U SPORTS News

U SPORTS sits down with each of its interns last semester in our interview series “Getting to know…”

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  • Name: Johnny Schirmer
  • School: Humber College
  • Program: Sport Management
  • Internship position: Website, Stats and IT
  • Hometown: Bracebridge, Ont.

1. What attracted you to Humber College and your program?

There weren’t too many other options out there in terms of Sport Management programs. Humber is in a fantastic city with many opportunities to become successful. I have a passion for sports so being able to study sport and eventually work in sport will be a dream come true. 

2. Why were you interested in interning at U SPORTS?

I love watching and learning about university sport. It’s so big in North America so being able to be a part of the U SPORTS team was an amazing opportunity for myself and seeing how much work goes into creating such a successful brand.

3. What are your key learnings from your experience at U SPORTS?

Culture is everything. The U SPORTS office environment is something I looked forward to coming to every day. Everyone works well with one another and are very easy to get along with which made my experience that much better.

4. Any memorable moments over the course of your internship?

The most memorable moment I had here with U SPORTS was probably the U SPORTS Turkey Cup – an annual staff football game around Canadian Thanksgiving. It got pretty heated.

5. What is one piece of advice you can give to someone interested in joining U SPORTS? 

Make connections, talk to all the different departments and see how you can help. It’s a great opportunity to get to see what each department is like and the amount of work goes into them.

6. Why did you choose to pursue a career in sports and what is your dream job?

I’ve been playing sports ever since I was 3 years old and I’ve loved them ever since. So being able to study sport and work in sport is amazing. I’d have to say my dream job would be a general manager of any NHL team. Obviously the guys who are in that role right now worked extremely hard to get there but seeing Kyle Dubas and John Chayka managing a team at such a young age is inspiring.

7. If you could sit down with one person in the sports industry (athlete, coach, manager or professional), who would it be? Why? What would you talk about?

Kyle Dubas for sure. Managing the Toronto Maple Leafs at such a young age is crazy to think about. I’d love to talk about how he got to that role and the type of mindset he has each and every day.

8. After joining U SPORTS and gaining a better understanding of what we do, how would you describe the organization and the culture at the national office?

The organization and culture as a whole is amazing. It’s such an enjoyable environment to be in because everyone is so passionate about sport and they love working with one another but they also have fun doing it. So coming in every day and seeing that type of office environment was a great experience for me.

9. What do you enjoy doing when you’re away from your internship and school?

I’d have to say hanging out with friends and family. School and work is a lot sometimes, so being able to spend time with people you love being with is essential for me.

10. What is your most memorable sports moment?

My most memorable sports moment would have to be Sidney Crosby’s golden goal in the Vancouver 2018 Olympics. I was with my best friend and his family watching the game. The room was completely silent as it was in overtime and the next goal would determine the winner. Seeing Sid score the golden goal is definitely a moment I’ll never forget, from the crowd going nuts and knowing the country I’m proud to be in are Olympic champions. Being able to beat Team USA was a bonus too.

The objective of the U SPORTS Internship program is to provide students currently enrolled in collegiate / university programs with concrete experience of what it is like to work in the Canadian sport industry.

To apply, please send all cover letters and resumes by March 22rd, 2019, to intern1@usports.ca, citing the position title in the subject line.