Randy Sexton
Encyclopedia
Randy Sexton is a Canadian
ice hockey
executive, businessman and former athlete. He is currently assistant director of amateur scouting for the Pittsburgh Penguins
of the National Hockey League
(NHL). He most recently was the general manager of the Florida Panthers
of the NHL. He was one of the founders of the Ottawa Senators
NHL club in Ottawa
, Ontario
. He later became the Senators' second general manager.
, Randy Sexton attended St. Lawrence University
from 1978 until 1982 on a hockey scholarship after playing for the Cornwall Royals
. He served as team captain during his final two seasons, earning awards including All-American honors, Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Most Valuable Player and the Brian P. Doyle Leadership Award. From 1983-1985 he served as an assistant coach with St. Lawrence, while also handling scouting and recruiting responsibilities. He later earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Clarkson University
.
In 1989, Sexton was vice-president of Terrace Investments, a commercial development firm in Ottawa. Bruce Firestone
, then president & CEO, developed the idea of reviving NHL hockey in Ottawa, adopting for the club the old Ottawa Senators
name. In the original plan, their privately financed arena would anchor a new 'West Terrace' 'mini-city' land development in Kanata, Ontario
on class "A" farmland. Sexton, along with Mr. Firestone and Cyril Leeder were the principal persons behind the successful drive to win a new NHL franchise in 1990.
Sexton would later be named general manager by majority owner Rod Bryden
in 1993 and served until 1995. He was Ottawa's general manager at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
where he selected Alexandre Daigle
. He would sign Daigle to a record-breaking salary for a rookie. The contract would lead the league to put restrictions on rookie contracts. He was fired in December 1995 due to the poor performance of the hockey club in the 1995–96
season.
He then turned to sports marketing with the firm Capital Sports Management, which provided strategic advice to the Senators. When the Senators built the Bell Sensplex
ice rink facility in 2004, Mr. Sexton was named Executive director.
On January 27, 2007, Sexton was hired as the assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers, serving under then-General Manager Jacques Martin, the former head coach of the Ottawa Senators. His responsibilities included overseeing scouting operations, player development, hockey administration and contract negotiations. Sexton was appointed Panthers General Manager on October 2, 2009, after Jacques Martin resigned to become the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens
.
Sexton was replaced by former Chicago Blackhawks
general manager Dale Tallon
after a disappointing 2009–10 season
. On July 3, 2010, Sexton was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins
to be the Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
executive, businessman and former athlete. He is currently assistant director of amateur scouting for the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
(NHL). He most recently was the general manager of the Florida Panthers
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in Sunrise, Florida, in the Miami metropolitan area. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . They play their games at the BankAtlantic Center in Sunrise and are the...
of the NHL. He was one of the founders of the Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators
The Ottawa Senators are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
NHL club in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. He later became the Senators' second general manager.
Career
Born in Brockville, OntarioBrockville, Ontario
Brockville is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada, in the Thousand Islands region. Though it serves as the seat of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Brockville is politically independent and is grouped with Leeds and Grenville for census purposes only.Known as the "City of the 1000...
, Randy Sexton attended St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University
St. Lawrence University is a four-year liberal arts college located in the village of Canton in Saint Lawrence County, New York, United States. It has roughly 2300 undergraduate and 100 graduate students, about equally split between male and female....
from 1978 until 1982 on a hockey scholarship after playing for the Cornwall Royals
Cornwall Royals
The Cornwall Royals were a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1969 to 1981 and the Ontario Hockey League from 1981 to 1992. This team should not be confused with other Cornwall Royals teams that played in the QSHL, MMJHL, or OHA-B.-History:From 1961 until 1969, the...
. He served as team captain during his final two seasons, earning awards including All-American honors, Senior Male Athlete of the Year, Most Valuable Player and the Brian P. Doyle Leadership Award. From 1983-1985 he served as an assistant coach with St. Lawrence, while also handling scouting and recruiting responsibilities. He later earned a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Clarkson University
Clarkson University
-The Clarkson School:The Clarkson School, a special division of Clarkson University, was founded in 1978 as a unique educational opportunity. The School offers students an early entrance opportunity into college, replacing the typical senior year of high school with a year of college...
