The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that they have made their two hires for their new Management and Coach Development Program, hiring Marian Agyei-Gyamera on the management side and T.J. Millar as a coach. The purpose of the program was meant to eliminate barriers for visible minorities within hockey and advance diversity and inclusion into the game.

Marian Agyei-Gyamera is a graduate from Waterloo University (political science) and Western University (Sports Management) alongside an extensive career with Commonwealth Sport Canada, Ringette Ontario, Black Canadian Coaches Association, Ottawa Sport & Social Club, Canada Basketball, and North Pole Hoops. She was also a varsity and track & field athlete at Waterloo. Her resume really just doesn’t end! The Leafs also briefly outlined what she will be doing with the Leafs.

“Within the Management Program, Agyei-Gyamera will spend time throughout the season with front office staff and the management team, including team president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Kyle Dubas, assistant general manager and Marlies senior vice president Laurence Gilman and members of the scouting staff and business management team.”

T.J. Millar has a master’s degree from the University of Finland in Sports Management, as well as an extensive young career coaching in the Prairies of Canada. He has been an assistant coach in the AJHL where he managed his team’s defense and took initiative in creating video sessions. He helped players on and off the ice as a coach, setting players up with billets, and helping players with their SATs for the NCAA. Millar also coached in the SJHL, U20 in the Jr. A Suomi-sarja league, and with Hockey Canada. The Leafs also briefly outlined what he will be doing with the Leafs.

“In his role with the Leafs organization, Millar will have on and off-ice mentorship opportunities with head coach Sheldon Keefe and his staff, the club’s player development staff, the organization’s ECHL and AHL coaching staffs, and various other leaders within the hockey program.”

This will become an annual program run by the Leafs where they will bring in two people to shadow, learn, and get connected into the industry. Hopefully this will result in new, young, and exciting innovators entering the league, and hopefully mainly the Toronto Maple Leafs.

“The primary goal of this recurring annual employment program is to provide two individuals the opportunity and training to forge their own careers in hockey. The program will provide valuable professional hockey front office and coaching experience, increase the candidates’ social capital within the broader hockey community as well infuse a fresh perspective within the Maple Leafs organization. The club will seek two individuals with any level of experience in sport who exemplify a passion and dedication to growth within the game of hockey.”

Various Leafs and Branches

2021 Top 25 Under 25: Dmitri Ovchinnikov is #16 | by: Brigstew

Ryan Reaves wrote an article trying to reignite the NHL’s commitment against racial injustice. Last summer is over and people don’t seem to be interested anymore. As one of the founders of the HDA, Reaves wanted to reaffirm their call to action and make sure speaking out against injustice was still front of mind as the new season gets underway. The HDA recently kicked Evander Kane out of the group so the current founders are Reaves, Matt Dumba, Joel Ward, Nazem Kadri, and Anthony Duclair.

This was quite funny and embarrassing. Toronto Six president Digit Murphy is trying to clean up her (true) image as a transphobe by jumping on the backs of the Black women playing for the Six this coming year using this PR company. I don’t need to tell you that claiming the Six are “the first team in the world focused on using hockey as a platform for inclusion and diversity.” You just read the article above, as one example. What do you call a transphobe who is trying to make herself look like a white saviour while also trying to piggyback off the work and reputation of BIPOC? There’s a lot to unpack here.

Pat Brisson is now representing Jack Eichel, who now manages the portfolios of several of the league’s best athletes. Using that leverage, it’s likely he’s going to push the Sabres and some other team into an Eichel trade all sides are probably not going to like, but one all can probably live with.

The USA and Canada will have a mini tune up tournament in the States ahead of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Canada beat the USA 5-1 (without MPP, mind you) a few days ago as the Women’s World Championships enters the knockout stage of the tournament. USA Hockey is calling it the #MyWhyTour, Presented by Toyota because they just want to make fun of themselves more.

From The Branches