Beans. Business. Blue-eyed Dogs.

“I don’t want to say I was the coffee guy, but I would step in if somebody didn’t know how to brew it,” the St. Louis native said.

Coffee became a favorite accessory for a group of battle-tested, business-minded hockey players who arrived at arenas looking just as ready for Wall Street as the Frozen Four. But Friedmann’s appreciation for quality java went deeper than most, inspiring him to launch his own label — Charlie Bleu Coffee Company — in the fall of 2024.

Named for Friedmann’s dog, Charlie, a blue-eyed American Staffordshire Terrier mix adopted from a shelter in Woodbury, Connecticut, the premium Colombian beans are locally sourced in St. Louis and sold online through the company’s website, CharlieBleuCoffee.com.

“This cup’s for the pups” is more than a tagline; 15% of the proceeds are donated to animal shelters.

Friedmann, who also holds a finance degree from Quinnipiac, has continued to pursue his dream of playing professional hockey, suiting up most recently for the Adirondack Thunder of the East Coast Hockey League. Quinnipiac Magazine caught up with him to discuss everything from chance encounters with beloved sitcom characters to the grind (pun very much intended) of running a start-up.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

You were one of several members of the men’s ice hockey team who studied business. When did your interest in business start?

My grandpa, Jim Friedmann, ran his own business, Inventory Sales Company. It was a family business from the very start. I had aunts and uncles who worked there. My dad and his sister were still involved up until they sold it. So I definitely grew up running around the office, being a little troublemaker in the warehouse. I always knew business was something I wanted to study.

Charlie Bleu Coffee gets its name from your dog. Can you share his adoption story?

I had my eye on a few different dogs at the shelter where I got Charlie. I was checking on him too. And then one day I remember pulling up his page and it said, “adoption fee waived.” I thought, I have to call and see what’s going on. Did someone already place a down payment? He had been there for a long time. He was very high energy. They dropped the adoption fee to try to spark interest, but unfortunately, he was scheduled to be put down. They asked if I was available for a visit. I showed up, played with him for 10 minutes and it was just like, all right, he’s coming home with me.

What’s your coffee order?

I just like hot coffee, black. And it needs to be strong enough. The big brands are usually too watered down or have a burnt taste.

How often do you still connect with your Quinnipiac teammates? Is there a big group chat?

There are multiple group chats scattered around and then there is one big chat with all of us. It’s a tight-knit group. A lot of us still get together each year, hang out and spend time together. I’d say we keep in touch if not daily, then at least weekly. I grew up with three sisters. No brothers. But I found my brothers.

And your coach, Rand Pecknold, is sort of like having a bonus dad?

I got to build a really fun relationship with him — especially coming back for that fifth year where it was basically like we got an extra year with him. It’s always awesome to see him. He’s an unbelievable person. He cares about you not just as a player but as a human. He wants to make sure you’re doing well, your family’s doing well. I can’t say enough positive things about him.

You once posed for a photo with the actress who portrayed Phyllis on “The Office” (real name: Phyllis Smith). Do you have a favorite quote or episode from the series?

As a hockey guy, it’s hard not to pick Michael Scott using that Wayne Gretzky quote for motivation — “you miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” But I always loved the dynamic between Jim and Dwight, all the pranks and everything. So I’ll go with Jim impersonating Dwight and saying “Bears, beets, Battlestar Galactica.”

Photo credit: Johan Corilla, Rob Rasmussen '06