Even Equipment Managers Have Roles to Play on Championship Teams

Written By Evan Burk

During Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals Monday night, Las Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone broke his stick during play and had to continue playing stick-less while waiting for the right opportunity to sub out.

In the blink of an eye, a turnover created a fast break opportunity the other way for the Golden Knights, but as Stone approached the bench, instead of subbing out for player with an actual hockey stick, a replacement stick appeared from out of the mass of people on the Las Vegas bench. Stone grabbed the stick, lead the fast break opportunity, and made the pass that set up another goal for the Golden Knights.

Where did that stick come from? Golden Knights equipment manager J. W. Aiken sprang into action immediately, replaced the broken stick MID-PLAY as Stone immediately scored on the ensuing fast-break. Check out the ​video​ below

Not only was this an unbelievable moment where an equipment manager can directly impact the play on the ice, but it also illustrates that not matter how small an individual's role is on the team, each individual has a role to play. A great reminder that on teams that win at the highest level, “There are no small roles, only small actors."

Evan Burk

Evan Burk is a speaker, former NFL coach, and podcast host who uses the sports world as his backdrop to engage audiences with thought-provoking lessons of leadership, team-building, and creating championship cultures.

Evan Burk is not your typical football coach. Despite not playing football beyond high school and no network in the coaching profession, Evan's unlikely football journey began as a 4th grade coach, where he quickly worked his way to the NFL in just 6 years, and included coaching for teams such as the Miami Dolphins, UCLA, and SMU.

After spending fifteen-plus years working with the highest-performing athletes, coaches, and teams on the planet, Coach Burk uses his unique football coaching background to teach people how to utilize the same strategies in business and life that elite players and teams use to perform at a world-class level.

Evan received his B.S. in business management from the University of Colorado, and his Master of Liberal Studies degree from Southern Methodist University. He also hosts his own weekly sports leadership podcast, The Highest Level, where he reveals how championship team cultures are built and the keys to leadership excellence at the highest level.

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