montréal sports management conference 2026

be a part of the leading sports conference in montréal.

Every year, the McGill Sports Management Club hosts an in-person sports conference for students to hear from top professionals in the sports industry. It covers topics from marketing/media, journalism, operations, law, and more!

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!! Click here to be redirected to the purchase page.

This year, the Conference will take place on the 13th of March. Tickets include access to the conference and a catered lunch. For more information, including an up-to-date list of speakers, check out @mcgillsportsmanagement on Instagram.

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See below for our 2026 speakers and panels!

the performance code: what it takes to develop a complete athlete

Individual Performance Coach @ CF Montreal

simon gatti

Born in Welland, Ontario, Simon Gatti began his soccer journey with the Thorold Cobras before earning a scholarship to the University of Rhode Island, where he spent four years developing his game from 2002 to 2006. He was then drafted by the Montreal Impact (now CF Montréal) in 2006 and went on to play six professional seasons with the club. After retiring, Simon transitioned seamlessly into coaching, joining the Academy in 2012 and working across multiple age groups, from U14 to U16. He later served as assistant coach for the reserve team, then as Head Scout for the Academy from 2017 to 2022. Since 2022, he has been an Individual Performance Coach, bringing a player-centric and detail-driven approach to development. Simon holds his B National Coaching Certificate and is currently completing his CONCACAF A License.

richard lepage

Senior Director: Innovation and Performance Design @ Cirque du Soleil

Richard is a manager specializing in human performance and innovation, recognized for the depth and diversity of his expertise. He has extensive experience in high-performance sports, having worked with professional and Olympic athletes at the highest level.

He has participated in three Olympic Games as a coach and has over 14 years of experience at Cirque du Soleil, where he has held key roles in human performance management, performance design, and innovation. In this environment of artistic and operational excellence, he has helped push the boundaries of sustainable performance, both humanly and creatively.

His international career has enabled him to develop strategic partnerships and build a strong network of contacts within some of the world's largest sports and cultural organizations. He stands out for his ability to integrate science, creativity, and management to design high-impact performance environments.

Assistant Coach, Mental Coach and Head of Performance Culture @ Montreal Roses

antoine guldner

Originally from southern France, Antoine Guldner is a specialist in mental preparation and performance culture, with over 15 years of experience in professional soccer. He holds a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree specializing in mental preparation and sports performance coaching from the University of Science and Technology of Physical and Sports Activities in Montpellier, France.

From 2011 to 2014, he contributed to the founding and development of the Montreal Impact Academy as a coach and mental trainer, before becoming the club's mental trainer in 2015. As part of the technical staff of the professional team playing in Major League Soccer, he was involved in the historic run to the Champions League final and an MLS conference final in 2016.

After returning to the Academy in 2018 as head of performance culture, he rejoined the technical staff of the first team and contributed to seasons crowned by a Canadian Championship in 2021 and the best season in the club's MLS history in 2022.

Antoine supports individuals and organizations in developing high-performance, people-oriented, and sustainable environments. He is currently employed full-time with the Montreal Roses as assistant coach and head of performance culture and mental preparation.


beyond the bench: how leagues and teams are built to last

Born in Montréal, Annie Larouche has been immersed in professional sports for nearly 30 years.

Over the past 25 years, she served as Executive Director of the Foundation and Director of Community Relations, Cheerleaders, and the Alumni Association for the Montreal Alouettes. Annie also held several key roles within the organization in public and community relations, marketing, and communications. She developed numerous community programs, notably to encourage academic perseverance and help young people stay active. She also had the opportunity to plan and execute major events such as Grey Cup Festival weeks, fundraising events, and CFL halftime shows.

Larouche built her professional experience with the Montreal Machine, the only Canadian team in the World League of American Football; the Montreal Dragons of the National Basketball League in 1993; the Montreal Roadrunners of the Roller Hockey International league; the Mission de St-Jean hockey club; and the Montreal Express lacrosse team. Over the years, she also collaborated with the Montreal Rocket of the QMJHL, Interbox galas, and the National Hockey League.

