For five and a half seasons, from 2013-2019, I served as Social Media Manager of the Buffalo Sabres (NHL).

Buffalo is my hometown, and I was even named after a Sabre (Craig Ramsay), so it was thrilling to be in this role, a true dream come true.

After 500+ games on social, I moved on to Digital Insights Manager for the Sabres and other sports brands owned by ownership.

Here are the positives of what it's like working on a pro sports team:

• You feel part of the team - little things like a branded name tag and season kickoff parties go a long way
• You get to know the players and realize quickly they're human beings who happen to be really good at ice hockey
• The perks are great, like an allotment of free tickets for family and friends or a press box seat for all home games
• You experience the thrills of good times, including (and especially) out in the community
• You realize that it's in many ways a 24/7 operation, with always things going on, not all coming to light publicly

• The hours are long, it's not a typical 9-to-5 in any way
• There are a lot of rules and regulations that must be followed, at the team and league levels, which can limit creativity

Still, the positives outweigh the negatives. If you're a big pro sports fan, and you ever have a chance to work in the pro sports industry, even for just a few years, definitely have a go at it. Jobs are posted across the industry at https://www.teamworkonline.com.