Preparing for draft day

SIMCOE, Ont – The pinnacle of any young hockey player’s career is being drafted into the National Hockey League. The excitement of hearing your name being called and going to the podium and putting on the jersey of the team that drafted you. Not only is the players family happy to see their son drafted, but there is also one other person happy to see the player drafted. The players agent. An agent plays an important but behind the scenes role for the player as he gets ready for the draft. Mike McArthur of McArthur Group Sports who has been representing players for the last 10 years is kept busy during draft weekend as he prepares his clients for draft day. Getting a player ready for draft day is no easy task as many things can happen. “For client players and parents, it is to provide them a realistic set of expectations and emphasize that there are many things that cannot be controlled including what may happen on draft day. A trade can change the entire complexion of a team makeup leaving a need filled or opening up an opportunity.” said Mike McArthur. Players now realize they are not playing hockey for fun anymore and is now becomes a job and getting there is no easy task and it is also an eye opener and a learning experience that can also bring disappointment. “One realizes that it is realistically a very fluid business. It is also important to lead them to understand that the decision about the selection of a player is almost universally seen as a positive sign and recognition, that many players will remain undrafted but will go on to professional hockey careers through the side door and not the front door. The important factors become that of persistence, consistent work effort, intelligence and learning from the time of the draft onward.’ said McArthur. When players get ready for draft weekend they know that they will be talking to representatives of teams and for a player that can be nerve racking. As an agent this is where Mike plays an important role as he will prepare the player for what is coming next. “If teams are arranging to interview them yet, it is to prepare them so they will not become overtaken by nerves and remain authentic in their responses.” Mike’s relationship with his clients go beyond the player but with the family. As family also plays an important role of the development of the player and for the McArthur Group that is important to support not only the player but the family as well. “Yes, developmentally the player is still at a stage where they are still developing their own inner self, self confidence, amongst their hockey skills, etc. This has to be integrated in a way to ensure long term development and success individually, within their family and other relationships.”, said McArthur. The McArthur Group started when Mike began advising parents and players and eventually developed into contract work. The agency is not a big agency, but with the size of the agency it can spend more time with the players which is important in a player agent relationship. “We can provide the individual attention and respond faster to situations that are encountered by individuals while maintaining the emphasis on character and work ethic that each person uniquely must have to be a professional athlete.”, said McArthur. Contact the author at: andruw.bourgeois@prohockeynews.com Photo: Mike McArthur of McArthur Group Sports