WORKING MEN
For the final installment of a season-long series celebrating the organization’s 20th anniversary, Griffiti caught up with a hat trick of former Griffins now making their marks in other professions.
Stories by Mark Newman
VASHI NEDOMANSKY: A CUT ABOVE THE REST
Working in Hollywood, Vaclav “Vashi” Nedomansky feels like a little kid in a candy store.
For the past 15 years, he has been a professional editor, cutting more than 50 national commercials and nine feature films. Considered one of the leading technicians in the field, he has trained over 150 professional editors.
“I feel very lucky,” he said, “but it’s not something that happened overnight.”
In his previous career, Nedomansky was a professional hockey player for nine seasons, playing in the IHL, AHL, ECHL and WCHL, as well as the Czech Republic League. He played parts of two seasons (1997-99) for the Griffins.
Nedomansky traces his interest in filmmaking to the age of 12.
“My dad was playing for the Detroit Red Wings and as the first star one night, he was given a video camera with a VHS deck,” he said. “He gave it to me and told me to do something with it. I started shooting family events, vacations and even short films for school.”
He pursued film and video studies at the University of Michigan, focusing on Russian and Eastern European filmmaking. “During my years in hockey, I started working on stuff on the side and writing scripts,” he said.
Nedomansky retired in 2001 with three herniated discs in his lower back. He had already been living in Los Angeles for several years, so he started making the contacts necessary to transition into the film industry.
“I never mentioned that I had been a professional hockey player because that wasn’t even part of the equation,” he said. “I had to build my reputation on my own merits. If it came up later, people thought it was really cool, but it wasn’t the reason they were hiring me.”
With no real portfolio to promote himself, he took every job that he could, regardless of pay.
“One of the limitations of working for free is you’re sometimes looking at really bad footage,” he said. “Of course, you get to creatively solve problems that you wouldn’t encounter on bigger projects. So every day was a learning process.”
While he was editing short films, acting reels, pilots and music videos, Nedomansky was reading countless books on editing and post-production. He picked the brains of influential film editors and learned whatever he could.
“You can read every book and it doesn’t mean anything when someone hands you footage and it’s your job to make something of it,” he said. “The transition was definitely a learning process, and it took a couple of years before I became comfortable with the task of telling a story.”
Nedomansky learned how to edit films on Avid Media Composer, Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere, but he also learned how to be well-organized, how to work harmoniously with other people and how to find a balance between technique and story. “It’s not only editing but it’s being able to communicate with directors and producers so you can understand what it is that they want to tell.”
He has become well-versed in the business of storytelling, whether it is a commercial or a film project. “The challenges you face are the same,” he said. “When you get a script or storyboards, you have to figure out what they are trying to say and how you can help them accomplish their goal.
“As an editor, it’s my job to deliver exactly what’s on the page and what is envisioned. You can’t be selfish. If you start messing around with the footage, you’re not giving them what they want and you won’t get hired again.
“When you’re hired by the director or the producer, you have to please them. It’s no different than what a coach expects out of a hockey player. You have a role. Whether you’re a scorer, a grinder or a tough guy, your job is to fill that role – that’s what the coach and team expects out of you. If you stray from that role, your team may be weaker as a result, and it’s the same with film.
“The greatest proof of your success as an editor is if you get to work with the same people over and over. If they hire you again, that’s the true sign that you’re accomplishing what needs to be done. If you’re only hired once and you’re always looking for your next job, something is lacking.”
Nedomansky has not confined his filmmaking interests to the editing desk. He has credits as a producer, director, cinematographer, colorist, composer, music editor, stunt performer and editorial consultant, to name a few. “As a filmmaker, it’s important to get yourself exposed to all of the different roles,” he said.
His IMDB profile reflects his wide range of pursuits. Music, for example, has long been an interest. “I’ve played guitar for 30 years, done recording and even played the national anthem at the Great Western Forum on electric guitar before a game,” he said.
Some of his work relates back to his career as a hockey player. He was the ADR group leader on “Miracle,” the film about the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team. He was also the motion capture actor for the NHL 06, NHL 07 and NHL 08 video games.
“Each year, I was flown up to Vancouver by EA Sports for a week,” said Nedomansky, who wore a special suit to capture his movements for the purpose of digital animation. “For eight hours, five days a week, I had to do every motion in those games. Every skating motion, every pass, everything had to be mapped out. It was exhausting, a really labor-intensive process.”
Nedomansky, who ran the Los Angeles Kings junior program out of the Staples Center for two years after he retired, still plays hockey casually. He takes part in a standing skate on Sundays with Hollywood types like Keifer Sutherland, Jerry Bruckheimer and Cuba Gooding Jr. and skates a couple of other times a week with friends and ex-pro hockey players.
