Cary Kaplan

Cary Kaplan is the president and owner of the sports marketing firm Cosmos Sports in Canada launched in 2003.Image is Canadian soccer's biggest problem, commissioner says, The Hamilton Spectator, July 8, 2005 The company specializes in consulting for sports teams and leagues in sales, marketing and business operations. High profile clients have inclued the NHL Canadian Football League, Major League Soccer, the Chicago Cubs, the Houston Rockets and the Phoenix Suns.
From 2005 until October 2009, he served as the Commissioner & Chairman of Canada's only pro soccer league, the Canadian Soccer League (CSL).Kaplan takes over as soccer head; Ex-Bulldogs president helped bring team to city, The Hamilton Spectator, April 15, 2005CSL Commissioner Resigns, CJCL, September 2009
CSL Inc. chairman Domenic Di Gironimo acknowledged Cary Kaplan’s tremendous contribution to the CSL. “There’s no doubt that Cary has moved the CSL ahead dramatically during the past few years, such that it is well positioned to occupy the second level professional soccer in Canada. And that’s essential for Canadian soccer. We thank him for his excellent leadership and his generous and very considerable contribution to the Canadian Soccer League.” (October 31, 2009)
Prior to founding Cosmos Sports, Cary worked for the Edmonton Oilers Hockey Club for six years, the last two as the president & alternate governor of the Oilers top affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, of the American Hockey League.
"Hockey in Hamilton owes a lot to Cary Kaplan," said Tony Battaglia, Chairman of the Hamilton Bulldogs LP. "In 2000–01, when the team's future in Hamilton looked bleak, Cary organized the 'Stay Dogs Stay' campaign. His efforts resulted in over a thousand new season's tickets being sold, and a new lease with the city. Without Cary's efforts, the team may have folded."
Battaglia added that Kaplan initiated the process that brought the current, local ownership group together, and was instrumental in bringing the Montreal Canadiens and Edmonton to the table. As a result, the Hamilton ownership group was able to secure the Canadiens' AHL franchiseKaplan cuts ties with Bulldogs; Leaves after spending six years with AHL, The Hamilton Spectator, July 24, 2002
In 1999, he won the Ken McKenzie Award as the AHL's top marketing executive; he has an MBA from Dalhousie University.
==References==
Category:Hamilton Bulldogs