The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Responsibilities

 

A managing director at an investment firm in St. Louis, Missouri, James Giaicin leads strategic initiatives to raise capital for insurance companies. He manages a team of five to 20 people on various projects, whether implementing insurance strategies, creating new product lines, or executing securitizations. James Giaicin has extensive experience in tax and accounting regulations, especially the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).

An independent federal agency founded in 1863, the OCC regulates and supervises the implementation of laws regarding national and world banks operating in the US as well as federally chartered savings associations. The scope of operations lies within monitoring the banks to guarantee safe operation and adherence to stipulated requirements.

The mandate covers capital, management, earnings, asset quality, market risk sensitivity, and community reinvestment. Though the agency is headed by a presidential nominee confirmed by the Senate, Congress does not fund the OCC. It relies on the national banks and the savings associations, who pay for corporate application processing, examinations, and investment income from Treasury securities.

Ice Hockey at the Winter Olympics

 Based in St. Louis, Missouri, James Giacin is the managing director of a finance and asset management solutions firm. Before his time in St. Louis, he served in a similar position with a firm in New York City. Before his work in finance, James Giacin spent ten years as a professional hockey coach and a player on the 1988 and 1989 US Men’s National Hockey Team.

Ice hockey is a staple of the Winter Olympics program and has been featured at every winter event, debuting during the Antwerp Games in 1920. In 1998 the program expanded to include a women’s tournament.

On the men’s side, the sport has been dominated by Canada, Russia, and the United States. Both Canada and Russia have won nine golds, accounting for 18 of the 25 tournaments staged through Beijing 2022. The United States, meanwhile, has won a pair of golds and 11 medals overall, trailing only Canada and Russia’s 16 and 14, respectively.

The women’s medal table looks similar, albeit nearly eight decades younger. Canada has won five gold medals and two silvers in seven appearances, while the United States has won two gold, four silver, and one bronze.

The St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame Honors Hockey Pacesetters

 As the managing director of an investment firm in St. Louis, James Giaicin oversees all structured finance and asset management solutions for insurance companies. Before relocating to St. Louis, James Giaicin worked as a principal of an investment firm in New York. He is also a decorated professional hockey player and coach at the junior, prep school, collegiate, and international levels, and was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019.

The Hall of Fame was created to recognize the hockey pioneers in the city as well as those who support, promote and broaden the reach of amateur hockey in the St. Louis region. It also honors those who have dedicated time and effort to the sport and are living and exhibiting the values of leadership, fairness, sportsmanship, and integrity. Eligibility includes players, managers, referees, and organizers.

The Hall’s board members nominate candidates, while non-board members are required to submit their nominations in writing in line with the format and criteria set by the board. However, no individual or group can be nominated for more than three consecutive years. Nominees failing to win Hall status in the three years are barred from nominations for the following two years.

For selection, the nominee must receive an affirmative vote from at least three-fourths of the board members. All inductee votes are final and not subject to appeal. However, the board members should disclose any relations with the nominee beforehand, like bloodline, marriage, workmate, or business partner.

Differences between Ice Hockey and Field Hockey

 James Giacin is a former ice hockey player who played for the US National Under-17 Team and the Los Angeles Kings. James Giacin was also an ice hockey coach in St. Louis, Missouri.

Although hockey is a popular sport worldwide, the perception of the sport varies depending on the location. Ice hockey is popular in the United States, Eastern Europe, Canada, and the Scandinavian countries, while field hockey is more popular in warmer regions, such as India and central and southern Europe.

Although field hockey and ice hockey share many similarities, such as the use of sticks to score goals, the two games have many differences. For example, ice hockey teams have six players (a goalie, three forwards, and two defensemen), while field hockey teams have 11 players (a goalie, four midfielders, three forwards, and three defenders).

Further, the game’s structure is significantly different. Ice hockey games are divided into three 20-minute periods. This ensures an effective ice surface, which needs maintenance at least twice per game. Field hockey is divided into two 35-minute halves or four 15-minute quarters.

Three Helpful Tips for a First-Time Youth Hockey Coach

 James Giacin is a well-respected hockey player and coach who was inducted into the St. Louis Hockey Hall of Fame in 2019. With a wealth of experience paying at the collegiate and professional levels, James Giacin has also served as head coach for the St. Louis Junior Blues Team until 1997.

As a coach, it is important to be able to effectively supervise a team during practices and games, choose game strategies, and decide which players will participate in the game. For beginner coaches, this can be a daunting task, but there are several tips that can help ensure success.

One of the most important things a beginner coach can do is get to know the players on their team. Building a strong bond with players allows a coach to understand their strengths and weaknesses and identify their individual needs in order to help them become better players. It is also important for a coach to prepare for the season ahead by establishing playing strategies, setting goals and guidelines for the team, and making sure that players have the proper equipment for practice sessions. This demonstrates organization and helps players work towards their individual and team goals.

Another helpful tip for beginner coaches is to outline plans for practice sessions. This includes start times for practices, how to organize the rink, the goals to be achieved at each session, and the preferred warmups and drills for each session. It is also important to make practices immersive and engaging in order to motivate and challenge players.

How to Train as a Hockey Player

 James Giacin is a hockey coach based in St. Louis, Missouri. He is an alumnus of St. Lawrence University in New York and began playing hockey while in college. After earning his degree in 1993, St. Louis resident James Giacin played professionally for 3 years before transitioning to coaching.

Training for hockey requires one to develop strength, mobility, and speed. The sport requires a high level of physical fitness and puts a lot of demand on the body, increasing the risk of injury. Players may need to train more frequently depending on their age, experience level, and specific training goals.

