The National Hockey League (NHL) has announced a new partnership with the University to help support and further both the professional and personal development of NHL players.

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement, Syracuse will provide a comprehensive suite of educational programs for access by NHL players—and their dependent family members—at significant tuition discounts.

These course programs will be at both the undergraduate and graduate levels and offered fully online. In addition, the University will develop a full complement of professional development and executive education programs for program participants.

“Providing players with off-ice resources that can assist them in building successful careers and lives beyond their commitment to playing the game is an important role for any sports league,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly says. “By partnering with a learning institution of Syracuse University’s caliber, the NHL has been able to add yet another valuable Player Development offering to assist players with furthering their educational goals.”

Academic Offerings Span Multiple Disciplines

“This partnership represents a tremendous opportunity for both Syracuse University and the National Hockey League,” says Jeremy Jordan, dean of the David B. Falk College of Sport. “Through collaboration across the Falk College, Whitman School of Management, Newhouse School of Public Communications and College of Professional Studies, we’ll provide NHL players with comprehensive educational resources. This exemplifies our mission to create meaningful connections between academic learning and professional practice.”

The academic course offerings associated with this comprehensive collaboration will include such areas as business management, creative leadership, liberal studies, policy studies, project management, strategic communications, business analytics, health care administration, entrepreneurship, professional accounting, sport analytics, conflict and collaboration, educational leadership and enterprise technology leadership.

The University will provide full admissions and academic advice support to all participants in the program and will align the curricula with those individuals’ current and future goals and needs, including as they may relate to players’ post-career aspirations. Players will also be able to benefit from interactions with sports, broadcast and business professionals who remain connected with Syracuse University and its impressive alumni network.

Expanding the NHL’s Player Development Program

These continuing education options for NHL players represent the latest addition to the NHL’s expanding Player Development Program, an off-ice assistance and development program that provides a variety of resources to current and former players to assist them with furthering their professional and personal development. Established in 2016, the program is designed to create opportunities for players to identify or complete educational endeavors, build networking skills, and create business and career foundations, as well as expand opportunities for personal growth.

The NHL has established a network of Player Development contacts at all 32 clubs to assist in administering Player Development programs. Current programs offered by the NHL Development Program include: the Player Orientation Program, Broadcast Training Camp, Education and Career Development (AthLife), Mental Wellness (Headspace), the Visiting Player Program, the Fanatics Athlete Immersion Program, Learn to Play Hockey initiatives and NHL Coaches’ Association.