John Forget, Head Equipment Manager, Ottawa Senators

SPHEM: What made you want a career in the equipment management profession and how did you get your start?

JF: I always was particular with my equipment when I played, and I knew how to sharpen skates from working at Play it Again Sports when I was younger.  I got my start in this business by sending an email to a Tier II team in Oshawa and that’s where this began.

SPHEM: You began in the AHL, then spent a season in Vancouver as an Assistant before working your way to Ottawa.  Once there, what surprised you most about the Head Equipment Manager role?

JF: The biggest eye opener for me was the difference in the players themselves, just how guys view the game at this level.

SPHEM: What is one characteristic you feel is important in the role of Equipment Manager at any level of hockey?

JF: One of my favorite sayings is “You can’t have holes in your game.”  Meaning, being organized, staying on top of things, being available for your players, and taking care of their needs.

SPHEM: What is your favorite “on the bench” moment from a game?

JF: Oh boy there’s a question.  I think for me, well it wasn’t a great moment, but I took a puck in the eye.  It did however, get me on the highlight reel and Coaches Corner.

SPHEM: They say once you stop learning, you stop growing.  What is one lesson you learned as an Equipment Manager that gave you the most growth in your career?

JF: There are lots of challenges that come with this job.  I have surrounded myself with an elite staff and together we provide the best service to our players and coaches.   Also don’t sweat the small stuff, learn from your mistakes.

SPHEM: How has belonging to SPHEM and attending the annual meeting helped you professionally?

JF: I absolutely love going to the meetings.  I have been attending for almost 20 years and look forward to them each year.  I have met many people at the meetings.  It’s a great way to network and catch up with colleagues.

SPHEM: What is your favorite NHL city to visit on the road and why?

JF: I don’t know if I could pick one city, but definitely the warmer climate locations would be up there.  There’s something to be said about being in Florida in the middle of winter.

SPHEM: Who have been your mentors over the years and what is the best professional advice they have given you?

JF: There are a few people that I have looked up to over the years throughout my career.  Bryan Boyes (Oshawa Generals) gave me my start in the OHL, and we chat often still today.  Pat Langlois (Montreal Canadiens) hired me as his Assistant with the Hamilton Bulldogs.  I have always leaned on him for advice.  As well as Pat O’Neill and Brian Hamilton (Vancouver Canucks).   I learned so much from these two guys cutting my teeth in the NHL.

SPHEM: What advice would you give your younger self if you were just starting in professional hockey? 

JF: I would say take time to enjoy the ride, it goes by very quickly!!!!

Tell us a little about yourself:

I was born in Oshawa Ontario.  I have two younger sisters Erin and Sarah.  My parents Jay and Heather live in Bowmanville ON.  My wife Sheena and I Live in Beckwith ON (20 mins from the Canadian Tire Center) and we have three kids, Holden 14, Hudson 4, and Hailey 14 months.

I love hanging out with my buddies around the pool in the summer as well as ATVing and snowmobiling.  I got my start in with the Oshawa Generals in the OHL and then on to the Hamilton Bulldogs winning the Calder Cup in 2007.  I went to the Utica Comets for their inaugural season in 2013.   After that season, I went up to work with the Vancouver Canucks before getting the Head Equipment position with the Ottawa Senators.  I also have worked with Team Canada 4 times at the Men’s World Hockey Championships, winning two Gold and 1 Silver medal.

All photos courtesy of John Forget

By Ian Cox
Assistant Equipment Manager
Ottawa Senators

This past November we were fortunate to be one of the four teams included in what has a become a pretty regular event for the NHL, the Global Series. This year, it was a newer format as four teams participated in the same location, which this year, was Stockholm, Sweden.

The four teams were ourselves (Ottawa), Toronto, Detroit and Minnesota. Taking place at the Avicii Arena, it was very unique with all the teams in the same building at once practicing and/or playing daily. This being the second time we have gone, we noticed a bigger buzz around the city as there were more events, appearances, etc., for the fans in different places. With almost a week of games, there was definitely a bigger buzz around town versus our last visit. There were a lot more fan experiences around town as well which added to the excitement.

As far as going to a new country, and somewhat unfamiliar facilities, it went seamlessly. We began working with the league in the summer for what our locker room requirements were, such as power requirements and transformers, as they use a different voltage.  Also, our partners at Blademaster helped us with European plug machines and glove dryers. The arena itself had two ice surfaces so we could still practice onsite and only needed to move locker rooms once!

The league did a great job from the moment we landed; it was almost like another road game. Two trucks waiting for us, normal standardized locker room inventory, lots of extra help and we had two unbelievable hosts with us for the week, Anton and Tommy who work in the Swedish Elite League and were amazing. I know the other teams can echo the same about their experiences as well.

The games aside it was great to spend time in a new country with our teammates and fellow staff to bond. It was also nice to get to spend time with some of our friends from the other teams on the road together. Hopefully these events continue to grow along with the game internationally so more and more of us get the opportunity to have these experiences. They are memories that will last a lifetime.

