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O F F T HE D R AW 14 // JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM Photos courtesy of NHL; New York Islanders The Great Outdoors L ONG ISLAND IS GETTING SOME POND HOCKEY ACTION IN A UNIQUE SETTING. The New York Islanders, in partnership with Northwell, the New York Racing Association and USA Hockey, have opened The Park at UBS Arena, a 155,800 square-foot season-long, outdoor experience that will introduce the first two public pond hockey rinks to the community. With UBS Arena located within the heart of historic Belmont Park, The Park aims to take advantage of this unique setting and create something special for hockey fans of all ages. The first rink, named the Northwell Pond, boasts a sheet of natural ice. It will host a series of 4v4 pond hockey tournaments following USA Hockey guidelines, catering to youth and adult divisions at various competitive levels. The second rink, named the Isles Pond, will host Learn to Skate, Learn to Play, and Try Hockey for Free programs. These community programs cater to a wide range of age groups and skill levels, aiming to grow the sport of hockey by making it accessible for everyone. Public skat- ing sessions will also be offered on both ponds and other private activities for local teams and organizations. Dan Craig, who was the NHL Facilities Operations Manager for 23 years and in charge of the ice for more than 30 NHL outdoor games, is overseeing the ponds for the Islanders. The Isles Pond will be constructed using synthetic technology created by Global Synthetic Ice, ensuring season-long accessibility. "So many of us players got our start playing pond hockey," said Islanders great Pat LaFontaine, "This is the purest form of the sport and it's great that this experience is coming to The Park at UBS Arena." In addition to the two outdoor rinks, The Park at UBS Arena will offer guests a wide range of activities to entertain the family or enjoy with friends. P p The Park will provide special opportunities for hockey fans of all ages. NHL NHL 58% $180M+ 18% 14% 8% 2% The NHL and NHLPA established the Industry Growth Fund in 2013 to create opportunities to help grow the game at all levels on and off the ice. A decade later, and the IGF has contributed more than $180 million to develop programming, create initiatives, host events and provide education that drives awareness and brings hockey to communities across North America. "The Players have been passionate proponents of the Industry Growth Fund since it was established with the NHL, and it is gratifying to see the many successes IGF has supported in the last 10 years," said Chris Campoli, NHLPA divisional player repre- sentative. "As a leader in the youth hockey and com- munity space, IGF programming seeks to create and develop new hockey fans, while continuing to build and manage relationships focused on growing the game on the global stage." IMPACTING THE GAME NHL More than 550K BIPOC participants benefitted from IGF programming in the 2021-22 season $105M Total Investment $12M+ Invested in NHL Alumni and female hockey $ 33M Invested in U.S. Programs Funded through IGF $ 26M Total Investment Club Grants & Applications $ 3.8M Invested in Canadian Programs $ 108M +