Weightman comfortable in Sweden
Former Alouettes president finds familiar fit in Swedish Hockey League
There’s life after the Alouettes, as numerous former players, coaches and management personnel scattered throughout the Canadian Football League will attest.
Almost a year following his divorce from the organization that paid his salary for more than 20 years, Mark Weightman appears calm and relaxed. Indeed, like many who have moved on, the Als’ former president probably sleeps much better these days — even if that rest comes thousands of miles from home.
“I don’t think it’s something you ever get over. I still love the (Als) immensely,” Weightman said Monday afternoon over coffee. “They will always be a part of me. I have the Als’ logo tattooed to my heart and always will.”
It has been 11 months since the organization, quite clumsily, announced that Weightman was no longer a part of it, replaced by Patrick Boivin.
The media that day went on a witch hunt, attacking ownership for not hiring Danny Maciocia to become its general manager. Or even president. One month earlier, Weightman alone was left to announce that Jim Popp wouldn’t be returning as GM. Both scenarios could have been handled more professionally.
“The announcement came out awkwardly and the misunderstanding with other moving parts,” said Weightman, who refused to comment at the time, hardly a shock considering his loyalty and honesty. “There was a lot of misunderstanding that created an unfortunate situation.”
Weightman has remained firm all these months later that he wasn’t fired. After two decades, it was mutually agreed upon by himself and the ownership group — Robert and Andrew Wetenhall — the time had come to move on.
“It was mutual in a sense that I recognized I wasn’t the right person for that role anymore,” said Weightman, 45.
“At the same time, I was ready to try something new.”
Since October, Weightman has been the senior marketing adviser for Linköpings HC, a team in the Swedish Hockey League. The team plays a 52-game regular season and boasts former NHL players Derek Roy, once a second-round draft choice of the Buffalo Sabres, and goaltender Jonas Gustavsson, who played for four NHL clubs, including Toronto.
Weightman, the father of two, is married to a Swede and the family owns a cottage on a lake 90 minutes south of Linköping. Weightman will return there alone Tuesday evening. Weightman, who understands the language, but doesn’t consider himself comfortable or fluently bilingual yet, returns to Montreal for one week every month. He and his wife were loath to disrupt the kids’ school year, which had already started. And they FaceTime on a daily basis.
Weightman, who has been vacationing in Sweden for years, met the team’s CEO last summer, believing there might eventually be a business opportunity. When Weightman returned to Montreal in September and was offered the job — basically advised to return immediately — he was shocked.
His family has supported the move. “At first, I wasn’t going to consider it,” he admitted. “It’s tough, especially because the kids are young. Thank goodness for technology.
“What makes it easier, I’m not just in some random place around the world. I’m at our other home. The kids have been there. It’s our cottage. It might be halfway around the world, but there’s a certain feeling of comfort. They know where I am.”
While the job came up unexpectedly, Weightman relishes remaining in sports, albeit with a different team, league, game, culture, language and country. He’s responsible for all marketing aspects — from ticket sales and strategy to sponsorship, game presentation and experience. The arena has an 8,500-seat capacity. The team, tied for sixth among 14 clubs, is averaging about 5,800 spectators a game.
Weightman said he was intrigued by the potential position from his initial conversation with the team CEO, saying he sees numerous similarities between the SHL and CFL.
“The state of the business, the challenges they’re facing, what they’ve been through and the scope of the business is similar,” he explained. “The transformation we went through with the Als and the modernization of our business and the way we did business ... our sales approach, the transformation into the digital age.
“It feels comfortable, but completely different and exciting because it’s hockey.”
Weightman still has Als season tickets and remains connected to the team, at least emotionally. He’s disappointed with their 3-15 record, but is convinced there’s a fervent fan base in the city, while believing the Wetenhall family remains committed to the team. Weightman saw Andrew Wetenhall at both the team’s September golf tournament and October reunion of the 1977 championship club — and was made to feel welcome.
“Your first mandate is to give your fans credible hopes and reasons the team will be better,” Weightman said. “If they can address a couple of key issues ... it can be turned around quickly; we’ve seen it happen. I don’t think the club’s as far from where it needs to be as many think or fear.
“But clearly, there are some big nuggets that need to be addressed.”
What makes it easier, I’m not just in some random place around the world. I’m at our other home.