Two Canadian ice-hockey champions have moved to Cardiff to enrol at the city’s world renowned business school.
Mac Faulkner, 29, and Chris Blight, 30, originally from Ontario, Canada competed as collegiate undergraduates at Clarkson University in America before making the move across the pond in order to begin a Masters in Business Administration at Cardiff Business School.
The players were offered the opportunity to apply as part of an on-going relationship between The Cardiff Devils and the Cardiff Business School which sees two Devils players each year enrol on the course.
The partnership has been running for the last 15 years and has seen more than 20 players achieve the qualification. It is also a major part of the Cardiff Devils’ recruitment process to attract new players.
Once complete, the course will enable the players to apply their knowledge to key areas of business and management including the ability to solve practical management problems and develop their communication and self-management skills as well as an understanding of working in an international, global, multicultural and diverse environment.
Martin Kitchener, Dean of Cardiff Business School, said: “Sports players make ideal candidates as they are dedicated and motivated individuals. Through this partnership we want to encourage sports players to continue their academic qualifications and show that pursuing a career in sport and studying at the same time can be done.
“Our MBA offers candidates a well-rounded qualification that covers all aspects of business administration and we hope gives them an unrivalled position in the current economic climate.”
Paul Ragan, CEO of The Cardiff Devils, said: “We want to encourage our players to think beyond their sporting careers and how they can develop other skills.There are a lot of techniques that an academic qualification can help with in a competitive game as well as enhancing a player’s personal development.
“Our association with Cardiff Business School has been a big part of our recruitment process over the past couple of decades and will continue to be a major part in attracting high quality players. It is important for us to nurture key relationships with partners in the city and we look forward to continuing to work with the business school in the future.”
Mac Faulkner, centreman for the Cardiff Devils, commented: “I am delighted to have secured a place on the Cardiff Business School MBA course. I was keen to go somewhere new and this opportunity was definitely one of the reasons why I approached the Devils as a club to play with.
“Not only has my academic ability improved since enrolling on the course, but I think it has also helped in my performance on the ice. It has made me take a more measured and considered approach which I think makes me a more considered player.
“You are only one injury or poor season away from the end of your career so it is important that you plan for the future. Ice hockey is a great career but it is not something you can retire on. This course will enable me to carve a new career once my hockey one is over.”