A key aspect of training for hockey is prehabilitation, or prehab, which involves exercises and body movements that address weakness in the body to prevent future injuries. To improve strength and speed, players should focus on exercises that target the legs, such as lunges, squats, and leg curls. Upper body strength can be improved through exercises like bench press, chin-ups, and hammer curls. In addition, incorporating mobility exercises at the end of a training session can help improve balance, flexibility, and overall performance on the ice. By following a well-rounded training regime, players can improve their skills and reduce their risk of injury.

A Look Back at the Los Angeles Kings' 1989 Draft Class

 Since joining the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1967, the Los Angeles Kings have made the playoffs 31 times, won two Stanley Cups, and drafted great players like Butch Goring (1969), Bernie Nicholls (1980), Luc Robitiaille (1984), Rob Blake (1988), and Anze Kopitar (2005). Los Angeles has had many successful drafts throughout its history, but the 1989 NHL Draft was not one of them.

The Kings finished the 1988-89 regular season with 91 points and reached the playoffs before losing in the NHL Divisional Finals. Los Angeles had 12 picks in the 12-round draft the following offseason, but went without its first-round pick. The Western Conference franchise dealt its first-round picks in 1989, 1991, and 1993, along with Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, and $15 million in cash, to the Edmonton Oilers in return for Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley, and Mike Krushelnyski. Only three of Los Angeles' 12 picks in 1989 made the NHL, playing just 205 career games combined. Four of the players the Kings drafted in 1988 and 1990, by comparison, played at least 989 career NHL games.

With its first pick, 39th overall in the second round, the Kings selected defenseman Brent Thompson from the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). The most successful of Los Angeles' 12 picks in the draft, Thompson scored one goal and added 10 assists in 121 career regular season games. He also recorded 352 penalty minutes. Thompson played parts of three seasons with the Kings and later played for the Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes. He has been coaching since the 2003-04 season and is now head coach of the American Hockey League's (AHL) Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The Kings selected defenseman Jim Maher from the University of Illinois-Chicago with its next pick, 81st overall in the fourth round. Neither Maher nor the team's next four picks (Eric Ricard, Tom Newman, Daniel Rydmark, and Ted Kramer) played in the NHL.

Sean Whyte, drafted by the Kings 165th overall in the eighth round of the draft, played a combined 21 games with Los Angeles in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. He later played in the AHL, International Hockey League (IHL), and Central Hockey League (CHL). Los Angeles then selected Jim Giacin (Culver Military Academy) and Martin Maskarinec (Sparta Praha) with its next two picks, but neither of these players made the NHL.

Jim Hiller, the only other player the Kings selected to play in the NHL, recorded 20 points in 63 games with the Kings, Detroit Red Wings, and New York Rangers. He had 12 points in 40 games for the Kings as a rookie in 1992-93. Hillier has been coaching since 2002-03 and joined the Kings coaching staff as an assistant for the 2022-23 season after three seasons as an assistant with the Islanders.

Los Angeles also drafted Steve Jacques (Tri-City Americans) and Kevin Sneddon (Harvard University) in 1989. The Quebec Nordiques had the first overall pick in the draft and selected Swedish center Mats Sundin, who went on to record 1,349 points in 1,346 career regular season games. Four other players (Stu Barnes, Bill Guerin, Bobby Holik, and Mike Sillinger) drafted in the first round played at least 1,000 games in the NHL.

The St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame 2022 Inductees

 Headquartered in St. Charles, Missouri, the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame (SLAHHOF) is an organization that honors those who have helped grow the sport of ice hockey in St. Louis and surrounding areas. Its inaugural class of inductees in 2008 included players Mark Smith and David Bates, as well as Bud Stege (coach), Charles Busenhart (coach), Eddie Olson (coach), Herman Kriegshauser (administrator), Tom Hurster (administrator), Bill McKenna (referee), and James Jost Sr. (builder).

The SLAHHOF hosted its 14th induction ceremony on Saturday, August 20, at the St. Charles Convention Center. The six-member class included four players (Dan Herr, Brandon Bollig, Neil Komadoski, Aaron Vickar), referee Jim Kehm, and builder Tom Zimmerman. A graduate of Hazelwood Central High School, Herr played roller hockey in his youth and won five gold medals at nationals. Herr later coached ice hockey in St. Louis for three decades.

Bollig, a 35-year-old native of St. Charles who played for the Triple-A Blues, spent two seasons with St. Lawrence University before beginning his pro career with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2009-10. Bollig made his National Hockey League (NHL) debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2011-12 and played parts of three seasons with the team, winning a Stanley Cup in 2013. He also spent two seasons with the Calgary Flames. Bollig recorded an NHL career-best 14 points with the Blackhawks in 2013-14. He announced his retirement in 2019 after two more seasons in the AHL.

Bollig wasn't able to attend the ceremony, but recalled memories of growing up playing hockey in the St. Louis area in a video shot beforehand. He remembers standing in the line in an "old-school" rink and sorting through hand-me-down ice hockey equipment: "To think starting there and ultimately ending and realizing that I was able to accomplish a childhood dream is an honor. And the fact that it's recognized here means a lot to me."

Komadoski is a veteran of 502 career NHL regular season games who was born in Canada but later played for the St. Louis Blues. He made his NHL debut with the Los Angeles Kings in 1972-73 and spent six seasons with the team before joining the Blues in 1977-78. Komadoski recorded 25 points in 124 career regular season games with the Blues. His son, Neil Jr., was drafted by the Ottawa Senators and is now a scout for the Vancouver Canucks.

