Tim Hinchey, the former president and CEO of USA Swimming, has stepped into a pivotal revenue leadership role at Canucks Sports & Entertainment, the parent company of the NHL’s Vancouver Canucks. His appointment as chief revenue officer, formalized in early 2026 after starting in May 2025 according to his LinkedIn profile, marks a significant cross-sport executive move amid the franchise’s ongoing business recalibration. The Canucks organization lists Hinchey in the position on its official front office page at NHL.com/canucks .
Hinchey’s hiring fills the vacancy left by Terry Kalna, who departed the CRO post in 2024 after just over two years to spend time with family and later take the COO role at the ECHL, as reported by Sports Business Journal . Sports Business Journal confirmed the official announcement of Hinchey’s arrival on January 22, 2026, noting his prior seven-year stint leading USA Swimming and earlier roles as president of Major League Soccer’s Colorado Rapids and VP/commercial & CMO for English soccer club Derby County.
The timing aligns with a transitional period for Canucks Sports & Entertainment, owned by the Aquilini Investment Group since 2006. CNBC valued the franchise at $2.2 billion in its 2025 NHL team rankings, with annual revenue reaching $234 million, placing it 12th league-wide. Forbes previously pegged 2023 revenue at $235 million, ranking the Canucks 14th among 32 NHL teams.
Hinchey’s Pro Sports Pedigree
A former varsity swimmer at UC Irvine, where he earned a B.A. in economics and served as a graduate assistant coach, Hinchey brings over 25 years of executive experience across basketball, soccer, and hockey. Early career stops included roles with the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Hornets, and Charlotte Bobcats from 2000 to 2007, per SwimSwam . He then spent three years as vice president of Derby County Football Club in England’s EFL Championship before joining MLS’s Colorado Rapids as chief marketing officer and later president.
In 2016, MLS named him Executive of the Year for guiding the Rapids to on- and off-field success. USA Swimming tapped him as its third CEO in July 2017, succeeding Chuck Wielgus after 19 years. Board chair Jim Sheehan praised Hinchey’s ‘track record of business success and proven leadership abilities,’ as detailed in a USA Swimming press release .
His broad portfolio positions him to oversee ticket sales, corporate sponsorships, marketing, and premium experiences at Rogers Arena, home to the 18,910-capacity venue averaging 18,810 attendees in 2024-25 per CNBC data.
Navigating USA Swimming’s Turbulent Waters
Hinchey’s seven-year tenure at USA Swimming, extended through 2025 in 2021, saw the organization host the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in Indianapolis’s NFL-sized Lucas Oil Stadium, setting world attendance records over 22,000 twice. USA Swimming board chair Chris Brearton called it a ‘bold and groundbreaking move’ that expanded the sport’s reach, according to ESPN .
He also fortified the Safe Sport program amid post-2017 sex-abuse scandals, making it ‘preeminent among youth sports,’ the board stated upon his August 2024 exit. Audited 2024 financials showed record revenue despite membership declines and weaker international results. Hinchey received a $400,000 severance in 2024, with another installment due in 2025, and earned $1,051,489 that year, per SwimSwam .
Challenges included a 45% asset drop to $21.6 million in 2022 and post-Paris Olympics criticism, where the U.S. won its fewest golds since 1988. He resigned with 16 months left on his contract; COO Shana Ferguson served interim before Kevin Ring’s September 2025 appointment.
Canucks’ Business Imperatives
The CRO role demands boosting income streams for a franchise eliminated from 2024-25 playoff contention, sitting last in the Pacific Division at 17-29-5 early in 2025-26 per SwimSwam reports. Recent moves like away jersey patch sponsor Clio signal partnership pushes, aligning with Hinchey’s expertise in corporate alliances from Sacramento Kings days.
Canucks Sports & Entertainment also manages Rogers Arena events, the Abbotsford Canucks AHL affiliate, Vancouver Warriors lacrosse, and esports teams Vancouver Titans and Seattle Surge. LinkedIn activity from Hinchey’s account (@tkhinchey3) shows support for CSE initiatives, including congratulating the Abbotsford Canucks on their Calder Cup win.
Forbes notes local revenues divided by metro population as a valuation factor, underscoring Hinchey’s task to maximize Vancouver’s passionate fanbase amid a high-performance culture push, as stated on the company’s careers page.
Strategic Revenue Overhaul Ahead
Hinchey’s playbook from USA Swimming—stadium-scale events, gender-equal leadership, and foundation restructuring—could translate to Rogers Arena innovations. His Rapids success in fan engagement and MLS awards suggest potential for sponsorship growth, vital as NHL central revenue shares rise but local deals drive rankings.
Sources indicate plans for Hinchey to ascend to COO, per SwimSwam, fitting a franchise under Aquilini ownership since a $207 million 2005 purchase, now valued over 10 times higher. Sports Business Journal’s coverage highlights his fit for the revenue-vacant role post-Kalna.
As the Canucks navigate 2025-26 challenges, Hinchey’s arrival injects proven commercial acumen into a business operation hungry for uplift, bridging Olympic swimming’s spectacle with NHL puck dynamics.
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