MOOSE TRACKS – COLBY PRIDHAM
There comes a time when an athlete, even a successful one like Colby Pridham, needs to decide whether to keep chasing one’s hockey dreams or switch gears and start a new career.
Pridham, who played parts of three seasons with the Mooseheads, has landed a new position that is sure to make him the envy of his friends.
“This is actually my second day on the job as an account executive with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment in the sales and service division,” he said, his voice still oozing with excitement.
The native of Prince Edward Island is still in the training stages of his job of selling anything from individual tickets to executive suite sales for all four components of MLSE which includes the Maple Leafs, Raptors, Marlies and Toronto FC.
Pridham was in Toronto for training last year with ambitions of continuing his playing career when he had a change of heart.
“I came up here and had signed a contract to play with Elmira in the East Coast Hockey League and intended on playing, but my friend and mentor Matt Hill who is from Halifax and works for the Lightning, connected me with some people and I ended up taking a job in Digital Marketing sales with Rogers a week before training camp.”
It was through that job that Colby developed a relationship that led to his new endeavor with MLSE.
“I met with a guy a few times through the year and built that up enough that when they were hiring again he let me know and we went through the interview process and I happened to be one of the lucky few to make the cut.”
Pridham agrees that if he is no longer considered an athlete, than working in the sports industry is the next best thing.
“It’s incredible there are just so many great things about it, I mean I think of myself as a huge sports fan but so is everyone in the office which makes it a fun place to be because we all have such similar interests.”
The 27-year-old scored 95 points in 121 regular season games with the Halifax Mooseheads between 2005-2008.
“It’s the best time of your life playing Junior hockey and I’ve been following the team ever since I left. I know what the guys are going through this week over at Cole Harbour Place in training camp, meeting new people, you’re nervous, you’re trying to impress but it was a great experience and some of my best friends to this day are from that time in my life.”
Pridham was a free agent signing by Halifax in 2005 and had the opportunity to briefly play for fellow Islander Al MacAdam before spending two full seasons under current Mooseheads GM Cam Russell.
“I was fortunate to play for both, and I mean Cam was absolutely incredible to me and the relationship we built at that time has continued over the years has been great, I’ve learned a lot from him over the years.”
He went on to have an excellent University career with Saint Mary’s and UNB, winning national championships with both schools, although a he had to miss the 2010 University Cup with the Huskies due to a shoulder injury.
Colby and his girlfriend Megan, who is from Halifax, will be back in the Maritimes this summer for vacation.
“We’re actually coming home next week and I’m very excited about it. We’ll get to visit her family in Halifax and mine over in PEI and we have a wedding to go to in Amherst so it should be fun.”
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