Long before Connor McDavid straps on his shin pads and hours before Milan Lucic begins taping his game day stick, Edmonton Oilers Manager of Event Presentation Lindsey Gullett is at his desk tirelessly inspecting his day’s work.
The Wawanesa, MB product has to script an entire NHL hockey game from the time the doors open until the three stars have been announced, and all of it has to time up with local and national television broadcasts… That means attention to detail is paramount.
“I gather all the information I need from the NHL and other departments in the office (corporate sponsorship obligations, community relations) and then put that into our scripting software,” said Gullett. “Everything is calculated to the second, so we need to account for a lot of tiny details.”
Once the script is complete, Gullett’s team will test all the equipment needed to put on a night of entertainment in one of the NHL’s newest buildings. Cameras, audio equipment, editing software, microphones, and music are all tested so that once the doors open and the fans start filing in, everything they see on the Jumbotron and hear over the loudspeaker happens according to plan.
Hockey has always been in the blood for Gullett. The former Neepawa Native and Dauphin King spent four years playing NCAA College Hockey at Castleton State University in Vermont. After his playing career wrapped up, Gullett took a job with the MJHL’s Virden Oil Capitals, and after two seasons in Oil Country, he made the jump to the American Hockey League in a similar production role with the Manitoba Moose. While his time in the AHL was valuable, getting a start with the Oil Capitals was vital.
Lessons learned in Virden
“My time with the Oil Caps was easily the most valuable experience I could’ve had to prepare for the sports and entertainment industry,” added Gullett. “No other role would’ve had me in charge of everything from ticketing to community relations to the sales and marketing component of the team. Going into the role with the Moose, I felt I could’ve confidently worked in any part of their organization and done it well with the lessons I learned in Virden.”
Gullett goes on to say that despite hanging up the skates years ago, his goal remains the same as anyone else in the NHL, be a part of a Stanley Cup-winning team. Until then, his daily grind at the office is something most people can only dream of.
“Ultimately once the puck drops, I get to watch Connor McDavid each night, and that can be worth it in itself. I’m very grateful to be in a position where I can be part of a team that is eligible to win the Stanley Cup and the thought of getting a ring is a driver for me. When and if that day comes, that will be the dream.”
