March 13, 2009
By Carly Peters
USA Hockey
Brian Fishman had a passion for hockey. Ask those who were lucky enough to know him what quality they best remember about him, and it is that sentiment that is continually repeated. They quickly remember his commitment to hard work and the enthusiasm he had for the sport he loved, but always seem to come back to the passion he showcased for hockey. Growing up in Potomac, Md., Brian passionately cheered for the Washington Capitals, as well as the Vancouver Canucks. During his time at the University of Wisconsin, he showcased his passion for the game by writing for local papers and magazines. He continued to showcase his love for the game when he worked in the Athletic Media Relations Department at the University of Michigan, before joining USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program as its Manager of Communications and Marketing.
Those who worked with Brian during his time in athletic media relations speak of the great effort he put forward to support the players he represented. He tirelessly worked to publicize the University of Michigan teams that became NCAA Division I champions during his tenure, as well as promote the players for numerous awards. Brian took pride in working for USA Hockey and was proud to be a member of the staff that went to the 1999 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Tragically, Brian’s life was cut short when he returned from Manitoba and passed away unexpectedly on January 7, 1999, at age 28. Later that year, Brian’s family and USA Hockey created the Brian Fishman Internship to honor his dedication to athletic public relations and his passion for the game.
Over the past 10 years, outstanding college graduates who hope to pursue a career in athletic media relations have had the opportunity to work in the media and public relations department of USA Hockey’s National Office in Colorado Springs, Colo., as recipients of the Brian Fishman Internship.
As USA Hockey marks the 10th year of the Brian Fishman Internship, Brian’s legacy continues with the success and achievements of the interns. Below, the Brian Fishman Interns reflect on what the experience meant to them, in their own words.
Jennifer Dame
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 1999-2000
Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minn.
Current Position: News Reporter/Weekend News Anchor, KXMC CBS 13
What did the internship mean to you?
“The internship was a big step for me. Although I had moved away for college and traveled a bit, the internship was my first real taste of work and a real job. It also allowed me to express my creative side and gave me the courage to believe in myself.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“Currently I am a mom, a freelance writer, author of a children's book and News Reporter/Weekend News Anchor...aside from motherhood, few of these would have been possible without the internship.
It made me credible to other magazines, thus allowing for freelance opportunities. It made me realize my love and passion for writing. When I tell people I worked at USA Hockey in Media and Public Relations it brings a new level of respect...it is an amazing feeling.
I can't believe it has been 10 years since I was fortunate enough to be awarded the internship...much has changed in my life...but thanks to the internship I am very well rounded and able to adapt to any environment, for that I will be forever grateful.”
Cassy Maxton
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2000-01
Hometown: Vandalia, Ohio
Current Position: Actress/Theatre Teacher
What did the internship mean to you?
“The Brian Fishman Internship gave me some of the most memorable experiences of my life, such as working in Salt Lake City for the pre-Olympic test event and accompanying the U.S. National Under-17 Team on their gold-medal run in Nova Scotia. It was especially meaningful to be able to meet the Fishman family and keep them up-to-date on my adventures.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“The internship prepared me for some amazing opportunities. After its completion I accepted a full-time position with USA Hockey in the media and public relations department. When I moved to New York City, I worked in fundraising and development for Theatreworks/USA, the nation's premier theatre company for young and family audiences. I even got to work with the National Hockey League for a short time, serving as the media accreditation coordinator for the 2004 World Cup of Hockey. The skills that I gained during my time as the Brian Fishman Intern in writing, public relations, event planning, and liaising with the media have continued to serve me throughout my professional career.”
Yariv Amir
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2001-2002
Hometown: Plainsboro, N.J.
Current Position: Director of Athletic Communications, Princeton University
What did the internship mean to you?
“It was a real honor to receive the internship. I had grown up with hockey being an important part of my life and getting the chance to take that first step of a career in the hockey world by working at USA Hockey was an invaluable experience. It was also an honor to be able to tell people about Brian Fishman and what kind of a person he was.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“There are many aspects of my 10 months at USA Hockey that come up daily in my role at Princeton. Whether it is a communication skill I picked up, a connection I made, or just a good story related to some of the great experiences I had in Colorado Springs, I find myself recalling those days quite a bit. I met a lot of great people and learned a lot of useful things that have allowed me to succeed in my current role.”
