NAHL names Zoe Lohrei as the next Kim Cannon Intern

The North American Hockey League (NAHL) is pleased to announce that Zoe Lohrei has been selected as the next recipient of the Kim Cannon Internship. She will begin her duties in the NAHL office on August 1, 2025. 

The Kim Cannon Internship was established back on June 2, 2021, by the NAHL, in cooperation with Tampa Bay Lightning Head Coach and former NAHL head coach Jon Cooper. The internship was designed to go to a recent college graduate interested in pursuing a career in sports. Lohrei will be the fifth recipient of the Kim Cannon Internship.

The internship is named for a former employee of an NAHL team, Kim Cannon. Back on September 9, 2020, Cannon was involved in an automobile accident that tragically took her life at the age of 35. Cannon’s legacy of dedication, passion, and drive while working with a team in the NAHL is what inspired the creation of this internship.

“I am incredibly honored to be named the next Kim Cannon Intern for the North American Hockey League. The NAHL has played such an important role in developing players, coaches, and staff at every level of hockey, and I am truly excited for the opportunity to be part of that mission,” said Lohrei. “Kim Cannon’s legacy means a great deal to me- her passion, positivity, and the way she lifted up those around her are qualities I will strive to reflect every day.”

Lohrei shares more on what it means to follow in Kim Cannon’s legacy. 

“It’s a privilege to follow in her footsteps, and I’m so grateful for this chance to learn, grow, and give back to the game that has given me so much. I hope to honor her memory through my work. This position is a true honor.”

Lohrei is a 2025 graduate of Adrian College, earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. While at Adrian, she spent three and a half years as a member of the NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey program and was named a captain in her final two seasons. The Wisconsin native was heavily involved with her college, serving as the President of the Class of 2025. Lohrei has a servant’s heart and ran hockey camps and mentorship programs for girl hockey players in the community while in school. Through these camps and programs, she helped her fellow girl hockey players gain confidence on and off the ice. The 2025 graduate was also a member of both the Student Government Association and Finance Club.

“The Kim Cannon Internship continues to provide young professionals an opportunity in the sports business world,” said NAHL Commissioner and President Mark Frankenfeld. “This year’s finalists did not disappoint and made the choice very difficult. In the end, we felt Zoe was the best fit for this upcoming season’s internship and we look forward to having her be a part of our NAHL family.” 

‘I would like to personally congratulate Zoe on being named the 2025-26 Kim Cannon Intern,” Jon Cooper, Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning said. “It has been well documented under the leadership of Mark Frankenfeld, that the NAHL has had a positive impact on the players' opportunity to develop and advance, but it is the people on the ground and behind the scenes that are the heartbeat of the individual markets. This internship opportunity continues to be a springboard for young professionals to learn and promote all aspects of our game. The interns that have come before Zoe have become great assets to the NAHL, as each year this internship is a reminder of who Kim Cannon was and the positive impact she had on all those she touched. I wish Zoe good luck and look forward to her progression throughout the season.”