Star Athletes Become Trophies Banks Covet as Salaries Skyrocket
- Advising NHL players gives Royal Bank a cross-border advantage
- Company expanding from hockey to baseball, football players
John-Michael Liles knows the temptations that can accompany a lucrative NHL contract. His came in the form of a ’69 Chevy Camaro.
Back when the retired defenseman was a rookie in 2003, he was wowed by a muscle car owned by a Colorado Avalanche teammate. Liles vowed that if he ever landed a big National Hockey League contract, he’d build that custom Camaro. Five years later, the Indiana native signed a four-year deal with the Avalanche -- then proceeded to fritter away $100,000 on a yellow convertible with black racing stripes.