I am fortunate to have been involved in hockey (in one way or another) for 28 years. And in that time I have met some great people who have made a life for themselves in the game. From time to time, I’d like to share these experiences and help make some introductions. I am hoping that these may give you a peek behind the scenes of a life in hockey or lend a little insight that might help you out along the way in your hockey life…
I would like to introduce you to Adam Sheehan, Assistant Equipment Manager – Detroit Redwings of the National Hockey League…Adam, thanks for taking the time!
Adam, what is your role within the Redwings staff and can you describe your duties:
I am one of two assistant equipment managers. My duties involve working with our team in day to day events at the arena from practice to game days.
On practice days we all normally arrive around 8am.Our head equipment manager, Paul Boyer does all the skate sharpening for the players on a day to day basis along with ordering everything we need to for day to day operations in the room. Myself and the first assistant John “JR” Remejes spend the morning making sure the room is clean and laundry bags are ready for the player’s arrival. Once players are in the building we are spending that time making sure the guys have everything they need before practice which could be anything from shorts, shirts or socks to equipment repairs etc.
Post practice is laundry time. We do normally about 6 loads of laundry during a practice day. Jerseys and socks go in one load, several loads of towels and finish with the players laundry bags. While laundry is turning we straighten up the locker room and start preparing for the next day. We normally are at the arena until maybe 4pm on a practice day. Game days for me normally start at about 730am.
I also do the equipment transfers for the visiting teams when they come into town to play us. Teams come in at all times of the day but most come to Detroit in the afternoon if they aren’t playing that day. Some will come in late at night if they are coming in after games in another city. I’ve had occasions where I picked teams training staff and equipment at 2am. Normally game days for me can start at around 7:30am. At that point I make sure the visiting teams are set up and if they need anything. I am there for them throughout their time in Detroit as a backup equip mgr for anything they need. I look after their laundry the same as JR and I do for our team.
Post game, I load the visiting teams equipment in the truck and get them to the team plane for the flight to the next city, wherever that may be. A normal game day for me can end at around midnight or so.
What are the “good and the bad” parts of your position?
The best part of my job is that I’m living my dream. Growing up in Michigan, I was a red wings fan from a young age. Playing hockey for most of my life I had always dreamed of playing in the NHL. Seeing as I didn’t have that opportunity, I think most players will tell you the next best thing would be working for a team. Working with athletes of this caliber is pretty fun. Watching what they can do on the ice during practice and in a game is something that can’t be described.
The worst part of our job if there is one I guess would be the hours. It’s a lot of long days and long nights without weekends. The season tends to fly by but in 10 years in the game, I’ve never woke up in the morning and I thought “I don’t want to go to work today”.
Now that the NHL season is winding down, what duties do you have in the offseason and what do you need to do to prepare for the upcoming season?
Once the season ends we spend usually a week or so somewhat closing up shop. We inventory sticks and equipment that might need to be returned and pack the players gear for them to take with them for the summer.
In July we have a weeklong rookie camp that takes place shortly after the draft. For the rest of the time we are on our own. It’s nice to have the break to catch up on life, spend time with family and friends and spend some time enjoying some of my hobbies such as photography, sailing and traveling. In late august the guys start coming back to town and skating on their own and things start getting going towards training camp.
What is your background, how did you get to your current position:
I went to college for criminal justice and psychology. I moved to Phoenix in 1998 to pursue that career. I worked with my team in college and when I got to phoenix, I called the Coyotes equipment staff and asked if they needed some help part time. At that point they didn’t but they ended up helping me get a game night job with the marketing staff where I spend two season.
During that time I got to know Stan and Tony from the Coyotes staff and when a spot opened in 2000, they remembered me bugging the sh*t out of them for two years and brought me on the game night staff. I spent the next few years learning from Stan Wilson how to sharpen skates, do repairs, sewing and a lot of the things we do on a day to day basis. Their staff took me under their wing and treated me fantastic over all the years I was there. I was only a part time, game night guy so I was looking for a full time job with another team.
I got that chance in 2003 with Carolina where I held the same position that I have with the Redwings. After that season, the NHL lockout happened and I returned to phoenix briefly before getting a job with Sacred Heart University as Equipment Manager for the men’s and women’s teams. It was a fantastic experience and it helped me learn a lot. In the NHL we have everything we need to do the job. In college, you don’t. You spend time inventing ways to get things done when you don’t have everything you might need.
In 2008, a spot opened in Detroit and I had been hoping to move home to be back closer to family and work for my home town team. I pretty much blew up Paul’s phone and was hired a few days later. I’m someone who believes in making the best of opportunities that come in life and don’t wait for things to be handed to me. I go for what I want!
Do you travel with the team…if so what is your favorite city to travel to?
I do not travel with the team on a regular basis, but travel sometimes during the playoffs. I have been to several different cities with teams over the years. My favorite is probably Denver mostly because of the scenery. Tampa and Anaheim aren’t bad places to spend a few days either.
Many of us know the shenanigans that take place in the locker room. Without rolling anyone under the bus, what was the best practical joke you witnessed last season?
I’ve always said that if you don’t have thick skin, sports is not the best place to work. We have our jokers like every other team and last season one player gift wrapped every piece of another players gear in his stall before Christmas including his chair. It was pretty original and everyone got a kick out of it. The staff also sometimes gets involved sometimes. It’s not a bad place to be. A lot of laughs at work!
Thanks so much for your time Adam. It is always great to share a behind the scenes look at the game. Enjoy the “offseason” and best of luck to you and the Redwings in 2010-11.
