How to Get a Job with an NHL Team

If you’ve ever dreamed of working in professional hockey, understanding how to get a job with an NHL team is the first step to turning that passion into a career. NHL teams operate as independent businesses, with departments in marketing, operations, media, analytics, player development, and more — all of which rely on skilled professionals to keep the organization running smoothly.

From social media coordinators and data analysts to athletic trainers and ticket sales reps, there are countless roles behind the scenes where you can contribute to the game you love. This article will show you exactly how to get a job with an NHL team, covering everything from building experience and education to networking, landing entry-level roles, and growing a long-term career in professional hockey.

What Types of Jobs Are Available with NHL Teams?

Every NHL team is a complex organization with multiple departments that go far beyond the rink. While players and coaches capture the spotlight, hundreds of professionals work behind the scenes to make each game, season, and fan experience possible.

Here are the main areas where teams regularly hire:

• Business Operations: Teams need professionals to manage finances, partnerships, and logistics. Roles include business analysts, accountants, and operations coordinators who ensure the team runs efficiently.
• Marketing and Fan Engagement: These teams handle promotions, digital campaigns, and community outreach. Positions such as marketing coordinators, brand strategists, and event planners focus on growing the fan base and boosting ticket sales.
• Media and Communications: Media relations, broadcasting, and digital content creation are crucial to connecting fans with their favorite players. Opportunities include social media managers, PR assistants, and content producers.
• Game Day and Event Operations: Game day staff handle everything from ticketing and guest services to arena logistics. These are often entry-level NHL team jobs that provide valuable experience and networking opportunities.
• Player Development and Scouting: For those interested in the athletic side of hockey, teams employ scouts, trainers, and analysts who help evaluate and develop talent.
• IT, Data, and Analytics: Modern hockey is driven by data. Teams hire IT professionals, statisticians, and analysts to manage performance data, fan engagement metrics, and digital platforms.

Want to discover more NHL career opportunities? Explore the wide range of NHL jobs and uncover roles that let you contribute to the game you love, from behind-the-scenes operations to marketing, analytics, and player development.

How to Get a Job with an NHL Team: Step-by-Step Guide

Breaking into an NHL team takes strategy, experience, and persistence. Identify the department that fits your skills, apply to openings, tailor your resume, and build hands-on experience through internships, minor league roles, or volunteer work. With effort and networking, entry-level positions can lead to a full-time NHL career.

Here’s how to get started.

1. Identify Your Ideal Department and Role

Each NHL team functions like a full-scale business, with departments in sales, marketing, media, finance, and athletic operations. Start by identifying the type of work that aligns with your skills and interests. For instance:

• Creative and communication-focused? Look into marketing, PR, or social media.
• Analytical and data-driven? Explore analytics, finance, or IT.
• Hands-on and event-oriented? Consider game-day operations or fan engagement.

Having a clear target helps you tailor your resume and search more effectively.

2. Research NHL Team Job Openings Regularly

Most NHL teams post openings on their official websites under “Careers” or “NHL Team Jobs.” You can also stay informed by following teams on LinkedIn, subscribing to email alerts, or monitoring sports industry networks for internship and entry-level opportunities.

Checking regularly ensures you don’t miss time-sensitive openings, especially during busy hiring periods leading up to and during the NHL season.

3. Tailor Your Resume for Sports Organizations

Highlight accomplishments that translate well to the sports industry — leadership, teamwork, communication, and results. Even if your background isn’t directly in hockey, showcase projects or experiences that demonstrate relevant skills, such as managing events, marketing campaigns, or customer relationships. A focused, sports-specific resume helps your application stand out among hundreds of others.

4. Build Connections in the Hockey Community

Networking plays a huge role in landing NHL team jobs. Attend sports business events, connect with alumni who work in hockey, and join professional platforms like The Network by JobsInSports.com. Relationships you build now can lead to valuable referrals or insider job information later.

5. Gain Experience Through Internships or Minor League Teams

If you’re new to the industry, NHL internships or affiliate teams (like those in the AHL or ECHL) are one of the best ways to get your foot in the door. These experiences allow you to learn team operations firsthand, develop industry relationships, and demonstrate your value — all key to securing full-time NHL roles later.

6. Be Persistent and Strategic

The path to an NHL job often requires patience. Don’t get discouraged if you start with part-time, temporary, or game-day positions. Many professionals, from marketing directors to NHL team executives, began in entry-level or support roles and worked their way up. Persistence and professionalism can help you build a lasting career in the league.

Education and Experience to Help You Stand Out

While passion for hockey is important, most NHL team jobs require relevant education and experience. Whether your goal is to work in operations, marketing, or analytics, here’s how to prepare yourself academically and professionally.

Recommended Degrees

• Sports Management: Ideal for understanding the business side of sports, including sponsorships, event management, and fan engagement.
• Marketing or Communications: Perfect for those who want to manage campaigns, social media, or public relations for a team.
• Business Administration: Covers finance, operations, and management — all key to running a successful sports franchise.
• Data Analytics or Computer Science: Increasingly in demand as teams use analytics for player performance, fan insights, and digital engagement.
  