Annie Larouche made history in Montréal sports by becoming one of the first women to serve as president of a professional sports organization, the Montreal Alliance. Prior to her appointment in 2023, she held the position of Vice President of Operations since the team’s creation in 2021. Under her leadership, the Alliance achieved notable success, particularly in attendance and merchandise sales, and strengthened its position in the Quebec market. Now serving as President of the Montreal Roses, Montréal’s club in the Northern Super League since June 2024, she works closely with the ownership group and the sporting director to shape the team’s strategic vision. She also oversees operations, staff management, relationship development, and revenue generation to ensure the team’s success both on and off the field. Annie sits on the Board of Directors of Baseball Québec and is also an ambassador for the Espace Leadership Féminin and a mentor at HEC Montréal.


annie larouche

President @ Montreal Roses

marie-christine boucher

Senior Director of Team Operations @ PWHL

Marie‑Christine Boucher has more than 25 years of experience in both amateur and professional sports. She currently serves as Senior Director, Team Business Operations for the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), following two seasons leading business and operations for PWHL Montréal (La Victoire) during the league’s inaugural years.

Prior to joining the PWHL, Marie‑Christine spent six years as Executive Director of the Laurent Duvernay‑Tardif Foundation, helping advance its mission to promote education, creativity, and physical activity. She also led the successful delivery of the IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships hosted in Montreal and Toronto in 2015 and 2017 — two major international sporting events.

Her career includes nearly 15 years with the Montreal Canadiens, as well as key roles with the Shawinigan Cataractes and the organizing committee for the 2012 Memorial Cup. In 2013, she made history as the first woman to lead a professional baseball team in Canada, the Trois‑Rivières Aigles.

Marie‑Christine currently serves on the Board of Directors of Sports Québec. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Activity Sciences (Université du Québec à Trois‑Rivières), an MBA (Université de Sherbrooke), and a Certificate in English from McGill University.


Professional Sports Executive, Strategic Consultant, and Governor @ Montreal Alliance

mark weightman

Mark Weightman is an accomplished leader in professional sports with over 30 years of experience and a proven track record of strategic vision and organizational transformation. He is widely recognized for his ability to strengthen and revitalize sports

organizations across multiple major professional leagues, including football, hockey, and basketball. A native French speaker from Saint-André-d’Argenteuil, Weightman began his career in professional sports with the CFL in 1995 as an intern with the Baltimore Stallions. He then joined the Montreal Alouettes the following year when the Grey Cup champions from Baltimore relocated to Montreal and revived the Montreal Alouettes franchise. He held several roles over his 2 stints and 23 years with the organisation, including a decade as Vice-President of Operations and Events before being appointed Chief Operating Officer in 2012, and then President & CEO from 2013 to 2016 and again from 2023 to 2025.

Among his notable accomplishments with the Alouettes are the expansions of Percival Molson Memorial Stadium in 2003 and 2010, overseeing the major festivals and events surrounding the Grey Cup games hosted in Montreal in 2001 and 2008, and leading the organization’s transformation in 2023, restoring its tradition of excellence, re-establishing the club’s games as a vibrant and culturally relevant destination, and bringing sell-out crowds back to Percival-Molson Stadium.

Beyond football, Weightman also spent several years working in professional hockey on both sides of the Atlantic. He spearheaded the launch of a new ECHL professional hockey team the Trois-Rivières Lions, which he led from 2020 to 2023. Prior to this he held a leadership role with the Laval Rocket of the AHL, and led restructuring efforts for hockey teams in Switzerland’s National League and Sweden’s Swedish Hockey League. He was also a key architect behind the 2022 launch of Montréal’s CEBL professional basketball team, the Montréal Alliance, and served as its Governor from 2021-2023.

He returned to his role as Governor of the Montréal Alliance in 2025, a position he currently holds, while also working as a consultant for professional sports organizations in Québec and internationally. Weightman holds a Bachelor of Commerce with a specialization in Marketing from Concordia University and an MBA from Université du Québec à Montréal.

the athlete blueprint: training, nutrition, and injury prevention in elite sport

This panel is a collaboration with the McGill Students’ Sports Nutrition Club (MSSNC)

patrick delisle-houde

Associate Coach @ McGill University Men’s Hockey

Patrick Delisle-Houde was appointed as full-time associate coach with the McGill University men's hockey program in August, 2021.

A native of Quebec City, Delisle-Houde (BSc Kinesiology '15, MSc '17), returns to his alma mater after four years with the Montreal Canadiens, where he served as the NHL team's strength and conditioning coordinator. He has published several essays dealing with training methods, strength and conditioning and physiology to name a few.

