family who live nearby. We all help each other out, and they are amazing at helping Jess with the kids or the house when I am on the road.

SPHEM: Tell us a little about yourself—your family, hobbies, and life outside of hockey.
RH: My family is my life outside hockey. My hobbies are family oriented as well. I’m the Assistant Coach for Ashley’s U19 Rep Softball team, Jess is the Assistant Coach for Avyn’s U13 Rep Softball team, and Bennett is a baseball umpire. We spend 7 days a week at the ball field during the hockey off-season. I also value my local friendships so much, so we try to spend as much time as possible with our family friends (aka, extended family) during our free time. I’m also a huge NFL fan, and LOVE the Seahawks. 

All photos courtesy of Red Hamilton