AUBURN - Many high school athletes dream about playing at the professional level. Of course, most move onto other things.

For former Auburn High hockey player Adam Winslow, his dream had changed from playing in the NHL to working in a professional team's front office.

Winslow currently works for the American Hockey League's Rochester Americans, a Buffalo Sabres' affiliate.

Winslow started playing hockey in 1985 when he was five-years-old in the Auburn youth hockey program.

"I started on the pond when I was five, and I have kept involved ever since," Winslow said.

In his high school years, Winslow played for a summer travel team that went to Canada, Massachusetts, and New York every weekend.

Winslow played varsity three years for the Maroons as a center and forward. He then went to Brockport State where he redshirted his first season.

Winslow then transferred to NJCAA-powerhouse SUNY Morrisville. After two seasons at Morrisville, Winslow found his way back to Brockport where he majored in physical education and sports management.

Winslow only got six games into his return when he realized his chronic back pain wasn't worth playing hockey anymore.

"I decided to hang 'em up and go a different route," Winslow said.

Of course he didn't want to quit but the pain in his back was too much to bear. Winslow then took a role as a volunteer assistant and scout for the team. That's when Winslow concentrated on the sports management program at Brockport.

As a part of his degree program, Winslow had to complete a 30-hour sports management internship.

He showed up in the Rochester Americans' front office wearing a suit with a copy of his resume and asked for an internship. Amerks general manager Dave Cielinski was glad to oblige.

The internship dealt with game-day operations which included coordination of youth hockey programs, stuffed mailings, setting up promotions, and calling prospective customers with ticket information.

Winslow enjoyed it so much he didn't want to leave, and with another 60-hour internship approaching in his degree program, he again called on the Amerks.

In Winslow's final semester at Brockport he had to do a 15-week stint with the AHL's Syracuse Crunch that involved the media and public relations department.

After graduation, Winslow wanted to stay on with the Crunch but their weren't any official positions available.

He kept in touch with the Crunch and with the Amerks in hopes of landing a position. Finally, in 2003, Winslow was offered a job by Cieslinski.

The only obstacle about the job is that it's in Rochester and Winslow didn't want to move.

"I chose to commute to Rochester because Auburn is the community that got me started and I see no reason to leave," Winslow said. "It seems like I get an oil change every two weeks with the commute."

Winslow loves the Auburn community and doesn't mind driving to Rochester everyday.

"People don't realize that it's not even an hour's drive," Winslow said.

Winslow's duties with the Amerks and the pro lacrosse Rochester Knighthawks, include ticket sales and promotions. Winslow gets corporations to buy tickets and have promotional nights where they may hand out a free gift or have discounted ticket prices. He also coordinates all the youth hockey programs involved in using Blue Cross Arena.

"This is what I love to do," Winslow said. "I never know what's going on with work until I walk in the door each day."

Winslow also works for Maksymum Hockey as an advertising consultant for their Rochester and Detroit offices.

Winslow works as a private instructor and sells advertising spots to a radio show. Maksymum Hockey specializes in in private instruction to youth hockey players.

Even with a hectic work load Winslow still finds time to assist Auburn High varsity hockey coach Mike Lowe. He also helps coach a Squirt Travel youth team.

"This is what I love to do," Winslow said.