Our Team

Our team consists of dedicated film industry professionals and hockey experts, allowing our crew to be the most relevant and up-to-date team in the film industry.

Production Team

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Paul Clifford

Film Producer

To this day, Paul Clifford plays hockey. Born in Duluth, Minnesota, he played for Piedmont Heights before moving to Green Bay, Wisconsin. At Green Bay Southwest High School, he was captain of his football, hockey and track teams. Paul led Green Bay Southwest football in rushing his junior and senior years, and earned 1st Team All League for the Fox Valley High School Hockey League. He also set a school record as a member of the 4X400 meter relay track team in 1982, a record that still stands today. Paul later attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater where he played football and hockey. He was selected to the IWCHA All-Star hockey team and voted co-MVP and Most Valuable Forward his freshman year. His team won the league championship that same season.

Paul played semi-professional hockey for the DePere Deacons of the Badger State Hockey League, winning consecutive State Titles in 1985-86. He later graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Green Bay in 1987 and joined the Sherwin-Williams Company as a Manager Trainee in February of 1988. Paul became President and General Manager of Sherwin-Williams Canada in 2013 and later became President & GM of Sherwin-Williams Latin America.

THIEF RIVER: the movie...

In 2004, Paul received a copy of the book, River of Champions, from Jackie Poole and fell in love with the story of the Thief River Prowlers run to the state hockey championship in 1956. Earlier, Jackie Poole played for the Prowlers and then professionally for the Green Bay Bobcats. Jackie played for three US World teams, winning a bronze medal in 1962. Coincidently, Jackie Poole coached his own son, Nick, and Paul Clifford in high school hockey. Little did Paul know that he lived 6 houses away from Dennis Rolle, Jackie Poole's coach at Thief River. Paul also played youth hockey with Dennis Rolle's son Keith and was in the same class with Dennis's daughter, Nina. It seemed that he was meant to immortalize this hockey story. Only this time on the big screen. Paul later purchased the film rights to River of Champions. Paul is married to Rosario Martinez and together they have three children. Their son Jake played NCAA Division 1 hockey at Arizona State, and their daughters Inadia and Paulina graduated from Queens University in Kingston, Ontario.

Consultants

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Robb Stauber

Hockey Consultant and Executive Producer

1988 Hobey Baker Award Winner. NHL Goaltender and Head coach of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women's Olympic Hockey Team at the 2018 Winter Olympics - the first time the U.S. women captured Olympic Gold in the last 20 years.

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Daniel Stauber

Hockey Consultant and Executive Producer

Played 4 years for University of Wisconsin-Superior: 2 years as captain and twice was its leading scorer. He also won a National Championship as a coach, with 259-148-58 record over 16 seasons.

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James Stauber

Hockey Consultant and Executive Producer

Played 2 years at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. One of its leading scorers in 1980-1981. Coached women's hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Superior for 7 seasons. A former Minnesota Hockey Coach-in- Chief, military veteran with 29 years in the U.S. Air Force/Air National Guard.