Seth Cole
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2002-03
Hometown: Blue Hill, Maine
Current Position: Sports Information Director, Saint Michael’s College (Colchester, Vt.)
What did the internship mean to you?
“The Brian Fishman Internship was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me, and an experience that I cherish and will never forget. Getting the chance to work for such a renowned organization like USA Hockey, and the responsibilities that came with it, was beyond my wildest dreams. In particular, I’ll never forget working at the World Junior Championships that year, which were held in Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia. Getting the chance to work alongside such future stars as Zach Parise, Chris Higgins, Ryan Whitney and Ryan Suter is one of the highlights of my professional career. And the opportunity to work and live in Colorado Springs, having been a lifetime New Englander, was a time in my life that I’ll always look back on fondly.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“I would not be in my current position had it not been for the time I spent as the Brian Fishman Intern at USA Hockey. The internship gave me valuable experience in the media and public relations field, especially pertaining to writing press releases, day-to-day interactions with journalists, and feature writing. The internship also allowed me to develop as a professional, and to grow as a person. I am extremely grateful to the Fishman family for the opportunity that they gave me and other young aspiring professionals, and I thank USA Hockey, and particularly the media and public relations staff, for their guidance and support throughout my internship.”
Caitlin Lazaro
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2003-04
Hometown: Effingham, N.H.
Current Position: Project Lead, Direct Source, Inc.
What did the internship mean to you?
“When I got the call that I was chosen to be the Brian Fishman Intern, I had to mute the phone to jump up and down and yell to my friends. My memory of that excitement will never fade. It’s such a special thing to be chosen for. Only one person gets the opportunity each year, and it was such an unbelievable promise of experience, that I felt like I had won the lottery. Working in college hockey during my tenure at the University of New Hampshire, I had heard about Brian and the internship and what it represented. It is inspiring that the Fishman’s and USA Hockey continue the internship in the hopes that young students carry on Brian’s legacy as an outstanding, fair, passionate and talented public relations professional. Being mentioned in the same breath as Brian has meant the world to me, and I am grateful for the time I was able to spend learning his trade with USA Hockey.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“While I no longer work in hockey, it continues to be a large part of my life. In terms of my current job, being the Brian Fishman Intern gave me the confidence and composure needed to succeed in any arena. I was given responsibility at a young age and learned to perform up to the level of each challenge. My time with USA Hockey inspired me to work hard, to push for what I believed I could accomplish, and to always challenge myself. I carry that drive with me in my new position.”
Christy Jeffries
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2004-05
Hometown: White Lake, Mich.
Current Position: Manager, Media & Public Relations, USA Hockey
What did the internship mean to you?
“Although I had read a lot about the Brian Fishman Internship and talked to quite a few people involved prior to starting my tenure, I was amazed at the amount of responsibility I had and extremely grateful for the work experience I gained while at USA Hockey. From day one, I accomplished things I had never done before and the entire process was a tremendous learning experience. Looking back, from the time I started to the point that I departed, I grew by leaps and bounds professionally. I know I would not be where I am today if not for the Brian Fishman Internship, USA Hockey and the Fishman family.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
"Upon my departure from USA Hockey, I landed the job of assistant director of athletic communications at my alma mater, Boston University. There, among other duties and sports, I was the contact for the men’s ice hockey team. While the number of years of experience I had at that point was lower than what BU was looking for, the quality of experience I had gained at USA Hockey is what got me the job. I landed running there and had an extremely successful year, then was lured back to USA Hockey as the manager of media and public relations in the summer of 2006. I have now been back at USA Hockey for 2.5 years and absolutely love it. I work primarily with the U.S. Women’s National Program and am looking forward to the Qwest Tour starting this fall and, of course, being with the team at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver.”
Alex Clark
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2005-06
Hometown: Glenview, Ill.
Current Position: Director of Media & Community Relations, Grand Rapids Rampage (AFL)
What did the internship mean to you?
