The New Jersey Devils announced today U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist & Professional Women’s Ice Hockey Player Amanda Pelkey will be joining the organization as Female Hockey Ambassador for Youth Hockey and Growth initiatives for the 2023-24 season. As the first Female Hockey Ambassador for the New Jersey Devils, Pelkey will make appearances at Learn to Play Clinics statewide including an All-Girls Learn to Play program at RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House, Girls Clinic Series at various rink partners and other special events throughout the season to grow female hockey participation.
To mark the start of the Female Hockey Ambassador Program, Pelkey recently visited the RWJBarnabas Health Hockey House for USA Hockey Girls Hockey Weekend on Saturday, October 7. She participated in a Q&A where girls from the Learn to Play program had the opportunity to interact with her, followed by an on-ice clinic run by the New Jersey Devils Youth Hockey and Growth initiatives team. Pelkey will appear next at Ice Vault Arena for the New Jersey Bandits Girls Program on Thursday, November 2 in Wayne, New Jersey.
“I am extremely excited to become a part of the New Jersey Devils Organization as the Female Ambassador for Youth Hockey and Growth Initiatives,” said Pelkey. “Growing this game at the grassroots level and connecting with future generations of players is something I have always been passionate about and this position will allow me to dive in and make an impact. The Devils organization has pushed the needle forward in all aspects and I am looking forward to building on their success.”
Created by the NHL & NHLPA Female Hockey Advisory Committee in 2019 and funded by the Industry Growth Fund, the Female Hockey Ambassador Program provides NHL Clubs with funding and enhanced opportunities to use Female Hockey Ambassadors to serve as community liaisons and to execute grassroots marketing events, promotions and projects with a specific focus on girls and women. Female Hockey Ambassadors are either current or former National Team members, or elite level players, coaches, or role models.
To mark the start of the 2023-24 NHL season, the National Hockey League Players’ Association and National Hockey League are celebrating 10 years of the Industry Growth Fund (“IGF”), which was established to create opportunities to help grow the game of hockey both on and off the ice. Over its first decade, the IGF has dedicated more than $180 million to develop programming, create initiatives, host events and provide education that drives awareness and bring hockey to communities across North America.
