GIS Graduate Nathan Edlington on his Role at Hockey Canada: “What You Put In Is What You Get Out”

Nathan Edlington is a GIS graduate who has recently landed a role at Hockey Canada, the governing body of the world’s biggest ice hockey nation.

An Events & Properties Coordinator, Nathan secured the job just four months after completing his postgraduate degree where he studied International Sport Management, telling GIS that the programme helped him work in the sport he has followed his whole life.

“Nothing is more special than cheering for Team Canada,” he said, and is now in a role that sees him work on both national and international hockey championships all over the country.

So how did he get there?

Proactivity played a significant part. During his studies, Nathan made a particular effort to attend various conferences and events designed to help him network and build relationships in the industry.

An example of this was the Ivey Sports Leadership Conference held at Western University, where he graduated at undergraduate level with a degree in French Studies.

“Every summit, event, and conference is a chance to learn and to meet other people who are passionate about sports,” he said.

“The Ivey SLC was another big one for me because it was at my local university, was a way to expand my network locally with other young professionals, and gave a chance to catch up with some speakers that I’d met previously at the Toronto Summit.”

The Toronto Summit Nathan mentions is a yearly event held as part of GIS’ Global Sports Summits – residentials in GIS hubs around the world designed to give students valuable sports insight and networking opportunities with industry leaders.

Attending in both 2024 and 2025, Nathan emphasised how “both were incredibly valuable to my professional development. 

“Of course, as a Maple Leafs and Toronto FC fan, it was fascinating to go behind the scenes at Scotiabank Arena and BMO Field. Being able to attend matches for a few different professional clubs throughout the week was a great treat as well; it was so interesting to spend the days learning about the operations, and then see them in action in the evening.”

He went on to recommend the summits to any students thinking of going, saying: “For students trying to break into the sports industry, the summits are also a great way to practice some very important skills in real settings, network throughout the week, and even present a case study to a panel of professionals.”

Nathan’s case study was on the development of women’s soccer in Canada, which he presented to a Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment panel, as well as hearing from former Newcastle United midfielder Matty Longstaff.

Another valuable skill that Nathan developed was his networking. 

“Building your network organically is a great way to open yourself up to opportunities and put yourself on people’s radar. I have met so many creatives, coordinators, managers, etc through sharing my experiences on platforms like LinkedIn.”

He then touched on the competition for jobs in the sports industry that further highlights the importance of building genuine relationships, sharing a personal experience too.

“Making that connection can be the difference-maker that helps you stand out among a large pool of candidates who all have the degree or the experience. In fact, I got my start at FC London after reaching out to the technical director on LinkedIn because I saw that he had completed a certificate at GIS as well. 

“Of course, there is more to networking than trying to get hired. Building genuine relationships with fellow professionals is a great way to learn and share new ideas/experiences, expand your horizons, and open you up to other opportunities (plus, you never know who you might cross paths with down the road!)”

As for the course itself, Nathan explained how the content helped prepare him for his current role.

“Not only is having a master’s degree a very desirable qualification for prospective employers, but the course content also equipped me with a great amount of technical knowledge specific to  the context of elite sport. 

“I was able to tailor my studies to my own personal experiences working in sport locally and apply these learnings in roles at my local indoor sporting facility and our semi-professional club, FC London, during my time at GIS. The combination of studying and working in these roles provided me with very valuable experience that contributed to securing a position with Hockey Canada.”

The programme, which contains modules such as Managing Global Strategy, Global Sports Marketing and Digital Communications, and Entrepreneurship in Sport, has consistently ranked highly in SportBusiness Magazine’s Postgraduate Rankings, receiving particular recognition for employment prospects.

Lastly, Nathan looked to the future. 

“I wouldn’t say there’s one specific spot that I see myself in 20 years from now, but I’m very excited about the role with Hockey Canada. I hope to learn and develop as much as possible as an Events & Properties Coordinator and would be very happy to continue progressing here if the opportunity arises.

“I’ve always loved the operations side of sports. It very much felt like a natural next step for me.”

To other GIS students aspiring for a career in the fast-paced sports industry, Nathan advised that “any experience is very valuable.

“Working in sport is unique, and everyone you ask has a different path to get to where they are.

“I’m a firm believer that what you put in is what you get out. It’s important to take as many opportunities as possible to get involved in sports organisations around you, try new things, and get creative in the ways you add value.”

To explore the courses on offer, view our postgraduate page, where you can learn about the expert lecturers and modules valued at GIS.

Article by Zakaria Anani