If you are a fan of hockey in St. Louis, the name Mike McKenna is a familiar one. With more than 500 games under his career playing for pro teams across the country, one would have to say it was more than a good run in chasing a dream. Now retired from playing, McKenna has found plenty of things that will keep him busy for the foreseeable future, including serving as managing partner for the region’s first Macadoodles.
What was the pinch-me moment for your hockey career?
It was kind of a slow burn. I spent the better part of three and a half seasons in the minor leagues. Despite being drafted by the Predators, Nashville did not sign me after my college career. I was a free agent. I just gradually worked my way up. When I eventually got the chance to play in the NHL, it definitely was a pinch-me moment. In the span of two days, I went from never having an NHL contract to playing in the league.
When did you start planning for your post-hockey career?
I always had it in the back of my head. Realistically, I expected to play a couple years at the AA level and see if I could move up to AAA. If I could do it, great. If not, I thought I would go to Europe and play four or five seasons of professional hockey before taking my economics degree and getting to work. That didn’t happen—I kept playing hockey.
How did you get involved in the wine and spirits business with Macadoodles?
It actually was a hockey connection from college. It really just seemed like the right fit to have an equity stake and be able to manage and be on my feet. It’s been a great learning experience, and here we are almost a year into our business venture.
With all of your experience traveling, are your fingerprints on the wine section?
Let’s say tiny fingerprints. I do know wine pretty well. When I was playing hockey, I used to love cooking and then finding the perfect wine to pair with a dish. But I quickly learned there are people who know more than I do.
Did your hockey career help in preparing you for this new venture?
In a lot of ways. There’s a ton of teamwork-oriented things that play into what we do here at Macadoodles. On the management side of things, I’m effectively the coach here. Off the ice, I found my passion working with the hockey players’ union. That taught me a lot about negotiation and tact. Being a professional athlete also taught me the skills necessary to be a public-facing figure.
Other than St. Louis, what was the best city to play in?
My favorite city in the NHL was Montreal. It’s hard to describe being on the ice with 22,000 fans in the crowd—it’s just electric. In the minor leagues, it was Syracuse. The rink is old and a bit of a dump, but it’s got so much character and the fans are right on top of you. I got to do a playoff run with the Syracuse Crunch, and it was some of the best times of my life.
