From Lock Haven to the Stanley Cup: CU-Lock Haven alumnus builds a career in sports

For Ryan Erdman, 2010 Commonwealth University-Lock Haven graduate, the moment was surreal. Standing at ice level in Las Vegas, surrounded by his Carolina Hurricanes colleagues, Erdman watched as the organization he had dedicated more than a decade of his career to hoisted the Stanley Cup.

"I was fortunate enough to be there in person," Erdman said. "Seeing it live and being down at ice level while the organization you work for is lifting the Stanley Cup is a memory that I will never forget for the rest of my life."

The moment was more than a championship celebration for Erdman, it was the culmination of a journey that began at Lock Haven, where he discovered his passion for sports could become a career.

Although he was a sports-obsessed kid, when Erdman arrived at The Haven, working in professional sports was not part of his plan. That vision changed as he explored the opportunities available through Lock Haven's sport administration program. With a minor in business, hands-on experiences and the guidance of professors and mentors, Erdman began to see how he could turn an interest in sports into a profession.

"I was super grateful for the professors I had," he said. "They did a great job of guiding the transition of an interest in sports towards a career in sports."

Among the faculty who made a lasting impact on him was Carl Poff, a professor and mentor who helped Erdman navigate career development, interviewing, networking and other skills that prepared him for the industry. Erdman also credits Dr. Richard Lally's lectures with helping him understand the business of sports and developing philosophies that continue to influence him to this day.

The lessons extended beyond the classroom for Erdman, who played club lacrosse and worked as a referee at the Student Recreation Center, while also working special events for the university, gaining experiences that would later help him land his first professional opportunities. Most importantly, he met his future wife, Kelsey (O'Leary) Erdman '09, during his time at The Haven.

After graduating in 2010, he accepted an unpaid internship with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, a New York Yankees' Triple-A affiliate at the time. The long hours weren't glamorous, but the experience taught him how a professional sports organization operates and how its many departments work together.

He then joined the Pittsburgh Pirates in an entry-level position and worked his way through various ticket sales roles before joining the Hurricanes in 2015.

Today, Erdman serves as vice president of client retention and group sales for the Hurricanes, overseeing the team's ticket representatives and business strategies.

His career has taken him far beyond what he imagined as a student - and the lessons he learned at Lock Haven continue to shape his approach.

Erdman credits the interpersonal skills he developed at a smaller university as particularly valuable. With more opportunities to engage directly with professors and classmates, he learned how to communicate, collaborate and work through problems - skills that translate directly to the professional world.

Lock Haven also taught him a lesson that has guided his career from his first internship to the Stanley Cup.

"There are no shortcuts," Erdman said. "If you want something bad enough, you have no choice but to go out and work for it. From there, it's on you to prove yourself day after day and let your work speak for itself."

That philosophy proved especially meaningful during his time with the Hurricanes. When Erdman joined the organization, the team was near the bottom of the standings and fan interest was limited. More than a decade later, he celebrated a championship alongside colleagues who had shared the long journey.

"To me, it was just a complete full-circle moment," he said. "The coolest part has been sharing that journey with all the people that have been involved over all the years. Getting to share it all with both my colleagues at the arena, and my family who are just as much along for the ride has been amazing."

For students hoping to follow a similar path, Erdman emphasizes that loving sports is only the beginning. Professional sports organizations need people who can bring value through sales, marketing, customer service, strategy and countless other areas.

"Being a big sports fan, or a good athlete is great, but that is not what people are hiring you for," he said. "What you need to show is how you will provide value to an organization for the role you are pursuing."

He encourages students to get involved, pursue hands-on experiences and take advantage of every opportunity available to them.

"I think myself and plenty of my friends from Lock Haven are proof that if you apply yourself and get involved with everything Lock Haven has to offer, you can absolutely carve out a great future for yourself," Erdman said. "But you have to push yourself to gain as much experience as you can during your time at The Haven."

"There are so many career paths that can come from the sport administration program," he added. "While you might 'get into it' because you love sports initially, do your research and find what speaks to you and pursue it."

For Erdman, the pursuit led him from a small university nestled along the Susquehanna River to the pinnacle of professional hockey; a journey, he says, is proof that the size of a school does not determine the magnitude of a graduate's future.