Photos courtesy of Ian Cox

By Ian Cox, Assistant Equipment Manager, Ottawa Senators

Like everything in our world today, technology advances have influenced our game, and jobs a ton. As equipment managers we have seen many significant advances in recent times.

Beginning a few seasons ago, the SMT tracking system was introduced which has provided significant data to our staffs, the League, and fans of the game through the television broadcasts.

From an equipment manager standpoint, it is another responsibility that is on our plate, but with the help of our uniform partners SMT and the League, they have made it as simple as possible for us given we already have a lot on our plates. As well as the player tracking, we now have similar technology in the pucks which once again gives us and the fans a lot of really cool data to learn from and enhance the viewers experience. Much like the player tracking this has been a very simple transition and not much has changed for us as far as managing the pucks.

More important than this however is the advances in equipment technology. This has made our lives easier while making the game safer for the players. Many manufacturers are now using 3D printing to make custom helmet liners for players and soon goalies. It has really caught on and more and more players are beginning to use it with great feedback.

Secondly to the helmets, the scanning technology used for custom fitting skates has been a great success. I think most will agree that we are punching, stretching and modifying far less skates now and the fit has been more consistent since this fitting technology was introduced.

As much as some of this has added to our daily to day tasks, I also feel it has saved us time in other areas. It’s been exciting to watch this evolve so quickly in front of our eyes. I have no doubt this will trickle down to all levels now that it’s been established, which is great for everyone, especially when it makes the game safer. As usual, the cohesion and teamwork of our group, equipment partners and respective leagues has made this work as easily as it has. We are all excited to see what comes next.

All photos courtesy of Ian Cox.

By Ian Cox, Assistant Equipment Manager, Ottawa Senators

For this newsletter, we decided to do something a little different.

We recently posted some pictures of a broken toe cap repair on Instagram which garnered a lot of interest from people.  I will go a little more in depth on how we did the repair. 

To set the scene, we were on the road, (of course haha) in San Jose. The skate belonged to a player that was new to us and didn’t have a second pair of skates at that point, so we really had to scramble.

First off, this isn’t a common repair for us as players get into new skates fairly frequently before things break down. It was sink or swim so first off, we had to find a matching toe cap. Mike and Vinny to the rescue, they had a player with the same model Skate that they could part with.

From there, the actual repair was easier than expected. There are two rivets in the sides that pop out with the machine, the side stitching and the tongue can be sliced.

From there the cap pops off relatively easy.   After that, we just repeated the steps, glued the bottom lip of the cap, slid it on, stitched the sides and replaced the side rivets.

Lastly, sewed the tongue back in and that was it! Honestly this was easier than it looks, it was the first time for us as I mentioned earlier.

If anyone has any other questions on how we did it or anything else repair wise, we are happy to answer any questions.

All photos courtesy of Ian Cox.

By Ian Cox, Assistant Equipment Manager, Ottawa Senators

As I write this it was almost two years to the day that the hockey world was first affected by Covid. We played in Los Angeles and before the game the news broke that there were positive cases in the NBA. We knew that was it. The next morning, we sat on the tarmac as a decision was being made as to what happens next. We flew home early, ending the trip and the whirlwind began. What we all thought would be a few weeks, maybe a month turned into years.

Over this period of time and with the continuous curveballs we have been thrown it’s been so impressive how our entire group has continued to adapt and keep the show running while most of all keeping our players safe. More than ever, we have had to work together and lean on each other during this time. Bubbles, taxi squads, stuck inside hotels, empty buildings, supply chain issues, masks, do it yourself locker room stalls, I could go on.

We have all been affected in a multitude of ways, as a team and individually. Every day was a new challenge, and everyone handled it like we do every time we are faced with a challenge…by finding a solution.

While this isn’t so much an equipment article as much as it is a shout out to everyone for their hard work through the past few seasons. As we look towards our first in person meetings in two years which I am sure hoping is a sign of a return to “normal” it seemed like a good time to reflect on everything we have gone through together in the past few years and say thank you to everyone for what they have done to get us back to this point, let’s all hope this finally is the light the end of the tunnel.

By John Forget, Head Equipment Manager, Ottawa Senators

Introduction

This will be my fourth time working with Team Canada at an international event.  This will be my first with the Olympic team as the first three were at World Championships.

I found out about this great opportunity some time ago.  It was in conjunction with being asked to go to Latvia for the 2021 World Championships. It was a pretty amazing moment because my oldest son Holden was right there with me when I was asked about it! But, keeping the news quiet until the staff was publicly announced was a challenge!

So far, we have had a few Zoom calls with coaches and management to discuss various planning initiatives, schedule logistics, protocols, and more.

Having the opportunity to work with Darren Granger has been second to none. The level of professionalism that he brings to the role is admirable and his passion for the work is something that I often aim to emulate.

Recently, the staff had the opportunity to meet in person in Banff. It was our first chance to really divide tasks and get the preparation stage officially underway. Darren and I have split a long list of potential players and coaches.  I’ll be responsible to contact the respective player’s NHL team equipment managers in the Eastern Conference while Darren will be responsible for those in the Western Conference.

