Innovating the Future of Hockey: NHL/NHLPA Innovation Competition presented by SAP
Florida will host outdoor NHL hockey games in January and February, and to celebrate, the NHL and NHL Players' Association are organizing the NHL/NHLPA Innovation Competition presented by SAP in collaboration with ESPN Take Back Sports. This collegiate competition aims to inspire students to rethink the future of hockey by focusing on three core Innovation Pillars: Supporting the People Who Power Sport, Expanding Spaces for Play, and Putting Fun Back at the Center of Sport. Participants are encouraged to develop creative ideas that enhance the support for coaches, referees, and volunteers, create more inclusive play spaces in communities, and prioritize joy, creativity, and friendship in hockey for kids and families.
The top six finalist teams will showcase their ideas live at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports at the Walt Disney World Resort on Jan. 22, 2026. Florida will host two outdoor games next year: the 2026 Discover NHL Winter Classic between the New York Rangers and Florida Panthers at LoanDepot Park in Miami on Jan. 2, and the 2026 Navy Federal Credit Union Stadium Series between the Tampa Bay Lightning and Boston Bruins at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa on Feb. 1. SAP, a long-time NHL partner, sees this initiative as an extension of its University Alliances program, which connects SAP with academic institutions globally to prepare the next generation of innovators through hands-on learning and access to SAP technologies. By aligning this educational effort with the Innovation Competition, SAP aims to empower students to apply creativity, data, and design thinking to real-world opportunities within the sport.
The collaboration between the NHL, NHLPA, SAP, and ESPN Take Back Sports for the NHL/NHLPA Innovation Competition presented by SAP highlights the importance of teamwork, imagination, and technology in growing the game for future generations. Students interested in participating can find more information and register before Nov. 17, 2025, at hockeyinnovationcompetitionfl.com.