Vickar, born in St. Louis in 1976, played two seasons of college hockey each with the University of North Dakota and Lake Forest College. The 6-foot-1 goaltender last played for the Missouri River Kings of the United Hockey League in 2001-02.

Selected to the SLAHHOF in the builder category, Zimmerman helped save the Meramec Sharks hockey program from bankruptcy and grow it into the regional power it is today. He also led a high school program to win four state championships in six years and has helped grow the sport in St. Louis for more than five decades.

Kehm, meanwhile, refereed his first game while still playing youth hockey in St. Louis and later worked as a referee in the Central Hockey League. He also refereed a handful of NHL games.

St. Lawrence University Alumni Who Played in the NHL

 

Founded in 1925, the men's ice hockey team at St. Lawrence University has a decorated history that includes playing in two NCAA national championship games and winning seven conference tournament titles, the most recent of which occurred in 2021. Known as the Saints, the team has also produced 25 players who have gone on to play in at least one National Hockey League (NHL) game.

Gary Croteau is the most accomplished former Saint in the NHL based on both total games played, goals, and assists. Croteau leads all St. Lawrence alumni with 144 goals and 175 assists for 319 points in 684 career NHL regular season games. Crouteau recorded 105 points through three seasons with the Saints from 1965-68 and played for six teams, including the Los Angeles Kings and California Golden Seals, through 12 seasons in the NHL. Croteau had a career-best season in 1976-77, recording 51 points in 78 games with the Colorado Rockies.

Rich Peverley ranks second among St. Lawrence alumni in points in the NHL. Peverley spent four seasons with the Saints and registered 42 points in 41 games as a senior in 2003-04. He played three seasons in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL) and American Hockey League (AHL) before making his NHL debut with the Nashville Predators in 2006-07. Peverley later played for the Atlanta Thrashers, Boston Bruins, and Dallas Stars. He finished his NHL career with 84 goals and 157 assists for 241 points in 442 career games. He also had 21 points in 59 playoff games.

Jamie Baker and Eric Lacroix are the only two other former Saints to record at least 100 points in the NHL. Baker made his NHL debut with the Quebec Nordiques in the 1989-90 season and recorded 150 points in 404 career games with the Nordiques, Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, and Toronto Maple Leafs. Lacroix, meanwhile, was a seventh-round draft pick of the Maple Leafs in 1990 who went on to record 137 points in 472 games with Toronto, Los Angeles, the Colorado Avalanche, New York Rangers, and Ottawa.

Gary Laskoski is one of four goaltenders who played for the Saints to make the NHL and leads all goalies in games played with 59. Laskoski played 46 games for the Kings during the 1982-83 season and finished the year with a win-loss-tie record of 15-20-4 to go along with a 4.56 goals-against average (GAA) and .857 save percentage. Mike McKenna, who ranks second with 35 games played, was the last former Saint to appear in an NHL game. He started one game for the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2018-19 season.

Defenseman Gavin Beyreuther was the only St. Lawrence alumni on an NHL roster to begin the 2022-23 season. A native of Canaan, New Hampshire, Bayreuther recorded at least 17 points in each of his four seasons with the Saints and began his pro career with the Texas Stars of the AHL in 2016-17. He had 14 points in 71 career regular season games entering the 2022-23 season, his third with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Other notable former Saints who played in the NHL include Brandon Bollig, Kevin O'Shea, Kent Carlson, John Zeiler, and David Saunders.

The Life and Career of Hockey Legend Maurice Richard

 

Joseph Henri Maurice Richard, known by his famous nickname 'The Rocket,' was a professional hockey player and icon. Richard played 18 seasons of the National Hockey League as a member of the Montreal Canadiens and is remembered for his feats in goal-scoring.

Richard was the oldest of eight children and was born on the 4th of August 1921 in Quebec. He received his first pair of ice skates when he was four, and he grew up playing hockey on small rivers with his school and neighborhood friends. When he was older, Richard played in various amateur leagues while studying to become a machinist. He also used pseudonyms such as 'Maurice Rochon' to circumvent rules that limited players to just one team. In one league, he guided his team to three consecutive championships and scored 133 out of 144 goals in their 1938-1939 season.

At the age of eighteen, Richard joined the Junior A Verdun Maple Leafs team as a rookie. He played for only a little time in the regular season but managed to score four goals in ten season games and six additional goals in four playoff games. In 1940, he signed with the Habs' Farm Team, an associate of the Montreal Canadiens. His first game as a member of this team was in the Quebec Senior Hockey league, but it resulted in a broken ankle after he was smashed into the boards. He forfeited the rest of the season due to this injury, and it also killed his desire to enlist in the military, as he was considered unfit for combat in 1941.

Richard healed in time for the 1941-42 season, but was again injured during a game. However, his skills in the Quebec Senior Hockey League earned him a tryout with the Montreal Canadiens, and he made his NHL debut with the team in the 1942-43 season with sweater number fifteen. Again, Richard was sidelined by injury after his first sixteen games. This series of injuries led to plenty of criticism about his ability to play in a league. This motivated him, and after intensifying his training, he returned for the next season fully healthy.

The 1943-44 season was Richard's first full NFL season, and it halted the criticism of his career. He played in 46 out of 50 season games, scored 32 goals, and with 54 tallied points, was the third-best player on his team. His coach teamed him up with team members Toe Blake and Elmer Lach, and the trio became known as the "Punch Line," a powerful scoring team throughout the 1940s. In a semi-final game against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Richard scored a record five goals, and he was named the first, second, and third star of the game. This was his first of 14 consecutive years where he was named a league all-star.

