Monday, December 5, 2016
Union’s Recruiting Pipeline
Mentorship program connects players with alumni for career advice, networking
By Nate Ewell
Hockey fans at all levels are familiar with the idea of a recruiting pipeline, where a team consistently draws talent from a particular source.
That’s certainly true for Union, the 2014 NCAA champions, though in a unique way. The locker room at Achilles Rink has proven to be a fertile recruiting ground for PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the world’s largest professional services firm.
That pipeline is a result of an alumni mentorship and networking program created by former Union players that connects alums with current Dutchmen.
“In every possible way my college hockey experience was wonderful,” said defenseman Brock Matheson (Union 2007-11), who joined PwC after a three-year pro career. “When my playing career was over, I saw how that experience continues thanks to the connections you make with all of those players who came before you.”
The mentorship program isn’t limited to PwC, though that company has proven to be a popular destination. And while it may prove most helpful once student-athletes are looking for a job, the program’s benefits begin much earlier than that.
What’s Next?
“I think all freshmen and sophomores in college are used to people asking, ‘So what do you want to do with your life?’” head coach Rick Bennett said. “This allows our players to connect with alumni early on and start to think about what fields may interest them.”
“It can’t just be that when you’re done playing you pick up a phone and get a job,” said Union alum Chris Sears, who helps lead the program. “We want to raise awareness and create connectivity from the start and try to identify early some opportunities that the guys might be interested in.”
The program isn’t entirely unique – other schools have networking opportunities for current student-athletes, both formal and informal. And every school offers an on-campus career center, something Bennett credits as a perfect complement to mentorship.
But Union’s program is especially well structured. Bennett has an active group of alumni who wanted to connect with the team, and the coach wanted to create a way for his players to develop off the ice. He worked with Chris Sears, a forward for Union in the early ‘90s, to formalize the mentorship program.
“Over the years we have had different iterations of the program we have now,” Sears said. “It’s just a little more formal now. We try to address life after hockey and what that will mean for guys once they get there. We all hang up the jersey someday and it’s on to men’s league or coaching your kids – plus a real job.”
Union-to-PwC
Sears – naturally – works at PwC, and his impact is evident in talking with Matheson or another Union-to-PwC connection, Cole Ikkala of the 2014 championship team.
“There were a lot of great alumni at PricewaterhouseCoopers and it’s a great place to work,” said Ikkala, who has since moved on to Malin Corporation, an investment firm, thanks to another Union connection. “My interview was at the very beginning of the season and having those alums as resources really helps you feel comfortable. Once you are there, having an immediate connection is very reassuring.”
Other alums who have played a key role in the program include former defenseman Scott Boyd, Dalton Menhall and Justin Pallos. Pallos, a recent graduate, is at PwC, while Boyd and Menhall work elsewhere. To be truly beneficial, alumni from a number of different backgrounds have contributed.
“I owe 100% of the credit for my position to the networking efforts of Justin (Pallos) and Chris (Sears),” Matheson said. “I’ve always felt that your teammates in hockey are kind of an extension of your family. With Union College in general, anyone with an association – past or present – is willing to help out anyone else in that group.”
What Employers Want
At PwC – and throughout the business world – the qualities college hockey players develop at the rink can make them valuable as employees.
“First and foremost, they know how to be good teammates,” Sears said. “Very few decisions in the business world are not made in a group environment. At Union and as a college athlete, you are in that environment all the time.
“The work ethic of these athletes is unbelievable,” he added. “The ability to balance multiple tasks is really impressive.”
That’s true of alumni, too, who juggle mentoring with their own jobs and families. All while giving back to the guys who are in the locker room they occupied not too long ago.
An abbreviated version of this story appeared in the January 2016 issue of The Hockey News.