Simon Fraser University men's ice hockey club announced that former Vancouver Whitecaps FC director of sales Roberto Cabrone will be joining the organization with the focus of ensuring the program's continued and sustainable growth.
Cabrone, who was instrumental in the successful launch of the Whitecaps MLS franchise, brings a breadth of knowledge and experience to the SFU team. In addition to his previous role with the Whitecaps, Cabrone was also the director of sales for the Victoria Salmon Kings, as well as the VP of sales and operations for the Long Beach Ice Dogs, both professional teams in the East Coast Hockey League.
"I am thrilled to be a part of SFU men's hockey," said Cabrone. "Collegiate sports has a major impact in the lives of young people and plays an instrumental part in shaping their future. Our goal is to create a lasting legacy with this organization."
"We have some very lofty goals over the next few years," added SFU head coach Mark Coletta. "We want to put a great product on the ice and a different product than what you see with local junior teams, and to do that we need a solid financial foundation. With Roberto's guidance and being able to lean on his experiences, we think we are well-positioned to achieve our goals."
The SFU hockey program was re-established in 2004 and has shown significant growth over the past eight seasons playing in the British Columbia Intercollegiate Hockey League, co-leading the league with three championship titles.
The program is also active in showcasing inter-league play, competing against Canadian and American university programs annually.