In the 1944-45 season, Richard scored a record 50 goals in one season, a feat that became a prominent achievement in NHL history and stayed intact for more than three decades. This was one of his many record-breaking achievements, and at the time of his retirement in 1960, he was the league's highest scorer of all time with 544 goals. Maurice Richard was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961, and that same year, the Canadiens retired his playing number. In 1999, the NHL revealed the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, bestowed upon the season's highest goal scorer. Richard died from cancer in the year 2000, and he was accorded a state funeral, the first given to an athlete.

Understanding Asset Management

 Asset management is the process of acquiring, investing, managing, and disposing of assets. Asset managers work with high-value investors, governments, insurers, charities, and pension funds to increase their wealth. Moreover, asset managers help clients mitigate risk according to their risk tolerance.

Asset management enables companies and individuals to keep track of their assets. Asset managers record their clients’ fixed and liquid assets, including locations, use, and significant changes made to these assets. After understanding clients’ needs, asset managers help them identify investments that can achieve their wealth goals.

Moreover, asset managers help clients identify and manage risk. Managers analyze an investor’s portfolio to highlight the risk of owning or operating certain assets. This allows investors to plan for unforeseen events and devise proactive measures to prevent interruptions to their profits.

Asset management also helps identify ghost investments in a company’s or investor’s inventory. Ghost investments are damaged, stolen, or lost without the owner’s knowledge. Asset managers help clients identify these ghost investments and eliminate them from their books to get clear pictures of the portfolios.

Lastly, asset management improves compliance with government regulations. Companies must share information with the government about their assets, such as how they use them and their disposal. Asset managers collect this information for their clients and store it in centralized databases. Companies can print these records for the government at the end of every financial year or upon request.

Popular asset managers include financial, real estate, and digital asset management (DAM). Financial asset managers acquire stocks, bonds, futures, and derivatives and use a specific market approach to increase their clients’ wealth.

Asset managers advise clients on the appropriate financial instruments to achieve their investment goals while considering their risk preferences. Managers specify the best times to acquire and trade these assets, handle their clients’ cash, and control budgets and expenses.

Real estate asset managers handle clients’ property portfolios to increase their value. Asset managers advise their clients on properties to acquire, such as commercial, residential, and mixed-use houses.

Additionally, asset managers suggest relevant approaches to raise the value, including leasing, renting, selling, partitioning, or renovating a property. Companies and investors like real estate investments because they appreciate and hedge against inflation. Real estate asset managers also advise clients on portfolio diversification, hire property managers, and manage the portfolio’s cash flow.

Digital asset managers handle their clients’ digital content and media, including websites, social media platforms, and intellectual property. These asset managers ensure easy access to a company’s digital resources, identify opportunities for asset repurposing, control resource access, and oversee the asset’s safety.

Companies are competitive, necessitating brand consistency to build authority and customer trust. DAM centralizes digital assets, enabling sales and marketing departments to create consistent brand messages and imagery. Customers perceive organizations with consistency as authoritative and trustworthy, influencing their brand loyalty.

Technological advancements are enabling clients to receive automated asset management services from robo-advisors. These resources use algorithms to create and manage investment portfolios with little human engagement. This option is appropriate for novice investors and those seeking cost-effective asset management services.

An Overview of Strategic Partnerships

 Strategic partnerships are contracts between independent companies to cooperate in different business areas. The partnerships take different forms, including joint ventures, minority equity investments, and nontraditional contracts, such as those about joint research and development (R&D). Companies often look for partners with complementary resources or capabilities to gain access to new markets or technology. Companies also may want to share infrastructure and intellectual property or reduce risk.

Strategic partnerships offer each partner the chance to increase business and reduce expenses. The partners remain independent, but both types are noncompeting businesses that often share the rewards and risks of the decisions made by both companies. A strategic partner usually offers services that the other party lacks or can extend to the clients of the other.

Strategic partnerships can expand service functionality, customer base, and overall reach. As such, these partnerships can be beneficial to both startups and established companies. Nestlé, for example, changed its strategy to a partnership-based model in R&D and innovation to fight product imitation and growing competition. Starbucks and Google have worked together for mutual benefits, as have Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. And the pharmaceutical and automobile industries have many examples of partnerships that have grown out of need, leading to mutually beneficial relationships.

Another benefit of a partnership is creating and increasing brand awareness. Partnering with well-established companies offers new companies more branding and logo exposure. Such strategic partnerships create curiosity among consumers. Also, strategic partnerships can enhance brand trust. When people see that a company can work well with partners, their trust increases.

Some companies that appear to have nothing in common have formed strategic partnerships that creatively expand their audience. For example, although Spotify’s music-streaming service does not seem to have anything in common with Uber’s ride-sharing app, the two companies formed a partnership. Uber riders can manage their music with Spotify, while Spotify extends its unique service into a new and busy marketplace.

Although strategic partnerships can be a good way to learn from leading firms in a given industry or field, inevitably, they involve challenges that must be sufficiently addressed to ensure the success and longevity of the collaboration. Conflict areas may include isolating proprietary knowledge, processing multiple knowledge flows, poor governance processes, and disagreements about the central goal of the relationship.

Other potential partner conflict areas include language and culture, poor communication between partners, the inability to identify and adapt when circumstances or markets change, and misrepresenting or even lying about the competencies partners bring to the table. The worst scenario is when one partner fails to commit to the partnership or doesn’t use their complementary resources for mutual benefit.

