Ciocca Center Updates 4/24 Issue
Ciocca Center is also looking for volunteers for the in-person pitch event on May 15th! Volunteers will receive an exclusive event volunteer shirt and food is included at the event. Please add your name to this sign up sheet by THIS FRIDAY for all of the time slots that work for you! We need a majority of the volunteer support on the day of the event.
Venture Virtuoso program application open for our Fall 2026 cohort! Application deadline: May 3rd!
Innovation Competion - Are You Ready to Change the Game? Submissions Due: April 26h
Final Pitch Day: June 1st at SAP Center
Get details + apply: https://hockeyinnovation.com
Some opportunities are about ideas. This one is about impact. The NHL, NHLPA, SAP, and the Sharks Foundation are calling on the next generation of innovators to expand access to hockey and reimagine how the game shows up in communities.
The challenge: build something that expands access to hockey and reimagines how the game shows up in communities.
Think beyond the rink. The strongest ideas will push the boundaries of community, access, and technology—using data, connected experiences, and creative thinking to change how hockey is experienced on and off the ice.
What you might explore:
How hockey can show up meaningfully in schools, after-school programs, and youth environments—safe, inclusive, and sustainable
How hockey-based experiences can support physical activity, confidence, social connection, and mental wellness
How to create new, more accessible entry points for underrepresented communities to experience the game
Why this matters:
Work on a real challenge at the intersection of sports + social impact
$5,000 per team member (teams of up to 4)
Pitch live at SAP Center (June 1)
Connect with leaders from the NHL, NHLPA, SAP, and Sharks Foundation
Who can participate: Open to undergraduate + graduate students across all majors, teams of up to 4
Key Dates:
Submission Deadline: April 26
Finalist teams will be notified by May 8
Final Pitch Day: June 1
