Alyssa Gagen, owner and General Manager of the Cleveland Blackjacks, is a woman of many and varied talents. Alyssa's road to becoming, not only a team owner, but an icon in the Icehouse Hockey League is a reflection of her dedication, adaptability and business savvy.
Alyssa first made her mark in the music industry working in New York searching out new talent. Alyssa's biggest find was Christopher Lee Rios, aka Big Pun, aka Big Punisher. Big Punisher was the first solo Latino rapper to go platinum. In contrast to his large frame, Big Pun was a surprisingly graceful and nimble rapper, delivering his often clever, tongue-twisting rhymes at a torrential pace.
Alyssa, the IHHL's first female Commissioner, served as a strong ambassador for the sport to its fans and built bridges between management and the players. She shepherd the IHHL through its first lockout during the 2012 to 2013 season. Drawing upon her experience in the music industry, she forged an agreement with the players' association that was beneficial for all parties. With the differences between the owners and the players worked out, Alyssa set about having the IHHL earn the respect and trust of the fans back. Throughout the entire lockout, she maintained an open and transparent dialogue with the fan base that helped the fans stay engaged. Post lockout, Alyssa used her contacts in the music industry to draw major bands to games, celebrating the return of hockey and spearheaded other fan-centric outreach projects.
For the 2013-2014 season, Alyssa decided to step down and focus on her team, the Cleveland Blackjacks. In stepping down, Alyssa said that "bringing the league back from the edge left too little time for me to focus on the team and the community that supports us. I know that this season will be a rebuilding year, but I fully expect the Blackjacks to once again be a dominant force in the IHHL."
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