New Jersey Devils has expanded its long-term partnership with RWJBarnabas Health, becoming the NHL team’s first-ever home jersey patch partner.
The agreement strengthens a nearly 30-year association between the parties and aims to improve community health in New Jersey through a multi-tiered activation plan, allowing the two brands to utilise shared resources to improve community health.
Mark E. Manigan, President and Chief Executive Officer, RWJBarnabas Health, commented: “The opportunity to strengthen RWJBarnabas Health’s 30-year partnership with the New Jersey Devils reinforces our shared commitment to improve community health.
“While this multi-faceted affiliation serves to provide world-class clinical care to professional athletes, equally important, our combined resources will continue to elevate and advance critical community-based health care programs and services across the state.”
Under the agreement, the Devils and RWJBarnabas Health have collaborated to create an extensive youth hockey program aimed at involving children throughout New Jersey, which will be integrated into the New Jersey Devils Rink Partners program, reaching over 40 hockey rinks across the state.
WJBarnabas Health has also developed an educational blueprint focused on instilling in children and their families the significance of adopting active and nutritious lifestyles, along with essential injury prevention techniques.
The Devils are set to complement this blueprint with coaching, mental health, and athlete care seminars, offering NHL-level guidance and education for participants.
In addition, as a symbol of their enhanced collaboration and commitment, RWJBarnabas Health has been named its first-ever home jersey patch partner, aiming to fortify the brand connection between the two organisations.
Jake Reynolds, President of New Jersey Devils & Prudential Center, stated: “We are beyond excited to extend our long-standing partnership with the largest academic health care system in New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health, and together unveil the first-ever jersey patch partner for the New Jersey Devils.
“Together with RWJBarnabas Health, we will continue to play an instrumental role in supporting youth hockey programs, fulfil our shared vision of building healthier communities throughout New Jersey and help support the highest level of care for our athletes.”
On the back of the deal, the Devils defenseman Dougie Hamilton has partnered with RWJBarnabas Health to launch “Dougie’s Buddies”, a community program, in which multiple times each month during the season Hamilton will host guests at the NHL team’s home games.
These guests will include RWJBarnabas Health patients, with the experience featuring game tickets, food, beverages, Devils merchandise, and a post-game meet and greet with Hamilton.
“Connecting with our youth is a passion of mine, and it is an honour to partner with RWJBarnabas Health to launch this community program and create a meaningful experience for children and their families,” said Hamilton.
“Having made New Jersey my home and seeing how important the Devils are to the community, I wanted to offer this unique opportunity and bring smiles to their faces during what may be a difficult time.”
This announcement comes after the recent renewal of the prominent partnership between Verizon and the NHL earlier this month, which saw Verizon remain the official 5G partner and official technology partner of the league, solidifying their ongoing collaboration.