"PDH", as he is known, missed only four games over his five seasons at McGill, from 2012 to 2017, where he served his final two years as team captain. The 6-foot-1, 194-pound forward tallied 171 points, including 68 goals, in 204 games overall, to go along with 318 penalty minutes. He ranks second in the team record book for most career contests played, seven shy of the standard set by Evan Vossen.

in 2012-13, PDH merited OUA all-rookie team honours and culminated that freshman campaign with the Guy Lafleur Trophy, presented to the Quebec university player who best combines hockey excellence with academic success and citizenship. In each of his five seasons, he earned Academic All-Canadian status as well as making the Principal's Student-athlete Honour Roll.

Prior to enrolling at McGill, Delisle-Houde skated four seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, suiting up with both Rimouski (2008-2011) and Moncton (2011-12), where he posted a combined 70-113-183 record in 286 regular season games.


salah eddine haddou

PharmD, IOC Sports Nutritionist, Performance Consultant, and Anthropometrist ISAK Instructor

Salah Eddine Haddou is an IOC Sports nutritionist and performance consultant with an international background in elite soccer. He has worked with professional clubs and athletes in Morocco and other countries in Africa and the Middle East, supporting them through body composition analysis, evidence-based nutrition strategies and performance optimization.

Salah is also ISAK Anthropometrist level 3/Instructor and has experience in both clinical and applied sports settings. He is now based in Montreal, passionate about bridging science and real-world practice to enhance athlete health and performance.



félix croteau

PT, PhD, RISPT, FCAMPT, HPC Senior

Félix has been working as a physiotherapist for over a decade, and completed a PhD in rehabilitation sciences in 2022 at McGill University with a focus on shoulder injury prevention. He has accompanied national and international level athletes since 2014 in his role at the INS Québec. He has had the opportunity to attend multiple international sports competitions such as World Championships, Pan American Games, and the Olympic Games. Today, he shares his time between the clinic and academia as a researcher with an interest in injury prevention and safe return to sport.

lasting deals: navigating contracts, negotiations & partnerships in sport

Thomas houlton

Senior Leader & Team Lead, Sports @ Dulcedo Management

Thomas Houlton is a senior sports agent and Team Lead of Dulcedo’s Sports Division, specializing in the management and marketing of professional and Olympic athletes. He represents high-profile athletes across the NHL, PWHL, and the Olympic Games, guiding the commercial and brand strategy behind their careers.

Thomas leads major partnership negotiations and oversees long-term brand strategy, guiding the commercial direction of his athletes’ careers. He executes sponsorships and brand campaigns aligned with each athlete’s identity and long-term vision. Beyond dealmaking, he builds holistic athlete brands — elevating digital presence, diversifying revenue streams, and positioning his clients for sustained success.

A graduate of McGill University, Thomas operates at the intersection of sport and business, advising athletes on positioning, partnerships, and long-term career growth.



marco renda

Account Manager, Partnership Development @ Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE)

Marco Renda is a marketing, sales, and sponsorship professional based in the Greater Toronto Area, focused on building innovative brand partnerships that bring people and communities together.

He is an Account Manager on the Partnership Development and Innovation Team within Global Partnerships at Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE), where he leads the creation and renewal of strategic partnerships across the Toronto Maple Leafs, Toronto Raptors, Toronto FC, Toronto Argonauts, BMO Field International Soccer Events, and major venues including Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, and Coca-Cola Coliseum. Previously, he worked in MLSE’s Revenue Strategy and Partnership Marketing teams, driving key revenue initiatives, managing marquee asset entitlements, and leading activations across banking, education, and CPG partners.

Before MLSE, Marco spent nearly four years with TD Bank Group, earning the TD Canada Trust Legends Award in 2021 as a top district sales performer.

A BBA graduate of the Schulich School of Business (Marketing & Strategy), Marco remains active as a member of the Schulich Global Alumni Network, Dean’s Society, and as a volunteer Alumni Ambassador, supporting initiatives including the Schulich Sports Business Association.

He is also the founder of madeNTB, a Canadian lifestyle brand that has partnered with RBC, Play On!, and the Brampton Steelheads.