The solution lies in defining the lines of engagement for the partnership well in advance and taking proactive steps to nurture them. The partners must invest considerable energy and time to create a successful and durable alliance. The partners must develop a comprehensive plan that outlines expectations, benefits, and requirements. Examples include emphasizing accountability and using pre-determined metrics to gauge the success of the partnership. In addition, the partnership must be periodically reviewed to ensure the objective is still relevant or whether a revision of the partnership terms is needed.

LA Kings' Picks in the 1989 NHL Draft

Coming off of a season in which it finished fourth in the National Hockey League's (NHL) Smythe Division and lost in the Division Finals to the Edmonton Oilers, the Los Angeles Kings had a relatively inauspicious performance at the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. The team had 12 selections in the 12-round draft but was without its first-round pick after including it in a trade package for Wayne Gretzky on August 8, 1988. As a result, only three of the selected players went on to play in the NHL.

Los Angeles selected defenseman Brent Thompson with its first pick, 39th overall in the second round. A native of Calgary, Canada, Thompson recorded 13 points and 160 penalty minutes in his draft year with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Hockey League (WHL). He made his NHL debut with the Kings in 1991-92 and recorded five points and 89 penalty minutes through 27 contests. He split three seasons between the Kings and their International Hockey League affiliate in Phoenix and later played for the Winnipeg Jets.

Thompson last played in the NHL in 1996-97 with the Phoenix Coyotes but has remained involved in the sport ever since. He played 635 games in the American Hockey League (AHL) and was captain of the AHL's Providence Bruins in 2004-05. He began coaching in the AHL in the 2005-06 season and has been head coach of the Bridgeport Sound Tigers since the 2014-15 season. He also spent two seasons as an assistant coach with the New York Islanders in the NHL.

Sean Whyte and Jim Hiller are the only other two players the Kings drafted in 1989 to play in the NHL. Whyte, an eighth-round pick, played 21 games for the Kings in the 1991-92 and 1992-93 seasons. He last played professional hockey with the Phoenix Mustangs of the WCHL in 2000-01.

Hiller, meanwhile, was selected in the 10th round and spent the following three seasons as a standout winger at Northern Michigan University, where he compiled 205 points in 123 games. He recorded 12 points in 40 games during his rookie season with the Kings in 1992-93 but was dealt midseason to the Detroit Red Wings as part of a multi-player trade that brought Jimmy Carson back to Los Angeles. Hiller played 21 games with Detroit and two games with the New York Rangers in 1993-94. He coached 10 years in the WHL and has been an assistant coach in the NHL since the 2014-15 season.

Los Angeles selected defenseman Jim Maher with its second pick, 81st overall in the fourth round. Maher spent four seasons at the University of Illinois-Chicago and played three seasons in the minor leagues but never reached the NHL. The Kings' other picks included defenseman Eric Ricard, goaltender Tom Newman, forward Jim Giacin, and defenseman Kevin Sneddon. The team selected six defensemen, five forwards, and one goaltender.

Mats Sundin was the first overall pick in the 1989 NHL Entry Draft. Selected by the Quebec Nordiques, Sundin accumulated 1,349 points in 1,346 regular-season games before retiring after the 2008-09 season. Only two other players in the 1989 draft class (Nicklas Lidstrom and Sergei Fedorov) exceeded 1,000 career regular-season points.

The Most Recent Inductees to the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame

Missouri is a burgeoning hockey community with more than 6,200 USA Hockey members and is home to the St. Louis Blues National Hockey League (NHL) franchise. Many players from the state have gone on to play college and professional hockey. Wanting to honor players, coaches, executives, and officials who have contributed to the game’s growth in the state, Scott Rupp launched the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008. The inaugural class featured David Bates, Bud Stege, Eddie Olsen, Herman Kriegshauser, Tom K. Hurster, and Charlie Busenhart.

There are now 90 people in the St. Louis Amateur Hockey Hall of Fame in the following categories: player, coach, administrator, builder, and referee. There was no induction ceremony in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ralph Taylor (builder), Yan Stastny (player), Tom Shinabargar (player), Tony Sansone (builder), Wayne Neis (player), Joe Lunny (player), and Jamie Husgen (player) were inducted as part of the Class of 2020.

Taylor, inducted posthumously, was born in Canada in 1905 and played for the New York Rangers and Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. He also played for teams in the International Hockey League (IHL) and American Hockey League (AHL). Taylor last played for the AHL’s St. Louis Flyers and later served the team as a color commentator. He spent his retirement in St. Louis and was highly involved in youth athletics until he died in 1976. Most notably, he co-founded the Missouri Amateur Hockey Association.

Yan Stastny was also born in Canada but relocated to St. Louis, Missouri, when he was 10 years old after his father, Peter, signed with the St. Louis Blues. Yan played for the Junior B St. Louis Jr. Blues and Junior A St. Louis Sting in his youth and won the Clark Cup and Gold Cup National Championship with the Junior A Omaha Lancers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). He later played two seasons at the University of Notre Dame and was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Yan played 91 games in the NHL, including 50 with the Blues, and represented the United States in the IIHF World Championships in 2005, 2006, and 2011.

Shinabarger, meanwhile, took an interest in hockey after watching the Blues and went on to play in the USHL and for Division-III Bemidji State University. The defenseman concluded his three-year stint at the school with 80 points in 103 games. He was named one of the team’s 50 greatest players in 2006.

