WHAT IF?

By John Doolan

What if you had not gone into hockey?  What would have been your career path?  For those on the medical side, you had many more opportunities to ply your trade than those of us who got the bug to work with the equipment.

I reached out to members of “Trainers who worked in Minor League Hockey”, which contributor Scott Luhrmann established on Facebook.  If you haven’t visited come and join.  Random replies from those no longer in the game and those still plying their trade were sent to me.

For myself, being in hockey was a goal from the time I saw my first HNIC game on TV (yes, it was in black and white).  When I finished high school, I planned to attend college with a goal to get a position in a PR department or wherever else to get my start.  As it turned out, I was in the right place at the right time and Ken Carson hired me to be his assistant in Pittsburgh, which made my dream come true for 38 years.

Rob Gagne:  Rob was working towards his Masters in Criminal Justice at Michigan State, while looking at a career with Immigration and Customs.  He was working with Tom Magee as a student manager, when they got a call to help out in the Colonial League to assist their old assistant coach at State.

This led to crossing paths with Doug MacLean and Mark Brennan of the Red Wings.  This meeting turned into a 20-year career and Rob now has his own skate shoppe in the Cleveland area.  Rob feels it turned out to be the right move considering the current immigration climate in the United States.

Scott Luhrmann:  Scott started out in Pro Soccer with the NY Cosmos and moved onto the Devils.  He joined the Rangers for three seasons before time in various minor league positions.  If not for his shot in hockey Scott states he would have gone into skilled labor as he did when the rink door closed on him.  He now is an elevator inspector in New York City.

Corky Osborn:  Ever since Corky was a young child, Corky wanted to be an airline pilot. However, back then you had to have 20/20 vision to even be considered for training and he had worn glasses since the third grade so that was out. The next best thing was air traffic control and he was set to start schooling for it when a fractured femur from racing motorcycles put an end to that career route.

The therapy involved after three surgeries piqued his interest to pursue athletic training/physical therapy which he did at OSU. Had he not gotten into hockey he might have ended up in another sport or at the clinic. As Corky says “Thank God for hockey because that’s where I discovered my extended family.”  Cork would have made a great air traffic controller as he has always been on the right course.

Adam Dexter:  Everyone’s good friend and comic relief, Adam, would have become a beer salesman working for his dad.  “That could have been a bad career move.” Dex said, along with “Think of all the free beer I could have had the last 20 years.”  I am sure Dex would have been a great salesman, he could sell fridges in Siberia.  Only problem is he would have drunk all the profits.  Beer’s loss, hockey’s gain.

Roger Beaudoin:  If Roger hadn’t gone into hockey, he would have probably ended up going into the HVAC field with his father. Roger’s hockey experience was with the Maine Mariners working with some well-known names.  Ray Jones, Pete Henderson, Jerry Foster and hiring future Anaheim Ducks equipment manager Chris Aldrich to his first job. 

Unfortunately, he ended up coming down with a chronic illness that cost him his hockey job and ended up working in his in-law’s landscape and snow removal business, which he and his wife currently own.

Ross Hoerman:  If not for hockey, Ross would have probably stuck with history as a major and gone on to teach or into archeology/paleontology.  His hockey background began at D3 Lawrence University with stints in junior and other minor leagues.  Ross is now involved in Loss Prevention with a Midwest retailer.

Frank Jury:  Frank would have taken a food and beverage career if hockey had not popped on his menu.  He has actually worked in restaurant management during the off seasons and continues with an association with Chili’s.  Frank got his start in Utica with Brian Patafie in ‘77 and has made many stops during his 43-year career.