About Ricky: Ricky O. enters his sixth season in the Vice President & Assistant General Manager roles with the Kraken and serves as the Kraken’s lead expert on contract negotiations, managing the salary cap, and the NHL collective bargaining agreement. Previously, Olczyk was the Assistant GM to Ron Francis for four years in Carolina, where he played an integral role in transforming the player development system from the lower third to a top third team across the NHL. He was a driving force in founding Oklahoma City’s AHL franchise when he was the Assistant GM for the Edmonton Oilers (seven seasons). At the 2016 World Cup, as Assistant GM he was a key member of the management team for Team Europe, which won silver after a tight best-of-three final vs. Canada.

Fun Facts: Pronounced “ohl-check.” Played defense four seasons at Brown University, captain senior year. Captained USA Under-17 team to a silver on team with NHL Jeremy Roenick, Tony Amonte, and others. Earned Cornell Law degree, worked as Associate Counsel for NHL Players’ Association, and was a player agent. Competitive trail runner, dedicated vegan, and avid reader. Brother is Kraken broadcaster Eddie Olczyk. At Brown, DJ’d on campus and wrote Honors Thesis in Philosophy: Life Is Essentially Competition.

About Jason: Prior to joining the Kraken for their inaugural season, Botterill was the General Manager of the Buffalo Sabres from 2017 to 2020 after spending a decade working for the Pittsburgh Penguins front office, helping construct a Penguins roster that would ultimately win three Stanley Cups (2009, 2016, 2017). He was part of the three-manager leadership team with Kraken GM Ron Francis for the 2019 silver-medalist Team Canada at World Championships. The former NHL left wing was selected 20th overall in 1994 Draft as a freshman at the University of Michigan (scored 104 goals, 82 assists for 186 points in 150 NCAA games).

Fun Facts: Born in Edmonton but raised in Winnipeg. Only Canadian to win three straight gold medals at World Junior Championship. But higher bar for bragging rights in his family: sister Jennifer won three straight Olympic gold medals (2010, 2006, 2002) and one silver (1998 as youngest player) for Canada’s national women’s team. His mom was an Olympic speed skater for Canada in the 1964 and 1968 Games. His father is a renowned sports psychologist who has worked with several NHL teams and Canadian Olympians in basketball, hockey and cross-country skiing. Wife Andrea was an All-American gymnast at the University of Michigan.

What to Know: Hired in late 2020 from a senior technical designer role at Microsoft to build a platform that allows us to visualize our team's in-depth analytical data, scouting reports, and player statistics. The goal is "to create a 'one-stop-shop' for staff and coaches, one that puts all the data needed to supplement decisions around drafting, trades, strategy and scouting at their fingertips."

Fun Facts: Growing up in British Columbia, Mathiasen somehow looked past almost his entire family's devotion to the Vancouver Canucks to align with his cousin's admiration for the Edmonton Oilers

What to Know: Hired in November 2019, completed master's degree in December from Simon Fraser U in Burnaby, B.C., and started analyzing pro players for Kraken in early January 2020. Conducted and published research across several sports (basketball, football, rowing) as a student. Interned with the NBA. Part of the first-place team in the Student Division of the 2018 NFL Big Data Bowl for a project using AWS Next Gen data to identify pass routes, and then analyze routes' success rates and big-play capability. Heavily recruited, chose Kraken in large part because GM Francis was an early innovator in hockey analytics (starting in 2015).

Fun Facts: Basketball was his sport as a high school and club athlete in native Vancouver. Played "ball hockey, road hockey, but not organized hockey." His brothers both played ice hockey and his dad is a lifelong NHL fan whose favorite all-time player is ... Ron Francis.

What to know: Worked in a similar role for Hockey Canada's Men's and Para National Teams over the past four years. 2019 World Junior Championship gold medalist, 2020 World Junior Championship silver-medalist (in bubble environment), 2019 silver-medalist Team Canada at World Championships working with Ron Francis and Jason Botterill who were co-managers. Defenseman at the University of Massachusetts Amherst where he earned a B.S. in Sport Management while serving as an assistant captain in his senior year. Captain of Drumheller Dragons in the AJHL prior to attending UMass.

Fun facts: Started an annual charity invitational golf tournament in 2015 and is still looking to win his first title. From Calgary, Alberta, and proud to bring the Stampede spirit to future country concerts at Climate Pledge Arena. Enjoys spending free time doing outdoor activities (golfing, camping, hiking, fishing, backyard games).

What to know: Earned a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice from Seattle University. Strong background in research, data collection, and statistical analysis in legal/law enforcement agencies. Worked as a legal research assistant for a forensic and clinical psychiatrist and as a research assistant for the Seattle Police Department - South Precinct. Just recently, spent the last few years back in Athletics where she was the Head Varsity Volleyball Coach at Auburn Riverside High School and served as a strength coach at Vie Athletics.

Fun Facts: Went to the University of Montana on a full-ride scholarship to play four years of Division I collegiate volleyball. Wrote and defended a 100-page thesis on Crisis Intervention Training. Holds the Washington State record for number of kills in one volleyball game. Grew up going to Tacoma Sabercats games every Friday night with her dad. A mother to a sweet 15-month-old boy.