AHL announces front-office promotions

ahl06_200.jpgSPRINGFIELD, Mass. … American Hockey League President and CEO David Andrews announced today three promotions within the league’s front office.

Jim Mill has been named Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations, Chris Nikolis has been appointed Executive Vice President of Marketing and Business Development and Sean Lavoine has been promoted to Vice President of Licensing and Corporate Sales.

Mill joined the AHL staff in 1998 and had served as vice president of hockey operations since 2001. A native of Hartford, Conn., Mill oversees all of the hockey operations of the league, including managing the league’s officiating program and disciplinary process, developing the league’s regular season and playoff schedules, and serving as the league secretary to the AHL Board of Governors. A former professional goaltender, Mill resides in Hampden, Mass., with his wife, Cindy, and their three daughters.

Nikolis came to the AHL in 1999 and had spent the last six years as vice president of sales and marketing. In his new position he will manage all AHL business development and marketing initiatives, manage broadcast partnerships and continue to manage the league’s exclusive relationship with Reebok/CCM. A Connecticut native, Nikolis currently resides in West Suffield, Conn., with his wife, Denise, and their twin daughters.

Lavoine is also entering his ninth season in the AHL’s marketing department. He is responsible for the AHL’s licensing program and operations of the league’s on-line store (ahlstore.com) as well as the league’s corporate sales efforts. In addition, he is responsible for the organization of AHL special events including the annual All-Star Classic. Lavoine currently resides in his native Greenfield, Mass., with his wife, Paula, and their two children.

In operation since 1936, the AHL continues to serve as the top development league for all 30 National Hockey League teams. More than 83 percent of today’s NHL players are American Hockey League graduates, and for the sixth year in a row, more than 6 million fans attended AHL games across North America in 2006-07. The AHL’s 72nd regular season gets underway on Wednesday, Oct. 3.