The National Hockey League announced Wednesday its strategic partnership with RCX Sports to officially launch NHL STREET, a North America-wide youth street hockey league.
According to the NHL's media release, NHL STREET is for children aged 6-16 and is launching as an "affordable, neighbourhood based model" for families.
"With NHL STREET, we're not inventing ball hockey, but we are reimagining the way you experience it, the way it makes you feel and how it connects back to the NHL," said former NHLer Andrew Ference, now NHL director of social impact, growth and fan development, in the release.
"We're focused on developing a network of local youth organizers that provide kids and their parents a new way to access the sport that meets their budget, schedule and personal development needs."
RCX Sports, the NHL's partner in the endeavour, is an U.S.-based "youth sports experiences business" that runs and operates initiatives that improve the accessibility and inclusivity of sports.
"NHL STREET will help alleviate many of the traditional barriers that youth hockey athletes face and allow them to experience the excitement and benefits of the sport first-hand," said RCX Sports CEO Izell Reese in the release.
NHL STREET initially launched as a pilot project between February and September of 2022 and was supported by corporate sponsorships (Enterprise in the U.S. and Tim Hortons in Canada) to showcase 2,000 youth players at events in Las Vegas, Montreal, Nashville, Vancouver and Winnipeg.
The league has also joined forces with long-time licensing equipment partner Franklin Sports to create a line of club-branded uniforms developed by NHL Creative Services, in addition to branded sticks, balls and goalie equipment.
