NJ Devils Launch Historic Partnership With Women’s Hockey League Team

NEWARK, NJ — The New Jersey Devils have scored an off-the-ice victory that is sure to inspire some smiles among National Women’s Hockey League (NWHL) fans.

On Thursday, the Devils’ recently formed parent company, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), announced that the team is now the first National Hockey League (NHL) franchise to form a strategic partnership with a NWHL team, the New York Riveters.

As part of a rebranding effort that will also include new uniforms, the team will now be called the Metropolitan Riveters.

“The goal of the new alliance is to support the growth of the NWHL, and increase the development and visibility of girls’ and women’s hockey in New Jersey and across the metropolitan area,” spokespeople stated in a news release.

The Devils hold an ownership stake in the Riveters, the New York Times reported.

In addition, the Devils and Prudential Center will share their resources in order to enhance the Riveters’ operations – including marketing, sales, events, game presentation and facilities, the release stated.

According to spokespeople, other highlights of the partnership include:

• The Devils and Metropolitan Riveters will collaborate in the development of girls’ and women’s hockey programs, with Riveters players providing coaching and instruction.
• Select Metropolitan Riveters game will be featured on The One Jersey Network on newjerseydevils.com, the digital network of the New Jersey Devils.
• The Devils are sharing their infrastructure with the Riveters, including the team’s arena, practice facility and training areas.

As part of the new alliance, the Devils and Riveters will host a unique NWHL/NHL doubleheader on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The Devils’ home base, the Prudential Center in Newark, will be the site of the Riveters’ season opener against the Boston Pride at 1:30 p.m., followed by the Devils’ game against the Arizona Coyotes at 7 p.m. Riveters season ticket holders will receive tickets to the Devils game that night, and Devils season ticket holders will get their usual Prudential Center seats as a bonus for the Riveters-Pride game.

“The partnership between Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and NWHL’s Riveters presented itself as an extraordinary opportunity to support youth and women’s professional ice hockey at the Prudential Center,” said Hugh Weber, president of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, the New Jersey Devils and the Prudential Center. “We are confident that New Jersey Devils fans and those supporting the development of young women in athletics are as proud as we are for the Metropolitan Riveters to call the Prudential Center home.”

“The New Jersey Devils and HBSE have shown their commitment to women’s hockey in the metropolitan area in a very big way,” said NWHL Commissioner Dani Rylan. “We are grateful to begin this long-term collaboration with them and are confident that together we will grow the game.”

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Photo: NWHL, YouTube