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 Brutlag off to Business School Wednesday, August 08, 2012 After one season as a pro, Gladiators forward Bryan Brutlag is calling it a career and turning his attention towards Business School. The Lakeville, MN native led Gwinnett rookies in scoring with 20 goals to go along with 26 assists in 65 games last season, and also played in eight games with AHL Norfolk late in the campaign. Gladiators Associate Broadcaster David Foley spoke with Bryan about his plans for the future, and how difficult a decision it was to move on from hockey. David: Explain what you are going to school for and how the process works. You have to get a job before actually getting into a business school correct? Bryan: Yeah it’s a business school and I’m not actually accepted anywhere now because I have to work for two to five years usually. I’ll work this year, build up my resume, then start applying. DF: Where are you going to be working? BB: I’m working in Burnsville, MN which is pretty close to where I grew up, so it’s nice to be home. It’s a medical device company around Minnesota. DF: What will you do for them? I know sometimes after games last season you’d be doing engineering work on your laptop on the bus. BB: It’s mechanical engineering so it’s a lot of stuff on my computer and designing what they need, like a medical device enclosure. They make catheters so working and designing catheters is probably what I’ll be doing mostly day-to-day. DF: Was this always something you were into or did it develop over time? BB: It has probably developed, it’s something that I enjoy doing and went to school for so obviously I enjoy designing things and doing the hands on engineering stuff. DF: How tough of a decision was it to move on from hockey? BB: It was very, very hard. You’ve been doing something your entire life, working for something your entire life, and then another path or opportunity comes up and it is kind of weird to want that a little bit more. It was a very, very hard decision. I loved my time in Gwinnett and I’m happy I got the opportunity to play up a league in the AHL and I guess I was content with where I went and knew I wouldn’t have any regrets with the decision. DF: I know Coach Wroblewski always emphasized to the guys the importance of developing a career and having a plan for life after hockey. How much did that help you with this? BB: You know it’s a really good thing that he stresses that. I think it’s important because hockey won’t be there your entire life. The kind of person I am too I always had that in the back of my head and I think that’s why I chose the school I went to. It’s very important to me to build my career and set myself up for a good life. DF: What would you say your dream job is at this point? BB: At this point being an engineer and building my resume, but down the road I’d like to be a competitive businessperson and have some responsibility. Finding that competitiveness I had in hockey and translating that to the business world. DF: What things are you going to miss from playing hockey? That competitive side of it? BB: Absolutely. That’s the thing I am going to miss the most; going to work for something everyday. I’ve been doing it for 18 years, so I have been playing hockey and working towards that and always having that clear goal. Now the goal has to change, and it’s not as clear anymore. That and going to the rink and seeing the guys and that locker room atmosphere is going to be something I miss the most. DF: What was your favorite moment from last season? BB: I think the teddy bear toss is one thing that really sticks out to me. Brando scored that goal…I don’t know, it was a special moment to see how happy everyone was and you see the excitement in the fans in a packed place. It was a fun game. -###- |
