PERSONNEL
A selective group of agents and advisors responsible for client strategy, representation, and execution.
Nick Shackford
President | PHPA Certified Agent
Columbus, Ohio
Nick Shackford is the co-founder and President of 85 Sports Management.
He oversees agency strategy, player representation, and long-term client planning across North America and Europe. His work is centered on structured development, disciplined decision-making, and managing career progression from the amateur level through professional representation.
Background:
Nick played junior hockey in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) with the Bay State Breakers before competing at the NCAA Division III level at Cortland State (SUNYAC) and St. Anselm’s College.
Following his playing career, he spent eight seasons in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) across multiple organizations, including the Kenai River Brown Bears, New Mexico Mustangs, Port Huron Fighting Falcons, Keystone Ice Miners, and Johnstown Tomahawks.
His experience spans coaching, scouting, and player development, with a focus on evaluation, recruiting, roster construction, and long-term athlete progression.
William Niles Moore
Legal Counsel | Licensed Attorney – Ohio Bar Association
Columbus, Ohio
William Niles Moore is the co-founder and Legal Counsel of 85 Sports Management, which he established with Nick Shackford in 2018.
He oversees contract review, arbitration matters, and legal diligence across all areas of the firm, ensuring regulatory compliance, contract structure, and risk management at every level of representation.
Background:
William is a licensed attorney practicing in Columbus, Ohio, bringing a structured, detail-driven legal approach to player representation and agency operations. His work supports both amateur and professional clients, with a focus on contract interpretation, dispute resolution, and long-term legal protection.
Prior to his legal career, he played junior hockey in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) with the Dayton Gems and Cleveland Barons, and in the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) with the Bay State Breakers.
He continued his playing career at the collegiate level with SUNY Cortland and Suffolk University and earned his Juris Doctor from Syracuse University.
His combined legal and playing background provides a disciplined, detail-oriented foundation for contract structure, risk management, and advisory matters across the firm.
Ryan Fairbarn
Senior Agent | PHPA Certified Agent
Boston, MA
Ryan Fairbarn serves as a Senior Agent at 85 Sports Management.
He leads player representation, professional placement, and long-term career strategy for amateur and professional clients. His work focuses on contract planning, market positioning, and managing career progression at each stage of development.
Background:
Ryan previously worked as an amateur scout for the Arizona Coyotes in the National Hockey League (NHL), where he was responsible for identifying and evaluating players for the NHL Entry Draft.
Prior to his time in the NHL, he worked with the Halifax Mooseheads in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), gaining experience in player evaluation and major junior scouting operations.
Ryan played four years at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) at the NCAA Division I level. Before college, he played junior hockey in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) with the Georgetown Raiders and Newmarket Hurricanes.
Following his collegiate career, he played five seasons of professional hockey in the Central Hockey League before continuing his career internationally in Germany and Norway, where he recorded 120 points in 92 games.
Ryan resides in Boston with his wife, Kasie Strong-Fairbarn, a member of the Women’s College Hockey Hall of Fame at RIT, and their five children.
His combined experience across NHL scouting, major junior evaluation, and a multi-level professional playing career informs a practical, detail-driven approach to representation and client management.
Ron Newhook
European Affiliate Agent | DEL 2 Certified Agent
Kaufbeuren, Germany
Ron Newhook serves as the firm’s European Affiliate Agent, leading operations and player placement across European leagues.
Based in Kaufbeuren, Germany, he manages professional opportunities and career transitions for clients competing internationally, with a primary focus on Germany and key European markets.
Background:
Ron was drafted by the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), where he played two seasons before finishing his major junior career with the London Knights. He recorded 136 points in 194 OHL games.
Following his junior career, he played professionally in North America with the Toledo Storm (ECHL) and in the Western Professional Hockey League (WPHL) with Central Texas, Waco, and Amarillo.
In 2000, Ron transitioned to Europe, where he built a 19-year professional career in Germany before retiring in 2019.
He currently resides in Kaufbeuren, Germany with his family.
His extensive playing experience across North America and Europe provides direct insight into European markets, contract environments, and international player movement.
Ed Hirka
Player Development & Identification
Phoenix, Arizona
Ed Hirka supports player development and identification across the firm’s advisory and recruiting operations.
He focuses on player evaluation, scouting, and long-term trend analysis, with an emphasis on how players progress as they advance through higher levels of competition. His work supports talent identification, development planning, and player projection across the firm.
Background:
Ed joined 85 Sports Management during the 2021–2022 season and works closely with agency leadership on recruiting strategy and evaluation processes, providing structured analysis and comparative insight across the player pipeline.
As a player, he competed at the junior level with the Johnstown Tomahawks in the North American Hockey League before continuing his collegiate career at Salve Regina University.
His playing background informs an analytical, development-focused approach to player evaluation and long-term identification.