Sam Kim, the new video coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, used his time off during the NHL all-star break to speak with Siena students. Among his important lessons... no matter the job, do it well and make a name for yourself. That's sound advice coming from Sparky the Dragon.
Kim was born to Korean parents in Flushing, NY, and like a lot of hockey players from his generation, he fell in love with the sport watching Mighty Ducks. Kim would grow up to play minor league hockey and hoped to break into the NHL ranks as a coach. But, in his first job with the New York Islanders, he was Sparky.
In 2007, Kim scored an internship with the Islanders and his primary job was to skate around the ice as Sparky the Dragon, the team's mascot. It was a humble start, but Kim leaned into the opportunity.
"I didn’t really know how it was going to help me in the future but I knew that if I did a really good job, I’d build a name and a reputation for myself. That mentality has helped me to get to where I am today.”
It's a lesson he shared with dozens of Saints as part of of the College's Diversity Action Committee's speaker series, "Wrap Around the World." Kim also discussed the lack racial diversity in the NHL where 84 percent of the workforce is white.
“Not a lot of people (in hockey) look like me. It’s important to be in a role in terms of helping other people see themselves, either playing the game or even just working in this industry. I’m proud to be part of that, and I hope I can do the best job that I can to, to be a good role model for other people.”
Kim was invited to campus by Soyoung Joo, Ph.D., assistant professor of marketing, to speak about diversity as well as his experiences with different cultures around the world. Plus, he offered networking tips and advice on how to advance from mascot to a member of an NHL staff.
"I had been asking Sam to come to Siena for several years because I thought his experiences and his stories were so fascinating and would be beneficial for others to hear," said Joo. "I was pleasantly surprised by the turnout and felt that everyone in attendance walked out of the room having taken something away from his talk."
"I think the biggest takeaway from Sam's lecture is that you can't know who someone is just by looking at them. We did this example with multiple people, but he showed that race, ethnicity, and nationality don't always go hand-in-hand. He stated that his race was Korean, as was his ethnicity, but his nationality was U.S. American."
Zach Soden '23
"My knowledge of the challenges he and other minorities face in both daily life and the sports sector has been enhanced by his presentation and I am very lucky to have been a part of this important discussion."
Kari Nieber '23
"I really enjoyed Sam’s address. It was incredibly insightful, especially from working in the sporting industry. It was a huge learning experience and it was aided by his own stories throughout his life. Wonderful speaker and very well spoken."
Sabrina Della Bella '23
"I learned a lot from his sports career journey that sometimes taking the unconventional path is the one that will help you succeed. I thought that he brought up many real points that needed to be talked about and he did not shy away from anything."
Sam Klotz '23