“The Brian Fishman Internship stands alone in its adherence to the principles of its namesake. Those chosen for this internship not only showcase the skills required to break into media relations, but also possess the great passion for sport necessary to excel in it. The Brian Fishman Internship provides an honest avenue for talented young individuals to reach their goals while demanding the key ingredient to survival in the oft-unappreciated world of sports public relations: an undying love of the game.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“I grew a lot during my time as USA Hockey’s Brian Fishman Intern, both as a professional and as a person. The demands of the internship itself thrust responsibility onto my lap and challenged me to face the realities of the working world. Meanwhile, the people at USA Hockey embraced me and helped me gain confidence in my ability to succeed at any stage and in any venue.”
Craig Stancher
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2006-07
Hometown: Laurium, Mich.
Current Position: Website Coordinator, Colorado Avalanche
What did the internship mean to you?
“Your title says intern, but in truth, that doesn’t begin to encompass the vast and varied responsibilities you’ll have during your time at USA Hockey. My year with the organization afforded me the opportunity to grow both as a professional and a person. Working in a hands-on fashion at USA Hockey events, both nationally and on the international level, was an experience I’ll cherish forever. Seeing the fruits of your labor, and knowing that you had a hand in helping to make the event successful, is a reward in itself.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“Perhaps the most underrated aspect of the Brian Fishman Internship is the amount of incredible “hockey people” you’ll have the opportunity to work with during your time with the organization. Aside from hosting a great working environment in its Colorado Springs office, USA Hockey has countless volunteers and liaisons throughout the nation that help to make the organization what it is. Besides learning the ins-and-outs of a PR department, you also have the opportunity to expand your horizons by working with these wonderful people and making lasting connections.”
Chris Peters
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2007-08
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.
Current Position: Coordinator of Media Relations and Marketing, USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program.
What did the internship mean to you?
“The Brian Fishman Internship was probably the greatest experience of my life. As a former hockey player, working for USA Hockey was a dream come true. Being able to meet and work with some of the finest people in hockey is something you can’t really describe. Coming out of college, I knew that I wanted to work in hockey specifically. When I found out about the internship, I made sure that my entire senior year of college was going to put me in a position to get this job. Lucky for me, it worked out and I’ll never forget the day I was informed that I would be the 2007-08 Brian Fishman Intern.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“Without the Brian Fishman Internship, I would not have been able to be where I am right now. I was lucky enough to get hired to be a full-time employee of USA Hockey at its National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich. I’ve taken all of the knowledge and skills that I acquired during the internship and use that on a daily basis at my job now. Having knowledge of the organization and the American hockey structure has proven to be extremely important here. In addition to giving you outstanding work experience, the internship teaches you a lot about life and a lot about yourself. Every day the internship presented a different challenge and pushed me to be better. I found that I was capable of things I never dreamed of based on what I did during the internship. That may have been the most rewarding and most helpful to me, having those life lessons that you can only learn from experience.”
Carly Peters
 Date as Brian Fishman Intern: 2008-09
Hometown: Bloomington, Minn.
Current Position: 10th Brian Fishman Intern
What did the internship mean to you?
“I was ecstatic when I was notified I had been chosen as USA Hockey’s 10th Brian Fishman Intern. It was my absolute first choice for a position out of college and legitimized my decision to focus my education around public relations in the sports industry, particularly in hockey. I am grateful to the Fishman family and USA Hockey for creating a position that allows me to learn something incredibly useful about the industry or American hockey on a daily basis. I know the opportunities I’ve had are a direct result of Brian’s passion for the game and I’ve now seen firsthand how important it is in this industry. As a result of this internship, my professional skill set has grown immensely, as has my belief that I will be successful in my future career.”
How did the internship help you reach your current role?
“Obviously, the internship is my current role. It has already opened doors for me and allowed me to meet with some of the most influential people in the world of hockey, as well as freelance at professional games. I have no doubt that this position has prepared me to succeed later in life. From simple things like improving my writing with a deadline to more complex tasks like creating a media guide, I know that I’ve learned skills that will be extremely beneficial to me as I continue in this industry. At the very least, this internship has allowed me to learn more about American hockey and have more experience in media and public relations than I could have ever hoped for.” |