On-Ice Insights Inspire Creation of 200×85

Kevin Mann Knew He Wanted to Develop More Meaningful Youth Hockey Experiences

Kevin Mann brings over 3 decades of hockey experience to the boardroom at 200×85. The President and CEO of the company has been through every stage of the player’s journey, from youth and junior hockey, and then off to the Division I level, followed by several years of coaching at Maine, Bowling Green and the University of Illinois Chicago. Throughout the years, Kevin has seen first hand where there was room for improvement in the industry.

“I saw a true lack of player development in Tier 1 and Tier 2 players, and I believed strongly it could be improved with the right approach,” says Kevin. “Most of the event organizers offered very little in terms of exposure, activations, and experiences and I could see these programs had a very short shelf life because they remained so stagnant.”

With that in mind, Kevin created 200×85, a company that would focus on more than just hosting hockey events. The goal of the company was to break the mold of what the run of the mill hockey tournament looked like, to bring true player development to the table, and to make meaningful experiences the focal point of the events. For our team, a successful event means much more than meeting people’s expectations, it means exceeding them.

“It all starts by paying attention to the details on everything we touch. By doing so we will never settle for anything less than a premier product,” says Kevin. Doing all of the little things right time after time has allowed 200×85 to scale and become an industry leader.

Like any good team, 200×85 knows that staying at the top of the charts requires immense preparation and adaptability. In order to remain fresh, exciting, and meaningful, it is paramount that the different divisions of the business continue to innovate and adapt to the ever-changing landscape of the industry. So how do we do it? It all boils down to the amazing staff and sponsors we’ve worked with over the years that have an unending commitment to the value of customer service. Kevin says,

“From starting a Tier 2 Club to a premier Tier 1 program, to bringing the USHL into Chicago, to running the largest youth hockey tournament in the world – those are some of the best memories because our staff always had to do things the right way (and sometimes the hard way) to achieve success.”

Hockey has proven to be a team sport, even off the ice. “This business is built on relationships,” says Kevin, “and the biggest win is all the great people you meet over the years.” Relationships play a huge part in our success and are a major cornerstone of our company culture. When asked which 200×85 employee he’d prefer to be stuck on an island with, Kevin responded by stating, “I can’t pick one. If we weren’t all there together, I would resort to my inner Tom Hanks and find a way off that island. There’s electrifying energy around our entire team that is very familiar with trust & collaboration that you want to be a part of.”

Looking for elite-level competition? Check out our list of upcoming tournaments!