We’ve also been in contact with our individual suppliers to get a head start on ordering the various items that we’ll need to bring with us.  COVID has caused many challenges on delivery times for equipment needs so getting a jump on ordering is vital.

Any time that I am afforded a chance to represent Canada, that is something I take great pride in. I am really looking forward to getting to Beijing and setting up! To have the chance at winning a gold medal is awesome!  It would be the experience of a lifetime for me!

The Olympics might look a little different on account of COVID-related restrictions but I’m certain that Darren and myself, along with the rest of the staff, will provide the players with the best environment possible and one that is reflective of the Canadian way. Go Canada Go!!

By Alex Menezes, Asst. Equipment Manager, Ottawa Senators

         As we all know 2020 has been kind of a strange year, from ending our hockey seasons in mid March to watching a Stanley cup being raised in October, in a Bubble, who would have thought.

         Some of you reading this may or may not know me, I am a proud member of the Ottawa Senators equipment staff alongside John Forget, Ian Cox and Bram Karp.  Unfortunately for the Senators we were part of the 7 NHL teams who did not get to participate in the return to play in Toronto and Edmonton. With our rink in Ottawa being closed and a work from home mandate from our team it gave us a lot of free time.  On July 1^st I received a call from Rich Villani of the NHL asking if I was interested in lending a hand in the Toronto Bubble with the day to day operations of the event. With the permission of our General Manager Pierre Dorion and the Senators HR department I accepted the invitation. Rich put me in contact with JR Boyle of the NHL’s operations department and soon after we got the ball rolling.

         I was informed that I was going to be working alongside some old friends and familiar faces. David Roper from the Toronto Maple Leafs, Andrew Koch from the

 Newfoundland Growlers, Tom Burns from the Toronto Marlies and Chris Cook from the Kingston Frontenacs whom I had previously worked with in Ottawa. We also had support from NHL front office staff members Mike Chute, Nicolas Torchia and Vince Granieri.

Before we were allowed in the Bubble, we all had to have 3 negative Covid tests.   So, on July 25th after getting all my tests done, I headed over to Toronto not really sure what to expect.  My first phone call was to David who had been in the Leafs facilities for weeks leading up to the start of the event.  David was the point guy for the League and all 12 teams and our crew’s team leader.  He informed me that we were going to have a lot of work and that all together we would establish a system, schedule, and routine for our day to day operation.

On day one I got familiar with the facilities, one being Ford Performance Center and the other the game rink, Scotia Bank Arena.  With 12 teams coming in and setting up shop it was a lot of information to take in.  With each team having one full practice day and the following day exhibition games, we truly hit the ground running.  We all know how a game day can be extremely busy with two teams in one building now picture 12 teams in 2 buildings with not 1, not 2, but 3 games a day.

The first few days in the Bubble we all logged in about 18 to 19-hour days averaging about 35,000 steps.  From helping teams load in and out of the practice rink to the game rink, getting the game rink ready for a game, laundry for 12 teams, it was quite the grind.  

It was interesting to see how other teams operated.   We were so used to our own routines in Ottawa.  But getting a different point of view, tips and tricks, really helped bring new ideas to Ottawa.  Having 3 games a day with teams also practicing at FPC was the most challenging part I would say.  With 4 dressing rooms at SBA it meant helping a lot of teams move in and out of the building while also getting ready for the following game.  All in all, the guys worked extremely hard and every single staff member from each team would all chip in; equipment, medical, strength, video, League staff, and I even saw some coaches from teams help push trunks down to the truck.  In the end, I logged 61 games in 40 days. 

The NHL did a fantastic job putting this event together in such short notice.  Everything from daily Covid testing to setting up the Clear app, the sanitation crews who worked both facilities, transportation, security – it was impressive to see it all happen so flawlessly.  On the rare occasion that we had a day or evening off, the League also had set up tons of things to do at Hotel X and BMO field with a few restaurants to chose from which was nice.

I truly enjoyed the opportunity I had to work in the Bubble.  The seven weeks I was in there felt like one.  I got to work with other equipment managers from other teams and League staff.   I learned a lot and was part of something very unique.   Special thanks to David Roper for his patience and time being the point.  This would not have run so smoothly without ya By.  Thank you, Andrew Koch, Tom Burns, Chris Cook, Mike Chute, Nicola Torchia, Vince Granieri and all the equipment managers for their hard work.  I also want to thank Rich Villani and JR Boyle for giving me this opportunity.

Till next time,

Alex

By Ian Cox, Asst. Equipment Manager, Ottawa Senator

A “hallway trade” might seem as easy as swapping equipment down the hallway, but in this case a few big challenges were encountered. First, being such short notice, we had to make jerseys and nameplates in-house which requires some additional time.

The bigger challenge we encountered was the fact that one of the incoming players used a totally custom glove. The trade happened at noon and the manufacturer who is based in Montreal had gloves and pants here in new team colors by game time. Lots of quick communication needed to happen. Kudos to them!

To top it off, one of the players we acquired uses an old model glove that takes time to produce. We had to get creative to get him Ottawa Senators game ready. A little spray paint and pieces from a different model glove later, he was on the ice the next night!