He is working on a documentary called “Big Ned” about his father, Vaclav, the first player to defect from Eastern Europe and play in the National Hockey League. “It’s the story of his journey from communist Czechoslovakia, how he escaped and got to play in the National Hockey League and how the subsequent influx of European players has changed the game.”
Shooting on the documentary started six months ago. He has already interviewed Frank Mahovlich, Paul Henderson and Dennis Hull, among others, and has plans to interview Bobby Orr in the near future. He admits that his first hurdle to making the film was convincing his father to do it. His father, who is a scout for the Nashville Predators, also lives in Los Angeles, where he was a scout for the Kings for many years.
“My dad is a really private person, but I finally convinced him that his story is amazing,” he said. “The fact that no one knows the true story makes it even more appealing. Just his escape from Czechoslovakia was like a James Bond flick. We were chased by spies, our phones were tapped and they followed us everywhere. They even tried to stop us at the airport in Switzerland in an effort to bring us back.”
Although he hopes “Big Ned” will launch his directing career (he has written several screenplays he would like to shoot), his heart will always remain in editing.
“I think I will always be an editor,” he said. “It’s the final point of control over the story. It’s the basis of the cliche that a story is told three times. You write the script, you shoot the film and you edit. All my favorite directors, people like (Martin) Scorsese and (Steven) Spielberg, say their favorite part of filmmaking is editing and crafting the story.”
Nedomansky is passionate about his craft and enthusiastically embraces every opportunity to share his knowledge and expertise.
He participates in industry panels and interviews and even writes his own blog, which is very popular among cinephiles. “It’s cool when you have something you want to share with others,” he said. “I have no agenda with my blog, no advertisers. It’s whatever pops into my head that I feel would be nice to share.”
He frequently consults on other people’s projects, having become the resident expert on Adobe Premiere Pro. He taught the Oscar-winning editors of “Gone Girl” how to use the platform and how to set up their editing workflow to best implement the software. More recently, he provided similar editorial consultation on the superhero hit, “Deadpool.”
In the meantime, he continues to alternate between commercials and feature films.
“I like the variety,” he said. “If I had to do the same thing every day, I’d go crazy. With editing, I never know what the next project will be. I’m always working with different people, doing something new that will require a different muscle set and different problem-solving techniques.”
After a career in hockey, Nedomansky said deadline pressure doesn’t faze him. Pulling all-nighters to meet a deadline to finish a cut for producers or to complete a project to make a broadcast date is no big deal.
“Hockey taught the work ethic, along with dedication and perseverance,” he said. “You can’t take a day off because not only will your teammates see it, everyone sees it. The film industry is equally demanding. You’ve got to be grinding all the time.”
BEN HANKINSON: ALL-STAR AGENT
When Ben Hankinson played for the Griffins during their inaugural 1996-97 season, he was known for having a sense of humor, a trait that has served him well during his subsequent years as an agent.
“I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life, although I work most of them 24 hours being on call like I am,” he said. “I love what I do. I love the game of hockey and I love being involved with players and helping them get to the highest level. I love going to the rink and watching games and interacting with hockey people.”
An agent has to be prepared for just about anything while providing personal attention to the needs of his clients. Sometimes it helps to be able to just laugh.
“My job has ruined almost every vacation I’ve ever been on,” Hankinson says with a chuckle. “You could be out to dinner with your wife or celebrating your kid’s birthday when you get a phone call that requires your attention.”
Hankinson recently found himself in the middle of a whirlwind when a longtime client, John Scott, suddenly was leading the fan vote for the 2016 NHL All-Star Game, despite only having scored five goals in his entire career covering eight NHL seasons.
“You never know when all of a sudden something happens overnight that will turn your world upside down,” Hankinson said. “That definitely did. I think I was on the defensive for about one week straight.”
The media and some unnamed NHL sources insinuated that Scott didn’t deserve to play. At one point, Scott even came out and publicly asked people not to vote for him. “He said he appreciated the support, but he had teammates who were more deserving,” Hankinson recalled. “For a while, he questioned whether he should go or not.”
But people kept voting for Scott.
“I was always supportive of him going,” Hankinson said. “To me, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity for him and his family. The fans voted for him and this was his chance to be an all-star for the rest of his life.”
Still, many felt the wise decision was not to play and not embarrass himself. “Behind the scenes, there was a lot of ups and downs of emotion,” said Hankinson, who has represented Scott since he turned pro following his four years at Michigan Tech. “John took a lot of hits, but he’s taken hits his whole career.
