USA Hockey Foundation

In April 1999, USA Hockey established The Brian Fishman Internship, to be awarded annually to an outstanding college graduate who is pursuing a career in athletic media relations.  Based in the Media and Public Relations Department at The Walter L. Bush, Jr. Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., the internship offers experience in media and public relations, event promotions and publishing initiatives.

The internship is named in honor of the late Brian Fishman, who served as Manager of Communications and Marketing for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program during the 1998-99 season.  Brian passed away unexpectedly in January 1999 at age 28.  In tribute, the Fishman family established a restricted memorial fund, which is managed through the Foundation to ensure the permanence of the internship.

In honor of the great contribution of our athletes and staff, the USA Hockey Foundation supported the creation of the USA Hockey Alumni Association.  Launched in 2003-04, the program has been established as an all-inclusive program for ice, inline and disabled players and staff who participated in any game in which they represented USA Hockey.

The primary objectives of the program are: to recognize and reunite our former players and staff; to provide opportunity for the alumni to give back to the game of hockey through their participation in USA Hockey based programs, such as coaching and marketing; to assist in fundraising and to provide input in grant allocation for funds raised by the Alumni Association.

The Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award recognizes the accomplishments of the most outstanding player in women's intercollegiate varsity ice hockey each season.  The USA Hockey foundation first presented the award in 1998 in Boston, Mass.  In 2005, the award was presented in Hampton Falls, N.H., in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Frozen Four Championship.

The award's prominence continues to escalate as it matures and enhancements to the award ceremony have been made each year.

Patty Kazmaier represented the spirit, character, and on- and off-ice excellence upon which the award is based.  A gifted scholar-athlete and four-year varsity ice hockey letter winner at Princeton University, Patty battled a rare blood disease for more than a year before passing away in 1990 at the age of 28.  A truly exceptional individual, Patty Kazmaier's achievements in life and in sport serve as an inspiration for all women who play intercollegiate ice hockey now and in the future.

The Lester Patrick Award is presented annually to chosen recipients for "outstanding service to hockey in the United States."  First presented by the New York Rangers in 1966, the award honors the late Lester Patrick, long-time general manager and coach of the Rangers, for his invaluable contributions to the game of hockey in this country.

In 1994, USA Hockey, Inc. became an event partner with the Rangers and the National Hockey League and has been the sole beneficiary of proceeds from the annual award luncheon.  Beginning in the spring of 2000, The USA Hockey Foundation became the official charity of the Lester Patrick award ceremony.  Proceeds will benefit NHL/USA Hockey Diversity Task Force programs through additional Foundation grant disbursements.

Six present members of the USA Hockey Foundation Board of Directors, including Walter L. Bush, Jr., Ron DeGregorio, George Gund III, Peter Karmanos, Jr. and Lou Nanne, as well as Phil Verchota from the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, have been honored with the Lester Patrick Award. 

In 1997, The USA Hockey Foundation established the Dave Peterson Memorial Fund in tribute to the 1988 and 1992 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team Head Coach and, later, USA Hockey Technical Director.  On July 17, 1997, Peterson passed away at the age of 66.  The fund seeks to honor Coach Pete's passion for the sport by providing support for the continuing education and training of this country's finest young coaches.  USA Hockey's National Goalie Camp was later renamed for Peterson.