COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey announced today that Pat Durant (Norfolk, N.Y.) has been named the 18th recipient of the Brian Fishman Internship. Durant’s experience will include 12 months in the communications division at USA Hockey’s national office in Colorado, Springs, Colorado, beginning in late June, with the second 12 months of the internship spent in the communications department at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan.
The Brian Fishman Internship is awarded annually to an outstanding college graduate pursuing a career in athletic communications. It was established in 1999 in honor of the late Brian Fishman, who served as the manager of communications and marketing for USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. He died unexpectedly on Jan. 7, 1999, at the age of 28.
“I want to thank the Fishman family and USA Hockey for this tremendous opportunity,” Durant said. “Being selected as the next Brian Fishman intern is a tremendous honor and I am thrilled to carry on Brian’s legacy by emulating his dedication and passion to the game of hockey.”
Durant’s responsibilities will include assisting with various communication projects, event promotions and publishing initiatives, including USA Hockey Magazine.
Durant, who will receive his master’s degree in sports administration later this month from Ohio University, is a 2014 graduate of Le Moyne College where he earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications. Durant also received his master’s degree in business administration from Ohio University in April 2015.
The New York native has spent the past year as a media relations assistant in Ohio University’s athletic department and led communications for Ohio University’s ACHA Division I men’s hockey team. His duties included writing press releases, managing game day social media, and graphic design.
Durant has previously spent time with the Cincinnati Bengals as a game day marketing assistant and the Syracuse Chiefs as a media and promotions intern. He has also been a featured writer for the Professional Hockey Players Association.
NOTES: Durant will become the 18th Brian Fishman Intern. Alyssa Girardi (Dearborn, Mich./Michigan State University) will begin her second year of the internship at USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan, beginning in July … Previous Brian Fishman Interns include (most recent listed first): Jasmine Grotto (Alpena, Mich./Wayne State University), Zack Friedli (Rochester, Minn./University of Minnesota Duluth), Brian Smith (Woburn, Mass./Boston College), Alex DiFilippo (East Tawas, Mich./Michigan State University), Caryn Switaj (Farmington Hills, Mich./Boston College), Matt Caracappa (Randolph, N.J./Penn State University), Carly Peters (Bloomington, Minn./Syracuse University), Chris Peters (Chicago, Ill./Iowa State University), Craig Stancher (Calumet, Mich./Michigan Tech University), Alex Clark (Glenview, Ill./Colgate University), Christy Jeffries (White Lake, Mich./Boston University), Caitlin Lazaro (Effingham, N.H./University of New Hampshire), Seth Cole (Blue Hill, Maine/St. Michael’s College), Yariv Amir (Plainsboro, N.J./Colgate University), Cassy Maxton (Vandalia, Ohio/Miami University) and Jennifer Dame (St. Louis Park, Minn./St. Cloud State University).
