Hockey influencer Pavel Barber explains why he loves introducing new fans to the NHL
If you’re a hockey fan, you’ve almost definitely seen a Pavel Barber video, whether you realize it or not.
The stick-handling wizard has garnered millions of followers across different social media platforms, including more than 1.1 million on TikTok alone.
Barber is leading a new wave of hockey content creators who are changing the way fans interact with the sport. His videos have been viewed billions of times, bringing new eyes to the sport from people around the world.
“The content drawing in new fans is very big. I definitely get a lot of comments personally about how people say they don’t watch much hockey but they might get into it [through my content],” said Barber in an exclusive interview with Offside.
“I think it’s really cool to just expose them to a little bit of what hockey has to offer, when people see something that’s cool, they ask lots of questions. I get lots of questions about the rules, strategy, the best players, all that. It gives them a little taste, and then it’s up to them if they want to watch further, but I think the short-form content is very good for exposure to new fans.”
Television rights and location blackouts mean the average fan can’t watch every game. However, nearly everyone has a phone in their pocket and can interact with content made by Barber or his fellow creators.
The growing hockey content creator space isn’t just changing the game for fans; it’s also opening up new career options for those who love the sport.
“I just love that there’s enough people out there who can make a living doing this, helping grow the sport of hockey, and helping more people who might not watch hockey get into it. It’s really cool that these creators are having influence on that and to be a part of that is really special.”
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As hockey content creators have become more integral to the league’s growth, the NHL has, in turn, built a relationship. During the 4 Nations Face-Off, the league also held a three-on-three creators challenge at the Bell Centre. It’s just the latest in what’s been a growing number of official NHL creator-led events.
“They really rolled out the red carpet for us, it was just a phenomenal experience for us… we’ve just been growing out the amount of people who are being invited to these [NHL] events and get to participate in all of the fun activities we do.”
As content creators continue to grow in size, the possibilities for partnerships with the NHL are endless. The younger generation will continue to find short-form content more normal, and for many of them, it will be the primary way they interact with the sport, just as television has been for generations before.
Barber’s secret to getting the best content
Any content creator needs a good camera to help them capture their footage. Barber uses an iPhone 16 Pro Max for all his videos and loves the results.
While he’s experimented with the big professional cameras, he always returns to his iPhone. The camera quality is more than good enough, and the newer models have plenty of features that allow for incredible footage, including slow motion and different zoom lenses.
“Between the 5x [zoom] for those cinematic shots and the o.5 for when you’re very close, I love the flexibility between those two; it’s really fun.”
If the iPhone is good enough for one of the top creators in the space, it’s good enough for anyone trying to make a career as a content creator, whether that be in hockey or otherwise.
The author of this story was hosted by Apple in Montreal.