Hockey AdvisorsHockey Advisors
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About Hockey Advisors

You should know the person who represents you.

The people

Who you will actually speak to

David Pauliak

David Pauliak

Founder & player representative

David leads the agency and is the day-to-day contact for most of our players and their families. He handles club communication, contract discussions and career planning personally.

Languages: English, Slovak, Czech, Polish

davidpauliak@centrum.cz+420 721 105 320

Personally

A letter to players and parents

I do this work because a hockey career is full of decisions that no player or family should have to understand alone.

I do not choose players only by points. I want to work with people who communicate openly, work on themselves and can accept an honest answer even when it is difficult.

Success for me is not just a signed contract. It is a player who understands his path, keeps developing and knows that our relationship will not disappear after one difficult season.

David Pauliak

David's philosophy

WHAT I LOOK FOR IN A PLAYER

Not statistics. Not points. Not popularity. Talent matters, but it is not enough for a relationship that should last for years. We look for qualities we can build on together.

  • Character
  • Work ethic
  • Discipline
  • Communication
  • A willingness to improve

Hockey Advisors was founded in 2013. Since then we have represented ice hockey players and coaches from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, the United States and Canada.

We work with every player personally. We know his season, his family situation and his club's expectations — which is why our advice is fast and specific rather than general.

We look after the whole career, not only contract day: career planning, transfers and negotiations, communication with clubs and coaches, school and study options, conditioning and nutrition, and the conversations parents need to have before a young player moves away from home.

What we believe

“Your development, taken personally.” A career is made of human decisions, and every one of them deserves real attention.

  • We know every player personally. You are not a name on a list, but someone we are in touch with.
  • We do not sell dreams. We talk about the next realistic step and what it takes to reach it.
  • We work internationally. Europe and North America, with partners on both sides of the Atlantic.

COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT

The team behind every player

  • Milan Vodička, MBA

    World Development Sports Group / NCAA certified agent

    Combines hockey and university studies in the United States for players who want to develop on the ice while earning a degree.

    Visit website

  • Jiří Vykoukal

    Sports mentor

    A former long-time professional player, coach and manager. Mentors players on sporting and professional performance.

    Visit website

  • Valdemar Pelikovský

    Conditioning and skills coach, PeliFit

    University-educated fitness professional working with our players on off-ice conditioning and individual skill work.

    Visit website

  • Nick Riopel

    NHLPA certified agent, President of Propulsion Hockey

    Our North American counterpart for players whose path leads across the Atlantic.

  • Petr Strakoš

    Financial security

    Advises players and families on insurance, income planning and financial security during and after a playing career.

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Experience

What we have been part of

  • Players in youth national teams from U16 to U20
  • Players in senior national teams
  • Players at the senior World Championship
  • Players in leading European leagues: Czech Extraliga, Slovak Extraliga, Finnish Liiga
  • More than 150 players helped since 2013

Openly

What players and parents often ask about

Does a smaller agency mean fewer options?
No. Fewer players per person means more attention, and our contacts and partners in Europe and North America stand behind every player.
Will a big agency with NHL players do more for my child?
What matters is who actually works with the player day to day. With us, the player speaks directly to the person who represents him.
Will an agent push my child through to the top?
No agent plays the games. We can open doors, prepare the player and negotiate — the rest is his work on the ice.

A personal commitment

Why players stay

Many agents help a player find a contract. I believe my work truly begins when the contract is signed.

Players need to know what is happening, hear the feedback and understand their options. And when things are not going well, they need to know who to call.

That is why I build the relationship for the difficult seasons as well as the successful ones.

David Pauliak

Founder & player representative

How we work

Five steps, and then we stay.

  1. 01

    We meet

    We sit down with the player and the family. No commitment, no paperwork, no pressure — we mainly want to understand your situation.

  2. 02

    We assess

    We say honestly where the player stands today: level, role, what needs to improve and which goals are realistic.

  3. 03

    We plan

    We agree on the next step, on what has to improve to get there and on who should be involved.

  4. 04

    We represent

    Club talks, contracts, transfers and paperwork are handled by us, so the player can focus on hockey.

  5. 05

    We stay

    Through good seasons and difficult ones. Representation is a long-term relationship, not a single transaction.