WHL NAMES DAN NEAR AS COMMISSIONER
The Western Hockey League announced on Thursday, on behalf of the WHL Board of Governors, the appointment of Dan Near, adidas Hockey executive and former NHL marketing professional, as the incoming Commissioner of the WHL. The announcement was made today by Ron Toigo, Chairman of the WHL Commissioner Search Committee and Governor of the Vancouver Giants on behalf of the WHL Board of Governors.
Near’s tenure in the WHL Office will begin January 1, 2024, as he transitions into the role of WHL Commissioner. He will officially take over the full responsibilities of the WHL Commissioner’s Office beginning February 15, 2024, at which point current WHL Commissioner Ron Robison will transition into an advisory role, providing support and guidance to Near.
The WHL was assisted in the hiring of Near by global talent firm TurnkeyZRG.
“On behalf of the WHL Board of Governors, it is my pleasure to welcome Dan Near to the Western Hockey League,” said Bruce Hamilton, Chairman of the WHL Board of Governors. “We set out to find an individual with a great business mind, someone forward thinking who has the ability to help grow the Western Hockey League brand and build upon the existing foundation. As we worked through the process, it became clear that Dan stood above the rest. We believe Dan’s experience with adidas Hockey and the National Hockey League makes him the perfect fit to build a strategy which will generate more growth for the WHL while we continue to be the world’s finest development league for junior-age players.”
Near, 43, most recently served as the Global Head of adidas Hockey and was responsible for leading adidas’ entry into hockey, managing their global hockey business since 2016. Near established and deployed adidas’ hockey strategy to build global credibility. This included partnerships with top athletes, including Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Mathew Barzal, Sarah Nurse and Kendall Coyne Schofield, collaborations with relevant brands including EA Sports and Disney, and investment and engagement with key industry stakeholders, the PWHPA and NHLPA. Under Near’s leadership, adidas conceptualized and delivered meaningful brand initiatives through hockey, including brand identity and uniform designs for the Seattle Kraken and Vegas Golden Knights – among the most meaningful brand introductions in North American sport history – as well as the widely popular NHL Reverse Retro jersey initiative in 2020 and 2022. Near’s time with adidas also saw the introduction of the NHL’s first sustainable jersey – a collaboration with Parley for the Oceans at the 2019 NHL All-Star Game.
“It’s a tremendous honour to have been selected as the next Commissioner of the Western Hockey League,” Near said. “I look forward to engaging with our Clubs, players, alumni, business partners and our fans to ensure we’re building an ecosystem that’s best-in-class and gives players and their families the confidence to choose the WHL for their hockey development journey.”
(WHL Communications)
