Paul Branecky

Senior Vice President

Branecky, who first joined the Checkers as director of digital media in 2011, assumed the role of senior vice president in 2025. In the interim, he served as the team’s vice president of marketing and communications.

In his current role, he helps oversee all aspects of the team’s operations with a continued emphasis on marketing, communications, and merchandise. In 2019, he earned the Ken McKenzie award as the AHL team executive who most successfully promoted his or her team during the previous season. In doing so, he became just the third person to win that award in the same season that their team won a Calder Cup. Since joining the team, he has led marketing and communications efforts on major events and milestones including changes in playing venue, affiliation and ownership as well as the Queen City Outdoor Classic in 2024.

Prior to joining the Checkers, Branecky spent six seasons with the Carolina Hurricanes. After joining the team as an intern for the 2005-06 Stanley Cup championship season, he went on to become the senior writer and digital media producer, where he was responsible for all aspects of the team's website. He also provided comprehensive daily coverage of the team. His first job in sports was in internship with the Checkers in the summer of 2005.

A graduate of South Mecklenburg High School, Branecky lives in Charlotte with his wife and three children.

Profile

Hometown
Too many to list, but Charlotte is home.

College and major
UNC Chapel-Hill / Journalism - Public Relations

Favorite sports team
Tar Heels, Panthers, Blue Jays, Arsenal

First hockey game
Canadiens vs. Islanders in the old Montreal Forum, circa 1995. Patrick Roy in goal. Sick brag.

If you could create a menu item for the Red Line Club, what would it be?
Authentic poutine

Favorite memory with the Checkers
Winning the Calder Cup. The next few months figuring out how to ship it to small Canadian farm towns is my least favorite Checkers memory

Would you rather fight 100 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck?
Horse-sized duck