The NHLPA is "finalizing plans on a watershed program to help current players return to school and prepare them for a multitude of issues they will face in transitioning from playing careers to retirement," according to Rick Westhead of TSN.ca. The program will be "unveiled at a time when the union is facing criticism from both current and former players about whether more can be done to help players cope with the stress of leaving hockey." The personal development program will see players "receive counseling about personal relationships and parenting, and be given the opportunity to shadow executives in industries such as finance." The NHL and NHLPA "have each pledged" close to $1.5M over the next three years to the pilot project, though it is "unclear how much" of the collective $3M will go to pay for tuition and other fees. The NHLPA "hopes to begin the ambitious program this fall with at least 60 active players, two from each NHL club" and "wants to expand" it to include retired NHLers. NHLPA Special Assistant to the Exec Dir Mathieu Schneider said, "From the time they are 13, 14, 15 years old, their sport defines them and it becomes their entire life. It becomes, 'You have to focus on your sport until you retire and make the most of it.' That mentality is starting to change. There's a real recognition it makes players better while they are playing if they have a well-rounded life." He added that "one of the reasons he pushed so hard to develop a back-to-school program is because as a member of the emergency assistance fund -- a fund co-managed by the NHL and NHLPA that gives cash stipends to players who have hit hard times -- he's seen players hit poverty not long after making their millions" (TSN.ca, 6/9).