.
In 1989, Sexton was vice-president of Terrace Investments, a commercial development firm in Ottawa. Bruce Firestone
Bruce Firestone
Bruce Firestone of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada is a real estate developer, former sports team owner and university professor. He is the founder of the modern-day Ottawa Senators NHL professional ice hockey club and former part-owner of the Ottawa Rough Riders CFL football club.-Business career:Dr...
, then president & CEO, developed the idea of reviving NHL hockey in Ottawa, adopting for the club the old Ottawa Senators
Ottawa Senators (original)
The Ottawa Senators were an amateur, and later, professional, ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Canada which existed from 1883 to 1954. The club was the first hockey club in Ontario, a founding member of the National Hockey League and played in the NHL from 1917 until 1934...
name. In the original plan, their privately financed arena would anchor a new 'West Terrace' 'mini-city' land development in Kanata, Ontario
Kanata, Ontario
Situated in the Ottawa Valley, Kanata is located about west-southwest of Downtown Ottawa along Highway 417 at a latitude of 45°18' North and a longitude of 75°55' West, with an area of . Its northern end is just to the west of the Ottawa River....
on class "A" farmland. Sexton, along with Mr. Firestone and Cyril Leeder were the principal persons behind the successful drive to win a new NHL franchise in 1990.
Sexton would later be named general manager by majority owner Rod Bryden
Rod Bryden
Rod Bryden is a prominent Ottawa business executive. He is best known as the owner of the Ottawa Senators National Hockey League team from 1992 until 2003. Outside of hockey, his career has included founding or leading several of Canada's leading companies.- Biography :Rod Bryden was born on March...
in 1993 and served until 1995. He was Ottawa's general manager at the 1993 NHL Entry Draft
1993 NHL Entry Draft
The 1993 NHL Entry Draft took place on June 26, 1993, at the Colisee de Quebec in Quebec City, Quebec.-Selections by round:Club teams are located in North America unless otherwise specified.-Round one:-Round two:-Round three:-Round four:...
where he selected Alexandre Daigle
Alexandre Daigle
Alexandre Daigle is a Canadian professional ice hockey player. Despite being drafted first overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, Daigle never lived up to his potential, achieving a maximum of only 51 points in the regular season, well below expectations for a first overall...
. He would sign Daigle to a record-breaking salary for a rookie. The contract would lead the league to put restrictions on rookie contracts. He was fired in December 1995 due to the poor performance of the hockey club in the 1995–96
1995–96 Ottawa Senators season
The 1995–96 Ottawa Senators season was a season with plenty of change for the club. The club changed coaching staffs twice, changed the General Manager and moved into the new Palladium arena in Kanata...
season.
He then turned to sports marketing with the firm Capital Sports Management, which provided strategic advice to the Senators. When the Senators built the Bell Sensplex
Bell Sensplex
The Bell Sensplex is a four-pad ice facility, located in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is the primary practice facility of the Ottawa Senators NHL team. In a partnership with the City of Ottawa, it is also used for minor hockey and hosts the annual Bell Capital Cup ice hockey tournament....
ice rink facility in 2004, Mr. Sexton was named Executive director.
On January 27, 2007, Sexton was hired as the assistant general manager of the Florida Panthers, serving under then-General Manager Jacques Martin, the former head coach of the Ottawa Senators. His responsibilities included overseeing scouting operations, player development, hockey administration and contract negotiations. Sexton was appointed Panthers General Manager on October 2, 2009, after Jacques Martin resigned to become the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
.
Sexton was replaced by former Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
general manager Dale Tallon
Dale Tallon
Dale Tallon is a retired Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and current General Manager for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League ....
after a disappointing 2009–10 season
2009–10 Florida Panthers season
The 2009–10 Florida Panthers season was the 17th season for the franchise in the National Hockey League. After earning 77 points in the season, the Panthers did not qualify for the playoffs.-Off-season:...
. On July 3, 2010, Sexton was hired by the Pittsburgh Penguins
Pittsburgh Penguins
The Pittsburgh Penguins are a professional ice hockey team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The franchise was founded in 1967 as one of the first expansion teams during the league's original...
to be the Assistant Director of Amateur Scouting.