For many of us, going on a trip can be as simple as booking flights and hotels and hitting the road. But when you're a 19-year-old Finnish NHL prospect looking to take the next step in your career by playing in the AHL, things get a little more complicated. So, after a season with Ilves (Liiga) in which Jani Nyman won the award for most points by a junior (26-17-43) and set the record for most goals by a player under 20, it was a natural progression. to join the Coachella Valley Firebirds.
And the Kraken got to work.
“We want to do everything we can to make our organization and our players feel like what we have here at the Kraken is different and special,” said Brooke Tanner, executive assistant to the general manager. “We want to show them that they're all drafted, one of our AHL players or one of our professionals, they're all valued throughout the entire organization.”
To that end, the process of helping Nyman take the next step in his career began long before he even stepped on a plane.
Moving from one country to another presents a whole different set of challenges than just doing your job. When it comes to doing this in hockey, it's something the Kraken development team understands completely. Jeff Tambellini, Cory Murphy and Frans Nielsen have all played between Europe and North America as players. While Nyman honed his craft in Finland, it was Nielsen who strengthened the relationship between Nyman and the Kraken: boosting the young forward's confidence in a new language and strengthening communication channels with the player and his family.
With Nyman's playoff run over, it was time to take the next steps and bring him to Coachella Valley. Tanner is the linchpin of the process that helps non-US players get to the United States, not only logistically, but also with the proper immigration and labor paperwork.
“I usually sit down around the beginning of April or mid-March with management, and we go over the players we hope to bring to Coachella once they finish their junior season,” said Tanner. “It gives me time to plan immigration-wise what I need to take care of to get them here in a timely manner. We want to provide all the resources that a player needs to feel comfortable because, for a lot of these younger players who have never done this, it can be a really intimidating process.
While Tanner worked on flights, hotels and visa appointments in Ottawa, Tambellini rounded out a team of people who could help Nyman on his travels. European scout Sasu Hovi helped fill out the mountain of paperwork required; Troy Bodie, Firebirds vice president of hockey operations, would meet with Nyman upon his arrival in Coachella Valley; and amateur scout Chris MacDonald “hosted” the Kraken prospect in Ottawa during the few days he worked through his immigration process.
Everyone involved – including Nyman – was invited to a panel discussion called “The Jani Nyman Adventure.”
The conversation started simply enough. On Sunday, Nyman touched base on his way to his connecting flights. Tanner shared updates on airline changes and asked MacDonald, “Make sure you text as soon as it lands (and reaches you).” »
MacDonald took the suggestion seriously and “thought I'd add a little content to it.”
Right after Nyman texted: “I received my bag!!! » there was a photo of a smiling Nyman, Kraken hoodie, gear acquired and in Ottawa.
