Stronger Together Hockey and Open Ice Initiative explore partnership to build school-to-rink pathways for youth

Toronto, Ontario. Stronger Together Hockey and Open Ice Initiative are pleased to announce that they are exploring a collaborative partnership designed to help more young people connect with hockey, community, mentorship and sport participation in a meaningful and accessible way.

The proposed collaboration brings together two complementary models. Stronger Together Hockey creates early school-based engagement through assemblies, classroom resources, speaker-led programming, tabletop hockey and student recognition. Open Ice Initiative provides a pathway beyond the classroom by helping remove barriers to on-ice participation, including access to equipment, beginner-friendly programming, and opportunities for youth to experience hockey in a supportive environment.

Together, the organizations are exploring a school-to-rink pathway that would allow students to first connect with hockey in a low-barrier school setting and, where there is interest, be guided toward opportunities to participate on the ice.

“This collaboration reflects exactly what Stronger Together Hockey is trying to build,” said Mario Bellissimo, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Stronger Together Hockey. “Our goal is not simply to introduce students to hockey. It is to use hockey as a platform for belonging, confidence, leadership, and community. For some students, that first connection may happen in a classroom or through a speaker. For others, it may grow into a chance to step onto the ice. Open Ice Initiative can help make that next step possible.”

Open Ice Initiative’s work is focused on reducing barriers that prevent young people from accessing hockey. Through this potential collaboration, the organizations hope to create a clearer pathway for students who are inspired through Stronger Together Hockey’s school programming and want to explore the game further.

“A partnership like this can help connect inspiration with access,” said Andrew Adair, Founder of Open Ice Initiative. “Stronger Together Hockey is reaching students in schools and helping them see that hockey can be about confidence, connection, and community. Open Ice Initiative can help interested students take the next step by creating opportunities to get on the ice with support, equipment, and encouragement.”

The partnership model may include pilot schools, student identification through school-based engagement, equipment access, beginner-friendly on-ice opportunities, and shared storytelling that follows a student’s journey from classroom connection to sport participation.

The organizations also see potential to collaborate around equipment access and broader community support, including future opportunities to help underserved youth and communities access hockey equipment, mentorship, and introductory programming.

Both organizations emphasize that the goal is not to make every student a hockey player. Rather, the shared goal is to ensure that every student understands there are many ways to belong, participate, lead, and contribute.

The organizations expect to continue discussions around a focused pilot model, including school selection, student engagement, equipment access, program delivery, and potential funding or sponsorship opportunities.

About Stronger Together Hockey. Stronger Together Hockey is a school-connected youth empowerment initiative that uses hockey as a platform to promote belonging, inclusion, confidence, leadership, teamwork and community connection. Through school presentations, classroom resources, tabletop hockey, speaker engagement, student recognition and community partnerships, Stronger Together Hockey helps students understand that they do not have to wear a jersey to be part of the team.

About Open Ice Initiative. Open Ice Initiative works to reduce barriers to hockey participation by helping young people access equipment, introductory programming and supportive on-ice opportunities. Its work is focused on making hockey more accessible for youth who may otherwise face financial, equipment or opportunity barriers to participation.

Some students may play hockey. Some may never play hockey. Some may connect through teamwork, leadership, volunteering, tabletop hockey, storytelling, or cheering others on. The message is that there is room for everyone to be part of the team.