NHL/NHLPA Industry Growth Fund celebrates 10-year anniversary

The National Hockey League and the National Hockey League Players’ Association are celebrating 10 years of the Industry Growth Fund (IGF), which was established to create opportunities to help grow the game at all levels, both on and off the ice.

The fund has directed over $180 million to develop programming, create initiatives, host events and provide education that drives awareness and brings hockey communities together.

“It has been incredible to witness the IGF’s impact in grassroots and youth programming since its launch in 2013,” said Rob Knesaurek, NHL senior vice president of youth development and industry growth. “More important, the IGF’s success over the 10 years of existence demonstrated how strategic investments allow for more opportunities to make our game more accessible to a diverse audience.”

Created in 2013 as part of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the IGF was forged to accelerate the development and support the NHL and team initiatives and projects with the goal of long-term fan development and increase participation at all levels.

Through the last 10 years, the IGF has directed $105 million to NHL Club grant applications that fund over 230 hockey and ball hockey programs, along with rink development, fitness, education, life skills, virtual reality technology and other initiatives.

The IFG has invested $45 million in diversity, equity and inclusion programming, including girls hockey, the Hockey Is For Everyone initiatives and special projects; $33 million to support Learn to Play and First Shift programs.

“Grassroots were so important to kids enjoying the game, bringing kids into it at an early age, I thought it was important,” said Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain Sidney Crosby. “I just knew the impact it had on me as a kid, and I knew how important the volunteers and coaches and everyone that was around growing up was to me and my family…it really was a sense of community.”