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It's been more than three years since Mikey Nichols suffered a spinal cord injury during a high school hockey game for Monroe High School in January 2014. The local hockey community in New Jersey once again turned out to support one of their own who has become a champion for those who have suffered similar injuries. For the fourth year, local teams suited up to take part in the Mikey Strong tournament, which has raised more than $45,000 thanks to the support of numerous local sponsors, including the N.J. Devils and former captain Bryce Salvador. Proceeds from the benefit go to Nichols' Foundation and the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing quality of life and discovering cures for spinal cord injuries. In all, 45 teams of various age levels competed in 11 divisions with games spread out throughout the area at the Barnabus Hockey House in Newark, the Howell Ice Arena and the Red Bank Armory. "The hockey community is a big family. When they see someone in need they want to help," said Oktay Armagan, who coached Mikey with the New Jersey Raiders and has spearhead- ed the organizational efforts. "Mikey was such a great player who impressed everyone with his character and work ethic. He demonstrates those same traits every day as he continues to deal with the effects of his injury. He's such an amazing young man that people wanted to be part of this." 6 // AUGUST 2017 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM H OCKEY'S FOOTPRINT across the United States owes a great deal to NHL expansion. From Tampa to Dallas, Anaheim to Arizona, the growth of the game at the grassroots level is directly linked to professional hockey leagues planting flags in what were once referred to as "non-traditional markets." One area of growth that may be lagging behind is at the NCAA level, where only two universities—Penn State and Arizona State—have joined the Division I ranks over the past sev- eral years. In an attempt to speed up the expan- sion process, the NHL and the NHLPA will fund feasibility studies to explore the potential of adding NCAA Div. I men's and women's hockey programs at five institutions across the United States. The University of Illinois will be the first school to participate. The study will be funded by the Industry Growth Fund, a joint venture by the NHL and NHLPA to help grow the game. It will look at a number of factors that schools must consider to make Div. I hockey a reality on college campuses. "While I think everyone in hockey has hoped to see programs added, this is a groundbreaking project by the NHL and NHLPA to take the initiative to help make that happen," said Mike Snee, executive director of College Hockey Inc. "Those of us at the col- lege level are grateful for the leader- ship the NHL and NHLPA are showing with this project." Establishing new NCAA programs cre- ates opportunities for more hockey play- ers to play and develop at a high level. In addition, new programs create job opportunities for coaches, hockey oper- ations staff, trainers and media. "This is just another way to grow our game," said USA Hockey Executive Director Pat Kelleher, who added that NCAA expansion will benefit youth hock- ey programs with improved access to facilities, equipment and role models. P O F F T HE D R AW PHOTOS COURTESY OF Oktay Armagan; Getty Images COLLEGE NHL Looks To Help College Hockey Spread Its Wings N.J. Hockey Community Shows Strong Support COMMUNITY