Joelle Wood’s Journey With Various Organizations Paved The Way To Her Unique Role at the OHL

1Give us a brief background on yourself. How did you get into the sports industry?

I was always extremely athletic growing up. I not only loved to play all sports, but greatly enjoyed watching them as well.

For those who know me, I am very outgoing. When I was looking to pursue a post-secondary education, I came across Ryerson University’s (Toronto Metropolitan) Sport Media program.

I looked into it and decided that broadcasting was something that I was very interested in, as it would not only allow me the opportunity to continue my passion for sports but be able to showcase my personality as well.

Growing up in London, Ont., I was always a fan of Toronto sports teams, so having the opportunity to move to a big city and immerse myself in the sports industry was always my first goal. Since then, I’ve worked for U Sports, the Toronto Raptors of the NBA, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, CBC Sports, TSN, and now the Ontario Hockey League.

2Tell us about your role as the Manager of Communications for the Ontario Hockey League and what does a typical day look like for you?

I started my role as the Ontario Hockey League’s Communications Manager in December of 2021.

After gaining meaningful sport industry experience through past jobs and internships, it provided me with the ability to find a role that I truly enjoy.

My role primarily consists of creating digital video content for our social outlets and website which includes conducting weekly on-camera recap videos throughout the season, interviewing players and other individuals across the League, as well as writing content and League updates.

I cover game nights with social content across the League, as well as travel to special events and playoffs to moderate press conferences, conduct interviews and capture social content.

My job involves communicating with not only those working in the head office but with the communications departments of each of our teams as well. 

3I’d imagine working in the OHL is different than the previous organizations you’ve been with. How does it differ from those other environments?

Working in the OHL has been much different than my other roles in the sport industry.

My current role with the League gives me the opportunity to not only apply my media and broadcasting skills but continue to strengthen my communications skills as well.

It’s a completely different experience working at a head office of a sports league as you’re also working with the individual teams.

In terms of the people - it’s an amazing team. Everyone is extremely passionate about the success of the League and pushes to make it better every single season.

4You started out as an intern at U Sports. What are the things you learned in your first role that helps you succeed in your current role with the OHL?

It’s very important to take internships to gain experience when wanting to build a strong resume.

Though it’s not very comparable to the type of work I do now, U Sports was my first real job in the sports industry.

It opened my eyes to the world of communications and showed me that social media is a key part of the sports industry and that you’re able to build a strong career within it.