“John let the entire situation play out and at the end of the day, the fans spoke and they wanted him there.”
Scott decided it was a one in a million opportunity and ended up playing in the 61st NHL All-Star Game at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville. By virtue of being the top vote-getter, he was captain of the Pacific Division team.
In fairy tale fashion, Scott scored two goals in the tournament that helped his team advance to the finals, where they were winners by a score of 1-0. Scott was named the All-Star Game MVP and accepted the million-dollar check presented to his team.
A week later, Scott’s wife gave birth to twin baby girls.
“It was unbelievable,” said Hankinson, who subsequently sold movie rights to Scott’s story to Mandalay Sports Media. Mike Tollin, whose credits include “Varsity Blues,” “Summer Catch,” “Radio,” “Coach Carter” and “Dreamer,” will produce, and longtime Detroit Free Press sportswriter Mitch Albom (“Tuesdays With Morrie,” “The Five People You Meet In Heaven”) will pen the script.
Hankinson contends Tollin and Albom couldn’t have picked a better subject.
“The more layers you uncover of John, the more you appreciate and like him,” Hankinson said. “From day one, John has been a high character individual. He’s had to play the game the hard way – not by scoring goals but by being a good, honest teammate and enforcer.”
As a tough guy, Scott has had a long and exemplary career, the kind that any player would admire, according to Hankinson, whose own NHL career was a bit shorter.
Hankinson played a total of 43 games over the course of three NHL seasons. He harbors no regrets.
“Life isn’t always fair, but hockey is. There are enough teams and leagues that eventually you’re going to get your chance. If I did it all again, I might do things a little differently, but I got the opportunity to play in the NHL, which was an unbelievable dream-come-true for me.”
Hankinson played for one more season after his year in Grand Rapids. He played in 80 games for the Orlando Solar Bears during the 1997-98 campaign, then decided to retire.
“I got to the point where I felt like I was getting a little further away from the NHL rather than closer and my motivation to get to the NHL had dropped a bit,” he said. “I had an opportunity to potentially sign a contract with the (New Jersey) Devils, but I came to the realization that it was time to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”
Hankinson was intrigued by the idea of becoming an agent. In fact, he had handled some of his own negotiations toward the end of his career.
“I had already signed an IHL contract to play in Grand Rapids when I went to Pittsburgh’s camp and made the team. I needed an NHL contract, so I went into the office of the Penguins’ GM, who was Craig Patrick at the time, and negotiated a signing bonus.
“I only stayed until they signed Petr Nedved. My time with them was over, but doing a side deal with the Penguins is how I got my first taste of the agent business. I think I got something like a $25,000 bonus to be their property while I went down to Grand Rapids to play.”
Hankinson has fond memories of playing for the Griffins.
“It was such a fun season because everything was new and every game was sold out, which was pretty impressive for a minor league team,” he said. “We had a great group of guys and Dave Allison was a colorful, fun coach to play for. He always had something up his sleeve to motivate us.”
Upon retirement, Hankinson became a certified agent. Travis Richards, who was his teammate at the University of Minnesota before the Griffins, was one of his first clients. Today, Hankinson represents a number of players with Minnesota ties, including Red Wings prospect Nick Jensen.
“Nick is a hard-nosed, hard worker,” he said. “Nick’s very understated but he’s going to be an NHL player. He’s one of those guys who when he gets his chance, he might never look back. I think the game’s going to come to him easier in the NHL than the AHL because he does everything right.”
Hankinson has had Ferris State product Chris Kunitz, who has won Stanley Cups with Anaheim and Pittsburgh, as a client for his entire career. He recently negotiated a five-year, $38 million contract extension for Winnipeg Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien.
“As an ex-player, you have a feel for the game and where your client fits in, when he should sign and for how long,” Hankinson said. “When you negotiate a contract, you’re excited for the player and his family, but then it’s on to the next one.”
Hankinson and his wife, Gwen, have three boys. Mac, 18, and Joe, 16, play hockey on the Medina High School team while Jake, 13, plays on a youth bantam team. When he’s not watching his own boys play, Hankinson is often in a rink somewhere, either recruiting potential clients or following the careers of current clients.
“When you negotiate a contract and eventually see them play at the highest level, it’s pretty rewarding,” he said. “To start working with a young player and then see him retire years later as a young father is pretty cool.”
The bottom line is Hankinson’s work keeps him in touch with the game that he loves. “Hockey players are pretty unique,” he said. “They’re typically very blue collar and usually require low maintenance. I can’t imagine being an agent in other major sports.”
