University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware, Philadelphia Flyers Formally Announce Partnership
4/3/2024 6:39:00 PM | Ice Hockey
PHILADELPHIA – In a first of its kind pairing, the University of Delaware and the Philadelphia Flyers formally announced a partnership Saturday before puck drop at the Wells Fargo Center. UD will be the only NCAA Division I women's ice hockey program in the country to have a partnership with an NHL team.
The partnership will strategically align around growing the game of hockey, community engagement, and launching a world-class women's ice hockey program.
"We are extremely excited to announce that we have partnered with the University of Delaware to support the development of their first-ever NCAA Division I women's ice hockey program," Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones said. "It's incredible news on that front and exciting from our side as well as we want to continue to develop women's hockey in this area. We will work with the University of Delaware to help develop a first-class women's ice hockey program and support their community engagement while continuing to grow the game of hockey in our local communities."
Delaware women's ice hockey student-athletes will have access to career and professional development with the Flyers, as well as a chance to participate in the Flyers Next Shift program. The program was developed to allow women in college to shadow professional women throughout the organization on game nights. Other opportunities for internship in both business and hockey operations could happen as well.
"I am incredibly grateful for the wonderful people we've worked with to make this a reality," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "Our partners from the Flyers, Keith Jones, Barry Hanrahan, Dan Hilferty, Cynthia Punsalan, Cindy Stutman, Rob Baer, and Kevin Westgarth, our partner from the NHL, all have been incredible to work with."
From my first conversation with Cynthia it was clear that this partnership was going to matter to the Flyers organization and that is because they are incredibly aligned with what we value," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "And there's no doubt in my mind that this partnership will quickly put our program in a position to be successful."
The partnership will also bring co-hosted youth hockey clinics to Fred Rust Ice Arena, the Blue Hens' home in Newark, as well as bringing the Flyers Community Caravan to UD. The Hens are also in conversations to partner with Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education and its network of colleges.
"Obviously being affiliated with an NHL team will bring the interest of recruits," Head Ice Hockey Coach Allison Coomey said. "And then the partnership, working with our current student-athletes, being able to sell that as something that's important and that is meaningful for whatever profession they're striving for at the University Delaware. I think those things too are not only growing the game in our region and maybe down the line creating future Delaware players because of it."
Coomey and the Delaware coaching staff, including the sports performance area of strength & conditioning, athletic training and analytics, will have the chance to visit Flyers' practices for professional development.
In December, the University announced the addition of women's ice hockey as the school's 22nd varsity sport. The Hens will begin playing in the 2025-26 season as members of College Hockey America as the 45th program in the nation.
The partnership will strategically align around growing the game of hockey, community engagement, and launching a world-class women's ice hockey program.
"We are extremely excited to announce that we have partnered with the University of Delaware to support the development of their first-ever NCAA Division I women's ice hockey program," Flyers President of Hockey Operations Keith Jones said. "It's incredible news on that front and exciting from our side as well as we want to continue to develop women's hockey in this area. We will work with the University of Delaware to help develop a first-class women's ice hockey program and support their community engagement while continuing to grow the game of hockey in our local communities."
Delaware women's ice hockey student-athletes will have access to career and professional development with the Flyers, as well as a chance to participate in the Flyers Next Shift program. The program was developed to allow women in college to shadow professional women throughout the organization on game nights. Other opportunities for internship in both business and hockey operations could happen as well.
"I am incredibly grateful for the wonderful people we've worked with to make this a reality," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "Our partners from the Flyers, Keith Jones, Barry Hanrahan, Dan Hilferty, Cynthia Punsalan, Cindy Stutman, Rob Baer, and Kevin Westgarth, our partner from the NHL, all have been incredible to work with."
From my first conversation with Cynthia it was clear that this partnership was going to matter to the Flyers organization and that is because they are incredibly aligned with what we value," Director of Athletics, Community, and Campus Recreation Chrissi Rawak said. "And there's no doubt in my mind that this partnership will quickly put our program in a position to be successful."
The partnership will also bring co-hosted youth hockey clinics to Fred Rust Ice Arena, the Blue Hens' home in Newark, as well as bringing the Flyers Community Caravan to UD. The Hens are also in conversations to partner with Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education and its network of colleges.
"Obviously being affiliated with an NHL team will bring the interest of recruits," Head Ice Hockey Coach Allison Coomey said. "And then the partnership, working with our current student-athletes, being able to sell that as something that's important and that is meaningful for whatever profession they're striving for at the University Delaware. I think those things too are not only growing the game in our region and maybe down the line creating future Delaware players because of it."
Coomey and the Delaware coaching staff, including the sports performance area of strength & conditioning, athletic training and analytics, will have the chance to visit Flyers' practices for professional development.
In December, the University announced the addition of women's ice hockey as the school's 22nd varsity sport. The Hens will begin playing in the 2025-26 season as members of College Hockey America as the 45th program in the nation.
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