A former Orillia junior hockey coach has turned in his police badge to become a professional hockey agent.
John Jorginson, a native of Calgary Alberta, moved to Orillia in 1985 to work for Orillia's city police force, which eventually became the Orillia OPP. The former WHL player was "vol-untold" by his OPP bosses to get involved with coaching youth.
“I worked major cases, so I was tied to a pager at all times,” he explained. “If there was a stabbing, shooting, or something like that, I would have to leave in the middle of the game.”
Over the years, the now 66-year-old says he’s watched nine of the players he's coached when he was on the bench for the Orillia Terriers Provincial Jr. A team go on to play in the NHL. The first was Ethan Moreau, followed by others such as Dan Girardi, Richard Scott, and current NHLer Brent Burns.
“I ended up being more of a development coach,” he explained. “That’s maybe why I’ve developed the contacts I have in the industry."
Once Jorginson helped to develop his star players, he sent them to an agency in Niagara Falls called The Hockey Group, owned by Mike McArthur.
“I kept identifying players so much that they said I had a keen eye for recruiting,” he recalled. “They asked me if I ever thought of agency stuff.”
Jorginson took some time to learn the ins and outs of being an agent, but his focus remained on his policing career during which he earned the Medal of Bravery from the Governor General of Canada
However, when McArthur became a superior court judge, he sold his company to Kris Walleyn, who hired lawyer Melissa Bowen. She roped Jorginson into becoming a partner, agent, and advisor for the new company, Gladiator Hockey Agency.
“We all grow up wanting to be NHL guys,” he said. “Now I’m living my dream by helping kids get there.”
Jorginson retired from policing three years ago to become a full-time agent and he has represented 21 players who have made it to the OHL so far. In the next two years, some of the talents Jorginson represents will be drafted into the NHL.
This week, Jorginson was in Nashville to represent Kristers Steinbergs, a goalie from Denmark who was drawing real interest from five teams heading into the draft. Unfortunately, his name was never called by an NHL club.
“A lot of the kids I coached in junior are now OHL managers or in leadership positions in the NHL and they are all here," he explained. "I got friends who I played with in the WHL who are here, so it’s nice seeing everyone and some of the kids I’ve scouted.”
Jorginson says the biggest job of an agent is to protect the players, which is what made him fall in love with the role in the first place.
“Honesty and integrity are everything and I’ve lived my whole life like that,” he said. “If I feel like my client is getting backwashed in negotiations, I’m going to stand up.”
When one of his players faces adversity in the form of injury, a slump, or when they are struggling with their home life, it's Jorginson's job to step up and get them back on track.
“You aren’t just there to be with them through the limelight,” he said. “Gladiator will be there through thick and thin, and we always tell our clients to use hockey as a vehicle to get their education, and also life lessons.”
Working on major cases as a police officer has helped Jorginson succeed during his short tenure as an agent so far, he says.
“I dealt with some really heavy-duty stuff," he said. “When I interview people, I know what kind of character I’m dealing with, I know when they are telling me something that is offside, and I know when to explore.”
While Jorginson admits his agency is small today, he has big expectations for it in the future. Gladiator is currently representing Jack Nesbitt, a forward who was selected in the first round of the OHL Draft by the Windsor Spitfires.
“It’s about going to the rinks and knowing what you are looking for,” he said. “I’m big on skating, skill sets, and I look for leadership."
With Jorginson’s passion for scouting, mentoring, and representing youth, he plans on dedicating the rest of his life to being an agent for hockey players.
