Octagon has acquired Larry Kelly's Ottawa-based hockey
agency Kelly Management Group Inc. (KMGI), increasing the
number of Octagon's NHL clients to 70. Red Wings C Steve
Yzerman and Sabres C Doug Gilmour are among KMGI's hockey
clients (Octagon). The SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Liz Mullen
reports that Larry Kelly, an NHL agent for about 20 years,
will become Octagon Dir of Int'l Hockey & Dir of Canadian
Hockey. Octagon Dir of Worldwide Hockey Brian Lawton said
that in addition to KMGI's client roster, "another factor
that made the deal attractive was that it will widen
Octagon's geographic reach," as KMGI has offices in Ottawa
and Helsinki. Kelly will bring three employees with him to
Octagon, increasing the agency's hockey staff to 10. Mullen
writes that the deal "may signal the first big move by
Octagon to establish itself as a major force in representing
athletes in one of the big American team sports"
(SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 10/9). Lawton cited Kelly's
"contacts" in the OHL and his ability to work in Quebec as
benefits of the deal (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 10/10).
