Mike Addesa, a scout with the Vancouver Canucks, laughs when asked what his job really entails.
A hockey lifer from Boston who now patrols the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League and colleges along the East Coast, Addesa of course watches teenagers and 20-somethings play. His point, though, is there’s far more to the profession than meets the eye.
“I can’t even begin to tell you how many people over the years have asked me the question, ‘You really get paid just to go sit and watch hockey games?’” Addesa said. “It’s amazing that people have no idea of how in depth the science is to it, and it’s very, very subjective.”
The world Addesa alludes to is one where written reports ring true, the 10,000-hour rule persists and relationships are currency. It’s a way for rink rats to stay in the game they love, hoping to shape their organization’s future and maybe — just maybe — help discover the player who brings a Stanley Cup to their city.
