Danbury Hat Tricks Announcer Wades Through John Oliver Fallout

DANBURY, CT — The human resources experts will tell you to stay away from controversy in your social media, as you will inevitably offend someone and that's bad for the company's bottom line.

The human resources experts don't play hockey in Danbury.

Ever since Danbury Hat Tricks' communications director and play-by-play announcer Casey Bryant's warning to comedian John Oliver went viral, the city's minor league hockey team's star has been on the rise.

"Our brand has never been more visible," Bryant told Patch.

The "Last Week Tonight" host used his HBO show to tell Danbury residents they had a "standing invite" to receive "a thrashing from John Oliver — children included." Bryant took to the team's YouTube channel and used the home ice advantage to defend the city.

"We invented thrashing, alright, pal?" Bryant reminded Oliver in the video. "We have a proud history of beating the tar out of people."

The under-three-minute video was meant as nothing more than "a throwaway," but as they say in Hollywood, it had legs. The team has since released two more videos in their approaching-epic battle with the HBO satirist.

"It was really so awesome how it came to fruition, it was so organic, it really took me by surprise just how much it exploded," Bryant told Patch.

The explosion's blast radius currently includes $55,000 in donations pledged to Danbury area charities if Mayor Mark Boughton names the municipal sewage plant after the comedian. The mayor said he'll do it, but only if Oliver shows up in person for the christening.

There has been no on-air response from the show host ("Last Week Tonight" is on hiatus until the end of September) but that's not stopped him from making good on some of his pledge. Teachers with projects on the Donors Choose fund have already reported they've been funded by donations from the HBO show.

"One of the teachers at Danbury High School runs a pre-med course and got a donation from 'Last Week Tonight' and was able to afford stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs for students working from home. I think that's awesome," said Bryant. "It's nice to be able to do a little bit of good in the world right now."

But what has Oliver already writing a few checks for Danbury charities done to the mayor's leverage? Was demanding the comedian come to the city the right decision? Or should Boughton have just accepted the money unconditionally?

"Tricky call," Bryant said. "It was gutsy, for him to demand Oliver be present. I think there are a lot of factors right now that prevent people from making a public appearance. So for him to demand that, is certainly a bold move by the mayor."

Prior to joining the Hat Tricks organization, Bryant worked at Madison Square Garden Network for four years in the on-air promotions and commercial traffic departments. The Marist grad jumped at the opportunity to work for the team prior to its inaugural season last year.

Although the Hat Tricks may be at the height of the young Federal Prospects Hockey League franchise's popularity right now — no mean feat, as their coronavirus-delayed 2020-21 season has yet to begin — Bryant has his sites focused on a still-taller tier. He says his ultimate goal is to do play-by-play for a National Hockey League team.