New Jersey Devils and NWHL Riveters enter into partnership

Women sell sweatshirts before the game between New York riveters and Boston Pride during of the first season of the National Womens Hockey League (NWHL) at the Aviator Sports and Events Center in New Yorks borough of Brooklyn on October 18, 2015. A small band of trailblazing female ice hockey players have struck a blow for women's sports in the United States by signing up for the nation's first professional league for women. AFP PHOTO/JEWEL SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images) /

The New Jersey Devils and the Riveters, formerly New York and now Metropolitan Riveters, have announced they have entered into a partnership. This deal will supply the Riveters with a practice and game facility full-time.

There is exciting news coming out of the NWHL today. The New Jersey Devils and the Riveters have entered into a partnership. The first thing that will happen is the formerly New York Riveters will now be the Metropolitan Riveters. They will also be changing their colors to red, white and black, like the Devils.

The Devils will be providing the Riveters with rent-free facilities for both practice and for games. Along with that, the Devils organization will be helping the Riveters with securing sponsorships, marketing their organization and helping with ticket sales as well.

One step in the right direction to get their name out there is on Oct. 28 the Devils will be having a double-header. The Riveters will be playing their game that day at 1:30 to kick off the festivities. The Devils will then take on the Arizona Coyotes later the same night.

The partnership also includes the Devils promoting Riveters events on their television broadcasts, on their social media accounts and on their arena displays.

NWHL commissioner Dani Rylan said this about the partnership:

"“To have an N.H.L. franchise putting their stamp of approval on us, it’s game-changing.”"

Not only is this a massively positive deal for the Riveters, but the NWHL and women’s hockey are going to benefit as well. This could very well open the door to other NHL organizations partnering with the other three NWHL teams as well.

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The other three teams in the league are the Boston Pride, who could partner with the Boston Bruins, the Buffalo Beauts, who could part with the Buffalo Sabres, and the Connecticut Whale. Connecticut is the only team not in the same city as an NHL organization.

In order to continue growing the game for women, and allowing them opportunities other than their respective national teams after college, is an important tool in growing hockey as a whole. The Devils have opened the door, and the rest of the NHL should follow in growing the NWHL and women’s hockey as a whole.

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