When you ask Erik Hapke about his favourite Laurier memory, he shares the story of a hockey game. "We put a squad together and played against a team from Mohawk College. The arena felt like it was packed. I scored 2 goals and we won the game."
It should come as no surprise, then, that hockey plays a big part in Erik's daily life still. As the Manager of Corporate Partnerships for both the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club of the NHL and the Edmonton Oil Kings Hockey Club of the WHL, Erik works with a variety of businesses and clients for sponsorships and advertising for the two teams.
"Seeing something new come to life in-venue in front of thousands of fans is very satisfying."
"There are a number of different things that I love about my job, but my favourite is closing a deal with a new partner through a creative package," he says. "Seeing something new come to life in-venue in front of thousands of fans is very satisfying."
Even more satisfying is achieving his goal of a career in sports.
"I realized in my early 20s that the only way I was going to be happy in life and get up every morning excited for work, was if I was going to a job in the sports industry," Erik explains. "I clawed my way through a difficult and interesting path to where I am today, and understanding that there are people chomping at your ankles to get in a position like I have is motivation enough to give my all every day."
As the Oilers move out of the oldest arena in the NHL to the newest, Erik is even more motivated to work hard to help the teams succeed. His excitement at being part of the inaugural season at Rogers Place is palpable.
As part of the Oilers Entertainment Group, Erik says that his time at Laurier was valuable in helping him to get to where he is now. The broad range of knowledge he gained through his contemporary studies degree helped him to think critically and be creative.
Moving to Laurier's Brantford campus taught him how to meet people, gain friendships and navigate in new surroundings—an extremely important and useful experience for his corporate partnerships role where he is maintaining current clients and seeking out new business for the two hockey teams.
For alumni or students interested in pursuing a career in sports, Erik’s advice is to get involved with a team any way you can. "You will most likely need to work as an intern for zero pay for a bit, and then take any job to break in, and then you can navigate from there," he suggests. "For a first paid job in the sports industry, ticket sales is where to start. It is the life blood of every team and it is the best way to gain an understanding of the business of sports. “