Sansone played hockey at the high school level but was inducted as a builder for creating the Blues Special Hockey program, formerly known as Gateway Locomotives, in 1994. The program was the first in the United States to offer organized hockey instruction for individuals with developmental disabilities.

In his childhood, Neis played sports with the Boys Club of St. Louis and was a talented floor hockey player during the 1980s and early 1990s. Lunny, who relocated to St. Louis with his parents in the early 1960s, played youth hockey in the city and later played alongside fellow St. Louis Hall of Fame inductee Mike Robben at the College of the Holy Cross where he remains the school’s all-time leading scorer. He later played in the IHL and East Coast Hockey League. Husgen, a 12th-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets in 1983, signed a contract with the team in 1987 and spent two seasons with the Moncton Hawks in the AHL.

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Everything to Know About the Series 7 Exam and License

While most prominent investment firms only hire professionals with post-secondary degrees, graduating from college isn’t a requirement to becoming a stockbroker. Prospective stockbrokers do, however, need to pass the Series 7 exam, also known as the General Securities Representative Qualification Examination, in order to qualify to legally purchase or sell securities products such as municipal fund securities, corporate securities, options, and variable contracts. Series 7 exam candidates need to be sponsored by a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) member firm.

As of October 1, 2018, exam candidates also need to complete the Securities Industry Essentials (SIE) exam. This is an introductory-level exam that covers a variety of securities topics and was designed to measure each candidate’s knowledge of fundamental concepts, securities products and their risks, and prohibited practices, among other topics. The SIE is a 75-question exam with questions in the following four sections: Knowledge of Capital Market; Understanding Products and Their Risks; Understanding Trading, Customer Accounts, and Prohibited Activities; and Overview of Regulatory Framework.

While Series 7 exam candidates need to be sponsored by a FINRA member firm to take the test, there are no requirements for individuals to take the SIE. Once a person completes the SIE, they have four years to complete the Series 7 exam or other top-off exams like the Series 6 (Investment Company Representative), Series 57 (Securities Trader), or Series 82 (Private Securities Offerings Representative).

Before FINRA introduced the SIE, the Series 7 exam was composed of 250 questions spanning five major job functions. Candidates had to pay $305 to take the exam and had six hours to complete it. Now, the exam contains 125 multiple choice questions and has a time limit of 3 hours and 45 minutes. Exam registration is $245 and the passing score is 72 percent.

The 150 multiple choice questions are broken down into the following sections: 91 questions in Provides Customers with Information about Investments, Makes Suitable Recommendations, Transfers Assets, and Maintains Appropriate Records; 14 questions in Obtains and Verifies Customers’ Purchase and Sales Instructions and Agreements; Processes, Completes, and Confirms Transactions; 11 questions in Opens Accounts after Obtaining and Evaluating Customers’ Financial Profile and Investment Objectives; and nine questions in Seeks Business for the Broker-Dealer from Customers and Potential Customers.

Once a candidate passes the Series 7 exam, they are permitted to sell covered products and activities such as mutual funds, stocks and bonds, exchange-traded funds, direct participation programs, municipal securities, and real estate investment trusts. They are not, however, authorized to sell real estate or life insurance products.

Some states also require stockbrokers and investment professionals to complete the Series 63 exam, in addition to the Series 7, to sell securities. Also known as the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam, the 65 multiple choice question test covers specific state laws and regulations and is developed by the North American Securities Administrators Association. FINRA administers the exam.

Those looking to earn their Series 7 license can complete the exam online by filling out and submitting the FINRA Online Exam Administration Request Form. In-person tests are also offered at select locations. There is no physical documentation for proof of exam completion. Instead, employers can access a current or prospective worker’s credentials via FINRA’s Central Registration Depository.

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How to Choose a Professional Hockey Agent

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a multi-billion dollar business. In the 2019/2020 season, the league generated $4.4 billion in revenue. Projections suggest the NHL will make up to $5 billion for the 2021/2022 season. Potential professional hockey players must understand these revenue figures for contract negotiations. Knowing how much the league, and its various franchises, earn helps you determine your value.

Professional sports agents exist to represent your interests during every stage of your professional career. Agents negotiate contracts on behalf of their players and offer career guidance. Of course, there are good and bad agents. As a professional hockey player, you need to know what to look for before signing on with a new agent.

National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) certification is the primary concern. Any sports agent acting on behalf of a professional hockey player must hold this certification. The NHLPA has Agent Regulations, which define the terms under which a certified agent performs their duties. These regulations also contain codes of conduct that agents must follow. If a player is unsure about their prospective agent’s certification status, they can find a list of all certified agents on the NHLPA website. Avoid any agent who is not NHLPA-certified as they may not act in your best interests.

There are several traits to consider beyond the agent’s certification. Honesty is vital in all interactions between a player and their agent. Players trust agents to oversee sensitive financial information, meaning your agent must be transparent with you at all times. A good agent discloses all relevant information to their client, including bad news related to failed negotiations and negative feedback. Be wary of any agent that showers you with praise without discussing the less positive elements of their work. A good understanding of your abilities helps determine if an agent makes false promises.

Availability is also a critical concern. There is little point in having an agent if you cannot reach them when you need to discuss an issue. Though agents often juggle several clients at once, they should always be quick to respond to your queries. Good agents provide regular updates to their players, particularly regarding negotiations.

Beyond examining their certification status, conducting background checks on the agent is also beneficial. Check the agent’s website to ensure they present themselves professionally. Do the same for their social media accounts. Your agent represents you, meaning you must understand how the agent presents themselves on all channels.