Certifications and Continuing Education

• Boost your resume with relevant certifications. Courses in sports marketing, data analytics, digital media, or event management can show teams that you have the skills they need.
• Use online learning platforms. Platforms like Coursera, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer flexible, affordable programs from recognized institutions.
• Focus on practical skills. Learning to analyze fan engagement, manage social media campaigns, or work with sports data can directly apply to NHL team operations and make you a stronger candidate.

Build a Sports-Focused Resume

• Highlight transferable experience. Include projects, internships, or volunteer work, even if it isn’t hockey-related. For example, managing marketing for a local event demonstrates fan engagement, sponsorship activation, and event promotion skills.
• Show measurable results. Did a campaign increase attendance or social media engagement? Quantify your achievements to make your impact clear.
• Tailor each application. Customize your resume for the role you’re applying to, emphasizing the skills and experience most relevant to NHL team operations.

Gain Real-World Experience

• Start where you are. Work in your university athletics department, local sports leagues, or community events to gain hands-on experience.
• Explore internships and volunteer roles. Minor league or affiliate teams, game-day operations, and local tournaments offer opportunities to learn team operations, fan engagement, and event management.
• Build your network and portfolio. Document your experiences and connections. Real-world experience, even unpaid, demonstrates initiative and helps you stand out to NHL teams.

How to Get a Job with an NHL Team Without Experience

Many people wonder how to break into the NHL job market without prior experience, and the truth is, it’s absolutely possible. The key is to start small, gain relevant skills, and build meaningful connections. Here’s how to get started even if you’re beginning from scratch:

• Start with Internships or Volunteer Opportunities: Internships are one of the most direct ways to get noticed by NHL teams. Teams frequently offer seasonal or game-day internships in marketing, social media, or operations. Volunteering at youth hockey tournaments or local events can also help you build experience and connections.
• Work with Minor League or Affiliate Teams: Many NHL teams have AHL or ECHL affiliates where you can gain experience in a smaller, but still professional, setting. Working for these organizations often provides a stepping stone to NHL opportunities.
• Leverage Transferable Skills: If you’ve worked in sales, marketing, media, or customer service, those skills apply directly to many team jobs. Tailor your resume to highlight achievements that align with team operations, fan engagement, or digital marketing.
• Network Your Way In: Networking remains one of the most effective ways to get hired. Attend sports career fairs, join hockey associations, and connect with professionals on LinkedIn or The Network by JobsInSports.com.

Entry-Level Jobs with NHL Teams

Breaking into the NHL job market often starts with entry-level positions. These roles offer hands-on experience and a pathway to long-term careers.

Here are some of the most common entry-level NHL team jobs:

• Ticket Sales Associate: Help drive revenue and connect directly with fans. Many executives began their careers here.
• Marketing Coordinator: Support marketing campaigns, manage fan events, and assist with sponsorship activation.
• Game Day Staff: Work in guest services, event setup, or hospitality during home games.
• Social Media Assistant: Create and schedule posts, monitor fan engagement, and assist the digital team.
• Data or Statistics Intern: Assist with tracking player or team data, marketing analytics, or ticketing reports.

Starting in these roles gives you firsthand experience working in a professional sports environment and opens doors to full-time positions in operations, marketing, and management.

The Role of Networking in Landing an NHL Team Job

In the sports industry, who you know can be just as important as what you know. Networking is often the key that opens the door to NHL team careers.

How to Build Meaningful Connections

• Join The Network on JobsInSports.com: Connect with sports professionals, recruiters, and hiring managers who regularly post NHL and minor league opportunities.
• Attend Sports Career Fairs and Conferences: Events like the NHL Draft or the Sports Business Journal’s events offer opportunities to meet team representatives in person.
• Engage on LinkedIn: Follow NHL teams, interact with their posts, and connect with staff. Personalized messages can lead to informational interviews or referrals.
• Volunteer or Work Event Roles: Even one game-day volunteer shift can introduce you to key people inside an organization.

Where to Start Your NHL Career

If you’re flexible about location, targeting cities with thriving hockey cultures can improve your chances of landing a job.

Top NHL Teams to Work For

• Toronto Maple Leafs (Canada’s largest hockey market): Major corporate sponsorship opportunities.
• New York Rangers (NYC): Ideal for those interested in media, partnerships, or large-scale operations.
• Chicago Blackhawks (Midwest hub): Known for robust marketing and community engagement programs.
• Tampa Bay Lightning (Sun Belt success story): Growing fan base and award-winning business operations team.
• Vegas Golden Knights (Entertainment-driven model): Perfect for marketing and fan experience roles.

Each of these NHL Teams is housed in a city that has its own team culture and professional dynamic, from traditional hockey powerhouses to expanding markets where growth opportunities abound.

Explore more insights on Top NHL Cities to Work In.

Score Your Next Career Goal with an NHL Team

Working for an NHL team isn’t just about being close to the action. It’s about contributing to something bigger. Start with internships or part-time roles, invest in relevant education or certifications, and build a strong network, since most opportunities come through connections. Persistence and real-world experience will move you closer to your goal.

Take the first step toward your hockey career by signing up with JobsInSports.com. Explore NHL team job listings and connect with industry professionals. Your dream job in hockey could be just one opportunity away. Lace up and get started today.