Менеджер по инвентарю «Ньюфаундленд Рейнджерс» с любовью встретился с командой в Суммерсиде

Equipment manager job with Newfoundland Regiment a labour of love for P.E.I. man Prince Edward Islander enjoyed visit home during Newfoundland Regiment's visit to Summerside Tyler Jay loves his work with the Newfoundland Regiment. Jay has experienced just about all the pluses and minuses that come with any job as he enters his 14th season as an equipment manager in the QMJHL. “It’s not always bright lights, but it’s the team atmosphere and being a part of a team, and being able to see the world, too,” said the 30-year-old son of Bobby and Linda Jay of Charlottetown. “Hockey’s brought me all over the world, and a lot of the places I would never have been if it wasn’t for hockey.” Jay experienced an unglamourous part of the job recently as part of the Regiment’s five-day training camp at Gerard (Turk) Gallant Arena in Summerside, P.E.I. Jay, who was travelling alone, drove a U-Haul with team equipment and clothing from St. John’s to Summerside. “Overall, it was about a 27-hour trek to get here,” said Jay, who left St. John’s at noon on Aug. 15 and took a 16-hour ferry to North Sydney, N.S. Then Jay had another “six-to-seven-hour” drive to P.E.I., arriving in Summerside at about 3:30 p.m. on Aug. 17. “It’s been awesome to come back home and see some family and friends,” said Jay in an interview at Credit Unoin Place. “Living away a lot, you don’t get to see them very much.” The Regiment camp in Summerside also allowed Jay to check out some Old Home Week harness racing for the first time in about nine years. “And being able to stay at mom and dad’s and have some home-cooked meals and, obviously, come back to a building in Summerside that I know very well, it’s been great to be here,” said Jay, who acknowledged the support offered from Credit Union Place’s staff. - Prince Edward Islanders settling in with Newfoundland Regiment - New Charlottetown Islanders athletic therapist takes next step in her career - Advertisement 1Story continues below Attraction to job Asked what attracted him to the equipment manager’s job, Jay remembered watching P.E.I. Rocket (now Charlottetown Islanders) equipment manager Andrew (Spider) MacNeill as a kid growing up. “I’ve always had a knack for the equipment side of things,” said Jay. “I love to learn about all the new gear and the technology that’s coming along. “I knew I wasn’t going to be a player, so I wanted to be involved, and that was kind of the route I was going to have to take.” Jay said there is a close camaraderie amongst QMJHL equipment managers as they often work closely when the Regiment is playing both at home and on the road. Warm welcome The Regiment is entering the team’s second season in St. John’s after relocating from Bathurst, N.B., following the 2024-25 campaign. “It’s been unbelievable, actually,” said Jay about the Regiment’s reception in St. John’s. “Just the treatment we get from the ownership group and the fans and the city and the building… it’s pretty neat just the way that things are run there. “It’s kind of different than everywhere else, just simply because of where it is geographically and the logistics going into making it all happen, it’s intriguing that way.” Jay is in his fourth year working with Regiment general manager and head coach Gordie Dwyer, who is from Stratford, P.E.I. “I know what he’s all about and he knows what I’m all about,” said Jay. “We get along well that way and it creates a bit of a sense of comfortability.” Busy summer Although the hockey takes a break, Jay was still busy this summer. “We had some renovations going on in our building (Mary Brown’s Centre), so there’s lots of moving parts,” said Jay. “We have the (annual) draft in June, so I was preparing for that. “Then after that, just getting ready for the season – lots of ordering; packages coming in; getting unpacked, and all the new equipment that comes in. “It’s slower in the summer for sure, but it’s, yeah, it’s pretty much year-round.” Jason Simmonds is a sports reporter at The Guardian in Prince Edward Island. He can be reached [email protected] and followed on X @JpsportsJason.