Finally, speak to other agents besides the one you’re considering working with. The best agents maintain extensive networks that include other agents. Your goal here is to determine whether other people in the industry have heard of or worked with your prospective agent. You can also use these conversations to get a broad view of the agent’s reputation within the industry.

Professional hockey players make big decisions when signing on with a sports agent. You must feel confident that your agent will represent your best interests regarding your finances. Plus, the agent must present themselves in a way that benefits your career and personal brand. By following the above guidelines, you ensure that you work with an agent who serves your career.

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Differences Between Mergers & Acquisitions

Mergers and acquisitions are corporate strategies designed to increase a company's capabilities. They're often referred to collectively as M&A. However, there are some critical differences between mergers and acquisitions that those working corporate roles must understand.

Mergers empower companies by enabling them to share technology, resources, and information. A merger involves at least two companies making the strategic decision to combine their resources. Typically, this leads to the formation of one company under a new name, which then issues shares as a new entity. The goal is to create a singular entity with fewer weaknesses and a stronger position in the market. Mergers are usually friendly, with all companies agreeing to the terms because they're mutually beneficial.

With an acquisition, one company purchases another. The purchase typically involves buying at least 50 percent of the shares of the business it is acquiring. An acquisition may not always occur on friendly terms, especially if the owners of the purchased company do not want the acquisition to happen. In these scenarios, an acquisition can become a hostile takeover. However, many acquisitions get conducted civilly, with both sides agreeing to the purchase.

Beyond the differences related to the transaction, several other variances exist. In a merger, all parties work together to create an effective company structure. This work often involves combining the most efficient processes each company has to create a new set of standards and procedures. Acquisitions may involve the same level of collaboration. However, they may often lead to the acquiring company imposing its structure onto the purchased company. The acquiring company may also make changes to the staffing and resource management of the purchased company.

There are also differences between the purposes behind each strategy. Companies often choose to merge because they see the act to decrease competition, thus increasing the merged entity's market share. Mergers can also improve operational efficiency due to the collaborative strategic approach taken. For acquisitions, fast growth is often the main reason behind the acquiring company's decision. The acquiring business gains access to more staff by purchasing a similar company, thereby increasing its market share and potentially eliminating a competitor.

In acquisitions, the acquiring company can dictate the terms of the arrangement. In some cases, the purchased company has very little say, especially if the acquisition occurs due to the purchase of shares. Again, mergers differ here due to a more collaborative approach. The terms defined in a merger typically serve all parties, splitting the benefits between each company to create a more even share of power.

Mergers and acquisitions are good ways for companies to increase their market share. However, collaboration lies at the heart of a merger, resulting in a new entity that is ideally stronger than the individual firms involved. Acquisitions are quicker and enable instant growth for the acquiring company. Still, they come with complications related to restructuring the purchased company that may make the process more challenging. Before deciding on a course of action, company leaders must carefully weigh up the pros and cons of each choice to determine if a merger or acquisition will leave them in a stronger position.

Exploring a Typical First Day at an NHL Training Camp

The National Hockey League (NHL) teams hold training camps annually to prepare for the coming season. Typically beginning in mid-September, these camps provide players with a chance to hone their skills and achieve match fitness. For fans, NHL training camp can also offer the opportunity to get the first glimpse of a new signing or see a fan-favorite player make their preparations.

Coaches use training camps to analyze new players. The camps allow recent draft picks to showcase their skills and prove they can measure up to the established professionals who are already playing. To maximize training camps, a new draft pick or camp invite must enter the camp with some knowledge of what to expect.

Before getting on the ice, players will take part in off-ice testing. Usually lasting for about 60 minutes, this session consists of a battery of exercises that test the player’s physical endurance. Exercises include timed sprints and a vertical jump test, which help determine the player’s leg strength and endurance. Many camps also use a single-leg squat test for the same purpose. This exercise involves squatting the largest weight you can carry on a single leg for five repetitions. Players complete these reps on each leg.

You may undertake maximum pullup and pushup tests during this period too. Both involve completing the exercise to the rhythm of a metronome. The player keeps going until they cannot complete the pullup or pushup in time.

Finally, the off-ice session ends with some machine-based tests. Players may take a treadmill VO2 test, in which they make repeated sprints with constantly decreasing recovery times. Like the pullup and pushup tests, this treadmill exercise repeats until the player can’t go anymore. The coaches may also ask the player to take part in a Wingate Test, a 30-second sprint using a custom-designed bike set to maximum tension.

With this battery of off-ice tests completed, on-ice tests begin. Usually starting at approximately 9:30 am, these exercises allow players to demonstrate their capabilities on the ice. Again, the specific tests vary depending on the team. However, they typically involve engaging in various sprints. These include -sprints from the goal line to the blue sprint line and a test to see how many sprints you can complete to the center red line and back before stopping. Your endurance also gets tested with a multi-lap endurance exercise.

The on-ice session concludes at 11 am, with the player allowed to recover for the rest of the day. Recovery exercises include ice water baths, cool-down exercises, massages, and foam rolling. All recovery exercises relieve the muscles and prevent injury. Players should always participate in these recovery sessions as the activities prepare their bodies for the challenges they’ll face later in the camp.

The first day of an NHL training camp pushes your body to its limits. It’s also a competitive day, as coaches will compare your results to other players’ results to see who can give the most on game days. Understanding the types of tests, you will take part in allows you to prepare appropriately.

