Niklas Kronwall And Justin Abdelkader Set To Introduce New Hockey Scholar Education Course At Upton Elementary On Jan. 19

DETROIT – The Detroit Red Wings, the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), and the National Hockey League (NHL®) have announced the launch of The Hockey Scholar™, a new hockey-themed educational course in conjunction with the NHL & NHLPA Future Goals Program™, designed to enable elementary and middle school students to develop important science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills and understand the real world application of these disciplines.

Red Wings defenseman Niklas Kronwall and forward Justin Abdelkader will visit Alfred E. Upton Elementary School in Royal Oak on Tuesday, Jan. 19  from 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. to introduce the program to students. Kronwall and Abdelkader will visit with students in the classroom and work alongside them as they progress through the program. The visit will conclude with an assembly in the school's gymnasium that will feature a shoot-out between teachers and students.

The Hockey Scholar™ course takes students on an exciting educational journey with a goal of winning the Stanley Cup®. Students will guide their favorite NHL team by completing 12 learning modules designed to educate them and test their knowledge on core STEM concepts covering data analysis, geometry, life science and physical science topics. These topics come to life through hockey simulations that include the dynamics of the ice surface, equipment design, athletic performance, and geometric and energy considerations to detail how the game is played on the ice.

"We're excited to continue to bring the Red Wings into the classroom for students throughout the state of Michigan to help them learn the critical skills of science, technology, engineering and math through the game of hockey," said Tom Wilson, President and CEO of Olympia Entertainment. "The Future Goals program provides a fun way for students to expand on what they're learning in the classroom through a cutting-edge digital learning environment."

The Hockey Scholar™ maps to state math and science standards and is freely available to elementary and middle schools (Grades 4-7) across North America. The course was developed by Washington, D.C.-based EverFi, the critical skills education leader that has certified more than 12 million learners.

"The level of engagement in this program from the league, the players, and their clubs is unprecedented in the sports world," said EverFi Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer Jon Chapman. "What's most important is how this partnership is making a difference for thousands of students and teachers across North America."

Since its launch in September 2014, Future Goals™ has reached more than 375,000 students across the United States and Canada. The free program can currently be found in more than 3,500 schools and has yielded more than 1.5 million hours of STEM learning opportunities.

For more information on Future Goals™ and to register your school for the free program, visit www.futuregoals.nhl.com/redwings.