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TOP DOWN, BOTTOM UP FROM THE & THE USA Hockey And NHL Clubs Team Up To Grow The Game On Local And National Levels H 20 led by American stars Dustin Brown and Jonathan Quick. Off the ice, that same spirit of teamwork has helped USA Hockey and the National Hockey League to grow the game through a series of bold initiatives. "We have always worked together, but it's been much more formalized in the last three years, and much stronger all the way through," said Pat Kelleher, assistant executive director of Membership Development for USA Hockey. To build on past successes, representa- tives from 14 of the 23-U.S. based NHL franchises attended this year's USA Hockey Annual Congress to discuss a vari- ety of topics ranging from implementing ockey is the ultimate team game, as demonstrated by the inspiring run by the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and the recent success of the Los Angeles Kings, American Development Model initiatives to expanding adult programs. By working together to grow the game from the top down and the grassroots level on up has proven to be an invaluable tool for USA Hockey to open the game up to youngsters from coast to coast. "[NHL teams] do a ton of stuff to help us promote and reach those people that we may or may not be able to reach without their support. It's huge," Kelleher said. The importance of the relationship is not only acknowledged by USA Hockey and its Affiliates, it is a key component to the NHL's marketing efforts, as NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman pointed out during the USA The Colorado Avalanche were one of 16 NHL teams that hosted a Try Hockey For Free event last year. By JUSTIN FELISKO SEPTEMBER.2012 USAHOCKEYMAGAZINE.COM PHOTOS BY Michael Martin