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Insurance Contributes to Economic Growth

Insurance is a financial concept developed to protect individuals and businesses from loss and uncertainty. It primarily sought to eliminate or mitigate the effects of these losses. However, over time, insurance has proven to be of immense importance to people and businesses and the growth of the national economy.

Insurance companies fund long-term infrastructural investments in the United States and help small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) fund business activities. For example, they assist MSMEs in purchasing land, buildings, and equipment.

Insurance companies are quite different from other investors because they often focus on long-term liabilities and investments. Insurance companies in the United States often focus on long-term investments when they invest in policyholder premiums, expecting future claims. Therefore, their interest in long-term investments ensures that they stabilize the capital market. They also make a long-term investments in critical sectors like public education and real estate.

Similarly, insurance plays an essential role in the capital markets. Insurance companies have a substantial amount of share assets in the capital market. These classes of assets range from municipal bonds to corporate bonds. Possession of these assets allows insurance companies to ensure financial liquidity in the economy. Insurance companies in the United States often invest in less traded bonds, giving them a long-term investment advantage.

Further, insurance companies have the most significant investment in quoted shares, debt securities, monetary financial institutions (MFIs), and other financial intermediaries (OFIs). However, insurance companies play a more important role in debt securities than quoted shares. Debt securities are essential to the economy because they guarantee the repayment of principal and interest over loans.

The insurance sector continues to play an important role in credit protection. Most insurers have credit default swaps (CDS). CDS is a financial mechanism that permits investors to swap their credit risk or default with another investor. Among other things, CDS ensures a smooth flow of credit in the economy.

Insurance companies often keep a close eye on the insured objects to maximize their profit. For instance, an insurance company providing fire insurance will ensure that adequate fire safety measures are put in place to protect insured lives and properties. This eventually reduces economic losses that might be sustained due to fire disasters.

Uncertainty is one of the banes of economic productivity. Insurance often helps remove the uncertainties of human life and the uncertainties of doing business. Insurance often provides safety and assurance against any fear of sudden loss. This assurance allows businesses to thrive and employ more workers, contributing to economic growth.

Insurance companies equally collect premiums from individuals and businesses to be insured. The revenues from premiums are then used to invest in government stock and securities. By investing in government stock and securities, insurance companies help the government generate revenue that helps achieve industrial development and create job opportunities, which results in capital formation.

Insurance also drives economic growth by encouraging domestic savings. Most people systematically save their money because they must pay a premium over their insured properties. Therefore, the insured individual or business can access the lump sum when the contract is mature, similarly by transferring the risk of specific business endeavors to the insurer.

Mike Modano – An American Hockey Legend

Mike Modano is, undoubtedly, one of America’s finest hockey players of all time. For over 20 years, he led American hockey to some of its most remarkable achievements. He established unbreakable records in the National Hockey League(NHL).

Michael Thomas Modano Jr. was born on June 7, 1970, to Michael Sr. and Karen Modano in Livonia, Michigan. He grew up in Highland township, and because of his rebellious behavior at school, a friend of his father advised placing Modano in a team sport to help him gain control. Michael, Sr., a hockey enthusiast, chose to teach ice skating to Modano, who was seven years old at the time and quickly mastered the game and succeeded.

His early success led his family to relocate to Westland as a kid, and as a compliment to Ted Williams, a hero of his Boston Red Sox fan father, and the Red Wings’ own Gordie Howe, he chose the number nine for his jersey. When Modano turned 18, he was picked by the Minnesota North Stars as their #1 choice in the NHL entry draft. Mike was the second American player to be selected #1, Brain Lawson’s first in 1983.

Modano had to grind his way up in hockey before becoming an American great. He spent five years with Minnesota before the team relocated to Dallas soon before the 1993-94 season. He guided the stars in their pursuit for the most coveted prize in professional sports, the Stanley Cup, after only six years in Dallas. From 2002 until 2011, they made the playoffs every year. Modano was elected captain of the Dallas Stars in 2003 due to his leadership on and off the ice.

Modano scored his 502nd and 503rd regular-season goals in his career against the Nashville Predators in March 2007, breaking Joe Mullins’ NHL record for most goals scored by an American-born player. In November 2007, he tried to tie and break the record by scoring two goals in the opening five minutes of a game against the San Jose Sharks, with the record-breaker coming on a scoreless breakaway.

In addition to the two crucial NHL records, he has all of the offensive Dallas Stars franchise marks, including career points, goals, assists, and games played. His playoff record is equally outstanding, as he owns the marks for most playoff points, playoff goals, playoff assists, and most playoff games played.

Mike Modano is also a seven-time NHL All-Star. In 1996, 2004, 2005, he was a key player of Team USA in international competitions, winning a gold medal in the opening World Cup game in 1996. He was chosen to compete in the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan, and the 2002 games in Salt Lake City, Utah, where he guided the squad to a silver medal victory. His most recent participation was as captain of the USA Hockey Team in Tornio, Italy, in 2004.

In 2013, Modano married pro golfer Allison Micheletti, the daughter and niece of former NHL players Joe and Pat Micheletti; they have twins and a daughter and a son. After a spectacular 21-year career, his jersey was retired by the stars in 2014. He was voted one of the NHL’s best players in 2017.

Modano resigned from hockey and began a new chapter in his life, focusing on the Mike Modano Foundation. Modano left an indelible imprint on the league. And he also influenced an entire country. Modano, dubbed “Superman on Ice,” astounded many who witnessed him and inspired a new generation of American talent. Off the ice, he carries on that heritage with his charity efforts. Modano, a shining example of a real professional, inspired hockey, succeeded in the game and utilized his success to serve others.

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