Outside of work, he enjoys country music, cottage weekends, golf, travel, and discovering great food.

sasha ghavami

Attorney, NFLPA/CFLPA Certified Contract Advisor, and Entrepreneur

Trained as a lawyer, Sasha Ghavami focuses his practice on negotiation strategies. He is often called upon to negotiate agreements in the legal field and to find solutions to resolve disputes between parties. He brings creativity and originality to the table, aiming for outcomes that satisfy all parties involved.

In parallel, Sasha is also an athlete manager and a certified player agent in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL), representing over 30 clients across the two leagues. He handles contract negotiations between players and professional teams, secures sponsorship deals, and manages athletes’ careers and post-career transitions. His clients include Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (former NFL player with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets), Antony Auclair (Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2017–2021, Houston Texans 2021–2022), Theo Benedet (Chicago Bears), Devin Veresuk (Indianapolis Colts), Ryan Hunter (Toronto Argonauts), and Mathieu Betts (BC Lions).

He is also the president of VA-AS University Recruitment Inc. and co-owner of the bakeries Boulangerie Le Pain dans les voiles.

Experience:

  • Developing negotiation strategies for businesses

  • Implementing structured preparation processes for negotiations

  • Understanding negotiation stakes and finding solutions

  • Developing negotiation techniques tailored to individual personalities

read the ice: inside the analytics revolution changing hockey

mikael nahabedian

Director of Hockey Analytics @ Montreal Victoire

Mikael Nahabedian is the Director of Hockey Analytics for the Montréal Victoire in the PWHL, where he works at the intersection of data science and scouting to support the hockey ops department and coaching staff.

He previously worked as a consultant with the Colorado Avalanche in the NHL and started his career with the McGill Martlets in USports. Nahabedian also served as a Video Coach for the Italian Women’s National Team at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (BComm ’20) from McGill University, where he then pursued graduate studies in accounting (GCPA ’21), obtaining his CPA designation. During his undergraduate studies, he served as VP Finance of the McGill Sports Management Club (MSMC) and has since been involved in the club’s mentorship program.



christopher boucher

Director of Hockey Analytics @ Montreal Canadiens

Christopher Boucher was named Director, Hockey Analytics of the Canadiens in May 2022. Boucher became the first person to hold this position in the Canadiens' history. Boucher previously spent two seasons with the San Jose Sharks organization as a professional scout. He previously worked for the sports analytics company Sportlogiq. Among his duties, Boucher assists management and the coaching staff by providing relevant statistical data to help them evaluate players and make strategic decisions.

He has worked as an NHL team consultant for over ten years and has over two decades of experience in hockey analytics and micro-stats. Christopher developed the first-ever complete and binary micro-stat tracking system in hockey and is the creator of the micro-stat definitions, reports and insights used by 28 NHL teams, 14 SHL teams, and 2 hockey federations. Due to his ability to translate raw data into easy-to-digest and actionable team and player information, he is recognized by NHL and SHL teams as the leading authority on event and tracking data in hockey.



Nick Czuzoj-Shulman

Senior Manager, Customer Support @ Teamworks

Nick brings over 7 years of experience in Sports Analytics, currently working as the Director of Hockey Analytics & Services at Sportlogiq. Starting as a Data Analyst in 2018, he worked his way up to leading the professional services and analytics teams, acting as the main point of contact with NHL clients and developing and overseeing countless custom reports, models, visuals, and products used throughout the hockey world today. His work in Sports Analytics has been featured at the MIT Sloan Conference, Harvard’s NESSIS, as well as hockey analytics conferences in Ottawa, Seattle, & Columbus.

An alumnus of McGill (B.A. Psychology & Economics), he went on to receive his Master's in Management Analytics at Queen’s University’s Smith School of Business. And, prior to starting at Sportlogiq, he worked with statistics in medical research, co-authoring over 75 peer-reviewed publications.




FAQ

  • Anyone can attend, whether in CEGEP, university, or beyond! All you need is a ticket.

  • Any student from any academic/interest background is more than welcome to attend!

  • You can purchase a ticket here.

  • Your ticket includes access to the event, catered lunch, networking opportunities, and a special gift from our sponsors.

  • The conference will run from morning to evening with hour-long panels, lunch, and networking opportunities. Keep an eye out on our Instagram (@mcgillsportsmanagement) to see a full schedule soon.

  • That’s okay. Students can attend specific panels and drop in and out of the conference throughout the day as they wish. However, it is important to note that they must purchase a full-day ticket regardless.

Follow @mcgillsportsmanagement on Instagram for more Conference updates!