Flichel redesigns career landscape

You may look at them and think they are just hockey players, but taking a deeper look you will discover that they are so much more. Take for example, Marty Flichel, a member of the Idaho Steelheads who has a great testimony of how hard work pays off in all areas of life.

Flichel is a professional athlete, team captain, business man, husband and father. For the past three years he has been running Flick’s Landscaping which operates from March to November. Consequently, it runs right along side with part the Steelheads season. He got into landscaping after doing yard maintenance and a friend suggested he start his own business. Flichel, who grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan, was well equipped for the task of starting his own landscaping business.

“You never know how much longer you’ll be able to play hockey, so you kind of have to start thinking about life after hockey,” Flitchel said. “Having a wife, a little one and another one on the way makes you think a little bit.”

Flichel, who jokingly referred to himself as “the grandpa on the team,” is a 12-year veteran to professional hockey and as captain for the Steelheads. One of the things Flichel said he hopes to do is set a good example to the younger men. He says one thing he has had to learn is, whether in hockey or business, your name is associated with the product and it is important to make it quality.

Sports have taught him a great deal about the value of time and the importance of follow through. He feels young entrepreneurs need to remember to, “treat people as you want to be treated. It’s a small town here, especially in Boise. Whatever field you are in, it’s a small, close nit group and everyone talks. It is important to keep a good rapport with everyone.”

One of the biggest lessons he’s learned is to be completely honest with people even if it is not exactly what they want to hear.

A friend once told him he would be successful because he plans well. Just ponder what it would take to balance a 70 plus game hockey season, your own business and a family. Marty is one of the few that has found the working system for it. He has found his home in Boise for the past five years and has no intentions of leaving. Having his number one fans at every home game is a bonus of being here.

“Having a family puts everything in perspective,” Flichel said. “If you have a bad game or something goes wrong you go home and have a smiling kid waiting for you.”

The preceeding article was written by Robyn Hewitt, a marketing student participating in the Idaho Steelheads Internship Challenge presented by The Arbiter. Four students compete head-to-head in a series of real world sports marketing tasks. One will be offered a full time position with the Idaho Steelheads. For additional information, visit idahosteelheads.com/boisestate.

ROBYN HEWITT
Special to The Arbiter

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