Intown Runaround: Attorney by day, hockey player by night

By Tim Sullivan

Druid Hills resident Brennan Bolt is a labor and employment attorney at McKenna Long & Aldridge by day. By night he and his wife Michelle dote on their two young boys, Ewan and Nolan. And a couple of late nights a week he grows a beard and plays some hockey. As it turns out, not all hockey left town with the Thrashers.

So, why hockey? Flat puck, small goal, thin skates, cold, hard ice…
My college roommate had played when he was younger and had decided to get back into it. Since I enjoyed watching hockey, I decided to give it a try as well. We started going to stick times, which are basically “pick up” hockey. When I finally entered the real world, my boss encouraged me to sign up and actually play on a team. The rest, as they say, is history – I am now captain of my team.

There are seven different levels to the Atlanta Amateur Hockey League (atlantahockey.org ). Is anybody playing ALTA anymore? Where do all these games take place?
Can’t speak for ALTA, but we play at The Cooler in Alpharetta, the Ice Forum in Cumming and the Marietta Ice Center. Those of us that live in town are still waiting for Philips Arena to book our games to replace the Thrashers. I suspect we’ll be waiting a long time.

Can individuals sign up and join the league?
Yes, but there are evaluations and even a draft. I’m embarrassed to say that I was not drafted the first time I signed up with this league.

What is the hockey haircut du jour? Is it still all business on top and party in the back?
The mullet is and always will be the staple, but nowadays any style of long hair and a beard will do.

How do you expect your team, Army Mules, to fair this year?
We should make the playoffs but once they start anything can happen. One season we were the top seed and were the first team eliminated. Another season we were the last seed and won it all. Teams really turn it up a notch and the games are taken a lot more seriously.

Will you encourage your sons to take up hockey when they are old enough?
No, living in the South, football and baseball are more likely to have a better rate of return for my wife’s and my retirement plan. However, if they choose hockey, we certainly won’t discourage them. Our oldest, who is two and a half, is already interested in ice skating. We got him a pair of skates and a hockey helmet for Christmas and have taken him skating two times already. He loves it.

Were you bummed out when the Thrashers jetted out of town for Winnipeg?
Absolutely. Games at Philips were always entertaining regardless of the outcome, and watching hockey live is so much better than on television. While we still have the Gwinnett Gladiators, it’s a shame that Atlantans can no longer watch the premiere players from the NHL.

Ever get mistaken for being Canadian?
Uh, no. If you watch me play hockey, you will understand how that would be impossible to do.

Well, I have a Canadian friend – let’s call him Batman –  who leaves the wife and kids to “play hockey” at very strange hours and some suspect that he runs an international pyramid scheme.  You’re an attorney, care to speculate?
Our games do sometimes start after 10 p.m. during the week. But if you want to see if “Batman” really does play hockey, ask to see where he stores his equipment. Hockey equipment is notorious for its stench, so if the room doesn’t smell, you’ll know that something is up.

Ok, Bolt round! What’s the better movie: Slap Shot or The Cutting Edge?  Favorite ice Olympian:  Mike Eruzione or Dorothy Hamill?  Post-game beverage:  Labatt’s or Molson?
Definitely Slap Shot and Eruzione. The Hanson Brothers from Slap Shot are classic. As for beer, I’d probably say Labatt’s. Speaking of beer and hockey, how could you leave off Strange Brew, you hoser?

I don’t know! How do you not pick Dorothy Hamill? She’s cute as a button!