During the past few dozen NHL seasons, lawnmowers have been running around the air, roads and rail for some of the most iconic teams.
Former professional hockey player Mark Moise understands the lonely life of an NHL scout.
During the NHL regular season, Mowers allocation consists of viewing and reporting with several teams and their major minor league affiliates. He is one of the three pro scouts on the team, with the Minnesota Wild eyes and ears.
From Boston to Buffalo and all the points from the Northeast and Florida, the mower illustrates future wild opponents. Through his trained hockey eyes, the information lawn mower nugget hopes each game gives Wild an advantage the next time the team meets.
A scout’s life can often be challenging at first, without a colleague leaving his suitcase, visiting multiple cities each week, exchanging ideas or offering suggestions. As a “one-person office,” there is no way to be the same as the next day. There is no punching time cards or two similar schedules.
Earlier this week, Mowers’ reconnaissance duties took him from his home base in Boston to Cleveland. After his flight landed at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, a lawnmower struck the road and drove nearly 150 miles west to Columbus. The Dallas star was the night enemy of the Columbus Blue Jacket. After analyzing the victory of six to four blue jackets, after a few hours of sleep, the mower rose again.
“I flew to Cleveland and headed to Columbus. After the game, the next day I flew home to Boston,” Moise told the Epoch Times.
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“My daughters aren’t in college, so on Wednesday, my wife, Jana, will have dinner together. Then, this Thursday, I will fly to Raleigh (NC) to watch the Hurricane Buffalo Savers game. From Raleigh, I will drive west to watch my daughter compete for the college gymnastics team. On Friday, I will be out to Buffalo for Saturday’s match between the Sabres and the Canadians.”
Given the pro lineage of lawn mowers as skaters in the NHL and European elite leagues, apart from traveling with a group of players, the scouts were able to feel like one staff member: a lonely wolf. Being on the road alone is the worst part of reconnaissance. The advantage is that as an NHL scout, Mowers said they can manage their schedules the way they want them to.
For the scouting staff, it’s difficult to build relationships with people on the Wild roster. He doesn’t look at the team regularly, but Mowers finds a way to strengthen his knowledge of them.
“It’s a game every night,” said Mooers, who skated with Nashville predators, Detroit Red Wings, Boston Bruins and Anaheim Ducks during their 13-year professional career. “The whole point of the season is that the team wins. If you can’t win, it might feel like a very long offseason.”
On February 15th, 2007, the Boston Bruins’ Mark Mooers skated alongside a pack with New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York. Andy Merlin/Getty Images
The days of using paper maps for directions are over. Flights from the NHL and the American Hockey League (NHL’s primary philitical league) have dramatically reduced travel time over the years. With satellites and heavenly radio now available to spend time on your trip to the arena, Mowers has the option to listen to audiobooks, podcasts and various apps. Scout’s offices are often temporary seats in the press box, and most often without walls while on open roads.
From October to mid-April, when observing his regular team ensemble throughout the regular season, the lawnmower will assemble a “book” for each player. As the season progresses, their skills become clear, focusing the mower’s attention on what’s going on from one end of the link to the next.
The lawnmower, which began his five seasons of scouting career in Montreal in 2012, moved to the season with the Sabres organization in 2019. He was the NHL’s biggest teammates, including Steve Two-Man, Brett Hull, Moore’s references to scouting, Steve Two-Man and Zdenochala. He knows what to do, where and when during a hockey game.
I promise that the lawn mower schedule this weekend will be more challenging than most people. Wild is visiting Denver’s Colorado Avalanche on Friday. After that night’s game, the next morning the lawnmower departs from Denver International Airport for his home hub at Boston Logan International Airport. On Sunday, March 2nd, at 2pm, the mower will be located in Beverly, Massachusetts, at Leibourquare Arena. As an active member of the Boston Bruins alumni team, he will play in Sunday’s game. This will benefit the Beverly Youth Hockey Program.
“It’s so much fun,” Moise says of skating with friends for a valuable cause. “The friendship we have is incredible. Skating with everyone is a welcome release from every trip I do.”
Another satisfying release for lawn mowers from long hours on the roads is taking part as ambassador for the Warrior for Life Fund. The fund’s purpose is to support military families, active duty and veterans. They overcome their unique challenges of combat services and returning home.
A scout’s life is not for everyone. The lifestyle required is unique, but as the lawnmowers continue to experience it, it is rewarding and important for the overall success of the NHL organization. Being a scout is a privilege and the lawn mower is grateful.
