The NHL and NHL Players’ Association’s new player development program aims to provide players with a custom road map to reach their goals after hockey.
Launched at the start of the season, the Core Development Program came about based on feedback from players. They said that while they found what they learned from other post-NHL programs valuable, they wanted to progress toward specific goals, said Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA special assistant to the executive director.
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Former NHL player Rob Zepp, now with the NHLPA, is helping oversee the program.
Photo by: GETTY IMAGES
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“What came through loud and clear through our surveys was that guys wanted to have a program that they could tap into for specific reasons, whether it was completing their high school or college degrees, as well as really help them figure out what they’re good at and then give them the tools to succeed,” he said.
Interested players will work with John Hierlihy and Duncan Fletcher, who helped the NHLPA launch this program. Each interested player will get a customized plan, which could include educational classes, networking opportunities or financial goals. Rob Zepp, a former NHL player who is manager of special projects at the NHLPA, also is helping oversee the program.
“NHL players are getting younger, and the NHLPA and NHL recognize the need to develop players off the ice as well as on,” said Neil Sheehy, president and founder of the ICE Hockey Agency and a veteran NHL agent. “Any program that helps players understand their success and how to continue to build upon it will be very valuable to individual players and the league collectively.”
Each summer, incoming NHL rookies participate in an orientation program now in its fourth year. NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said the program received positive feedback from that group of 80-plus players.
“If you look at a cross-section of NHL players, their backgrounds are very varied, so to be able to offer a program that’s not one-size-fits-all really helps to round out what we’ve been able to offer together in terms of player development programs,” Daly said.
The NFL, NBA and MLB all provide players with resources to help their transition after retirement. Both the NHL and NHLPA said sharing ideas among the leagues has been beneficial.
Daly declined to comment on the cost of the program, but called it a significant multiyear commitment that comes from the joint funds the league administers with the players association.
Staff writer Liz Mullen contributed to this report.
