Roy Mlakar
Encyclopedia
Roy Mlakar is the former president and CEO of the Ottawa Senators
professional ice hockey
club of the National Hockey League
(NHL) and the Scotiabank Place
arena. He was also the alternate governor of the Senators. He is a former executive with the Los Angeles Kings
.
He was hired by the Providence Reds
of the AHL
in 1973. He served as director of public relations and was later promoted to the position of assistant general manager working with then Providence GM
John Muckler
.
New Haven Nighthawks
In 1978 he joined the New Haven Nighthawks
the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings
. He spent 11 seasons with the team winning the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
as the AHL's Executive of the Year in 1985.
Los Angeles Kings
In 1988 He joined the Los Angeles Kings
. he spent 7 seasons with the team five as an executive vice-president and two as club president. He was instrumental in bringing Wayne Gretzky
to the Kings from the Edmonton Oilers
. The Kings made it to the Stanley Cup
final in 1993 under his leadership. During his tenure with Los Angeles, the Kings set a California professional sports record with 282 consecutive sellouts.
Pittsburg Penguins
Following his stint with the Kings, Mlakar served as chief operating officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins for two seasons before joining the Senators
Ottawa Senators
Roy Mlakar was appointed president and chief executive officer of the Ottawa Senators
on June 3, 1996. He took on responsibilities for Scotiabank Place
in May 1998. In 2007, the Senators made it to the Stanley Cup
final where they played the Anaheim Ducks
, eventually losing in 5 games. At the end of the 2008-2009 regular season, having concluded a disappointing season in which the team missed the playoffs, the team announced on June 16, 2009 that Mlakar would be relieved of his duties upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, 2009.
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...
professional 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...
club 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) and the Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place is a multi-purpose arena, located in Kanata, a suburban district of Ottawa, Ontario. It is home to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. It has also hosted the Canadian University Men's Basketball Championship...
arena. He was also the alternate governor of the Senators. He is a former executive with the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
.
Personal life
Mlakar is married. He and wife Tamera each have two daughters. Mlakar was director with various charities in Ottawa, including the Sens Foundation, the Candlelighters and the Ottawa Senators 65 Roses Sports Club. He was also a director with the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. He has received several awards for his community work, including the Brian Kilrea Award in 2005 and the United Way Community Builder Award in 2006.Career
Providence RedsHe was hired by the Providence Reds
Providence Reds
The Providence Reds were a hockey team that played in the Canadian-American Hockey League between 1926–1936 and the American Hockey League from 1936 to 1977, the last season of which they played as the Rhode Island Reds. The team won the Calder Cup in 1938, 1940, 1949, and 1956...
of the AHL
American Hockey League
The American Hockey League is a 30-team professional ice hockey league based in the United States and Canada that serves as the primary developmental circuit for the National Hockey League...
in 1973. He served as director of public relations and was later promoted to the position of assistant general manager working with then Providence GM
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
John Muckler
John Muckler
John Muckler is a professional hockey coach and executive, most recently serving as the general manager of the Ottawa Senators of the NHL. Muckler has over 50 years of professional hockey experience as a part owner, general manager, director of player personnel, director of hockey operations, head...
.
New Haven Nighthawks
In 1978 he joined the New Haven Nighthawks
New Haven Nighthawks
The New Haven Nighthawks are a former ice hockey team that played in the American Hockey League from 1972 to 1992. They had affiliations with the Minnesota North Stars , New York Islanders , New York Rangers , and Los Angeles Kings...
the AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. He spent 11 seasons with the team winning the James C. Hendy Memorial Award
James C. Hendy Memorial Award
The James C. Hendy Memorial Award is presented annually to an executive who has made the most outstanding contribution to the American Hockey League....
as the AHL's Executive of the Year in 1985.
Los Angeles Kings
In 1988 He joined the Los Angeles Kings
Los Angeles Kings
The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles, California. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
. he spent 7 seasons with the team five as an executive vice-president and two as club president. He was instrumental in bringing Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Gretzky
Wayne Douglas Gretzky, CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. Nicknamed "The Great One", he is generally regarded as the best player in the history of the National Hockey League , and has been called "the greatest hockey player ever" by many sportswriters,...
to the Kings from the Edmonton Oilers
Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. They are members of the Northwest Division in the Western Conference of the National Hockey League ....
. The Kings made it to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
final in 1993 under his leadership. During his tenure with Los Angeles, the Kings set a California professional sports record with 282 consecutive sellouts.
Pittsburg Penguins
Following his stint with the Kings, Mlakar served as chief operating officer for the Pittsburgh Penguins for two seasons before joining the Senators
Ottawa Senators
Roy Mlakar was appointed president and chief executive officer 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...
on June 3, 1996. He took on responsibilities for Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place
Scotiabank Place is a multi-purpose arena, located in Kanata, a suburban district of Ottawa, Ontario. It is home to the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League. It has also hosted the Canadian University Men's Basketball Championship...
in May 1998. In 2007, the Senators made it to the Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
final where they played the Anaheim Ducks
Anaheim Ducks
The Anaheim Ducks are a professional ice hockey team based in Anaheim, California, USA. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League...
, eventually losing in 5 games. At the end of the 2008-2009 regular season, having concluded a disappointing season in which the team missed the playoffs, the team announced on June 16, 2009 that Mlakar would be relieved of his duties upon the expiration of his contract on June 30, 2009.