Most of Momentum Hockey's clients, like Lafreniere, have not yet made it to the NHLGETTY IMAGES
USA TODAY's Kevin Allen profiles NHL agent EMILIE CASTONGUAY, who "created a buzz" as one of the league's rare female certified player agents after she signed LW ALEXIS LAFRENIERE, the "likely No. 1 pick" in the '20 draft. A lawyer and former hockey player, Castonguay dove "headfirst into the business side of the sport" and joined Momentum Hockey as part of a "three-agent firm that represents about 60 athletes, most of whom have not yet reached the NHL" (USA TODAY, 11/14).
BUSINESS MOVES: Sports Media Advisors Founder & CEO DOUG PERLMAN celebrates his company's 10th anniversary this month. Growing his business from one to eight employees, Perlman has a "client list that includes the NFL, NASCAR, USTA, EA, Little League, Omnigon and NextVR." Perlman: "I love what we're doing. The work we're doing is incredibly interesting. The team we built is awesome" (SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL, 11/11 issue)....USL club North Carolina FC Owner & Chair STEVE MALIK has "agreed to sell his company, Medfusion," for $43M. The sale comes as Malik has "asked for money" from Raleigh to fund an attempt at "building a soccer stadium south of downtown" (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 11/14).
THE SHOW GOES ON: The Salvation Army confirmed that singer ELLIE GOULDING will perform at its Red Kettle Kickoff, the concert that "takes place during halftime" of the Thanksgiving Day Bills-Cowboys game. Goulding on Tuesday said that she was "considering backing out of the nationally televised performance ... after fans expressed anger on her Instagram over what they viewed as anti-LGBTQ stances adopted by the charity organization" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 11/14).
NAMES: Buccaneers P BRADLEY PINION and his wife, KAELEIGH, announced their new "Punts for Pups" program. They will "sponsor a dog and cover the adoption fees every time he lands a punt inside the 20-yard line." Additionally, any family that "adopts one of the Pinion's sponsored pups will receive a free goodie bag donated from pet supply store Modern Paws with a collar, leash, treats and a Buccaneers identification tag" (TAMPA BAY TIMES, 11/14)....Seahawks QB RUSSELL WILSON will be "recognized for his contributions to cancer research and support" by the Vince Lombardi Cancer Foundation (BIZJOURNALS.com, 11/12)....Retired U.S. skier LINDSEY VONN will be the "special guest and keynote speaker" at the Champions Honors Luncheon benefiting the Barbara Sinatra Center for Abused Children in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on April 10 (Palm Springs DESERT SUN, 11/14)....Senators Owner EUGENE MELNYK in late October "denied the vast majority of 55 assertions" made by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority stemming from a suit by a Connecticut casino to reclaim $1M in gambling debt from him (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 11/14).