DARCY SIMON: REAL ESTATE PRO
When Darcy Simon thinks about his time with the Griffins, a big grin spreads across his face. He has fond memories of Grand Rapids because with the opening of the new arena and the return of pro hockey, it was a special time in the city’s history.
A “stay-at-home” defenseman by trade, he was also the team’s first enforcer. He was the designated tough guy who kept order for the Griffins during the inaugural 1996-97 season before reinforcements arrived in the form of Bruce Ramsay and Matt Ruchty.
“For me, this is a special place,” said Simon, who returned to Van Andel Arena in mid-January for a gathering of Griffins alumni in conjunction with the team’s 20th anniversary season. “This was the equivalent of the National Hockey League for me. When you look at the ownership, the arena and the fans, you cannot find any better. You don’t forget first class.”
There was a down side to his time in Grand Rapids. On Feb. 27, 1997, he was knocked out by a sucker punch during a game against the Indianapolis Ice. He eventually returned to the ice but was never the same and retired after one more season. He has lived with the repercussions of the concussion ever since.
“To this day, it affects me,” he said. “If you see Will Smith’s movie (“Concussion”), well, welcome to my life. What’s normal for me is not normal to others. But it is what it is. You live by the sword and you die by the sword and in the end, I probably gave more than I got.”
Although today’s concussion protocols are designed to prevent players from returning to action too soon, it was not that way when Simon played.
“That was the problem – it was the way hockey was played,” he said. “We pushed ourselves to the limits. If something hurt, we taught ourselves to think that it didn’t hurt. That may be okay if it’s an arm or a leg or a foot, but when it’s your head, it’s a problem.”
Simon tried to fight through the concussion symptoms he was suffering but eventually realized he had a problem. “When you have a family, you finally come to your senses,” Simon said. “You realize that other people are depending upon you.”
Retired from hockey at the age of 28, Simon suddenly found himself wondering what was next.
“Everybody tries to find a job after hockey,” Simon said. “When I tried, it always seemed like it was the bottom of the barrel. I didn’t want to start at the bottom of the barrel. I was still struggling with concussion problems, so I wanted to know more quickly what I was going to do.”
Simon decided he would volunteer for any position that interested him. Having studied horticulture at a community college in Seattle for two years, he initially thought he would explore a career in landscape and irrigation systems, but he changed direction and discovered a calling for sales.
Eventually, he decided to go into real estate in the Fredericton, New Brunswick, area. “Everybody told me not to do it, but they said I was no good at hockey as well, so I told my wife it was a sign,” he said with a chuckle.
After his first year, Simon was named Rookie of the Year for his sales efforts and four years later, he was the No. 1 realtor for Royal LePage in Canada. “I realized that I needed some help, so I hired an assistant.”
Eventually, he took on a partner and his firm became Canada’s top seller for several years running. “Things have been pretty good,” Simon said. “If there ever was a problem with selling, it was usually because of the condition or location, but the last couple of years, the market has been down so it’s been a little more stressful.”
After retiring as a player, Simon coached hockey for a couple of years. His real estate firm was the major sponsor of the Fredericton Midget “AAA” Canadiens hockey club for nearly a decade before he finally figured it was time to allow someone else the opportunity.
In recent years, Simon has tried to find more balance in his life. “Being a workaholic, you work day in and day out. Other people might wonder how you do it, but for you, it’s something natural,” he said. “I’m not going as crazy as I once did. I realize there’s more to life than working all the time.”
Simon would like to spend more time with his family. He and his wife, Beth, have three daughters. Madeline, 20, and Kelsey, 19, attend university while Lucy, 14, is in the eighth grade. “Kelsey made the UNB Saint John basketball team and then she broke her hand,” Simon said. “Of course, dad doesn’t know too much until I tell her I broke my hand, the same bone. All of a sudden she is interested in dad again.”
The family owns a “mini-home” in the Orlando area, which is two miles from Disney World and not far from the home of the Orlando Magic, a convenient arrangement since he is an avid basketball fan.
Simon also enjoys spending time outdoors in beautiful New Brunswick, although he must temper his pursuits due to the concussion symptoms. But he does not want to appear like he is complaining.
“Playing hockey is what I wanted to do and I did it,” Simon said. “Now life goes on. It’s always going to be woulda, coulda, shoulda, but in the end you realize you had a great time and you became part of things that were successful,” Simon said.
That’s why Grand Rapids will always hold a special place in his heart.
“When I was there in January, I felt like, ‘Where am I?’ Wow. I wish I could be there for a month just to visit all the new stuff downtown. To think that the first Griffins team helped get it started, that’s pretty cool.”