Whitecaps partner with TRIA in historic three-year deal

Today the NWHL announced the first team-specific sponsorship in league history. The Minnesota Whitecaps have joined forces with TRIA in a three-year deal which will make TRIA the team’s “official healthcare partner.”

The Whitecaps will receive healthcare from an all-female medical staff — believed to be groundbreaking in the world of American and Canadian professional sports.

TRIA is a center for orthopedic and sports medicine with four locations in Minnesota: Bloomington, Maple Grove, St. Paul, and Woodbury. TRIA has been a partner of the Minnesota Wild since the year 2000. The company is also a sponsor of Da Beauty League, a Minnesota-based hockey league which hosts NHL talent during the summer.

The Whitecaps will have TRIA logos on their jerseys and the merchandise sold at team pop-up stores. They will also collaborate with TRIA for seminars, special events, and hospital visits. Particularly relevant for the sport of hockey is TRIA’s research in concussions.

“We are excited to partner with the Minnesota Whitecaps and continue our support for women’s hockey,” Dr. Edward Craig, TRIA CEO shared in the league’s press release. “We are also proud to provide the State of Hockey’s professional women’s team with an exceptional all-female medical staff. This new partnership aligns with our commitment to women’s health and providing care for female athletes through Women’s Sports Medicine at TRIA.”

Because the Whitecaps are owned by the NWHL, the TRIA partnership is with both the league and the Whitecaps, but it appears that the unique benefits of the partnership will primarily benefit Minnesota’s club.

“With this sponsorship, TRIA has made a very strong statement about their belief in the Whitecaps, our league, and the future of professional women’s hockey,” NWHL Founder and Commissioner Dani Rylan shared in the release. “With TRIA’s support in place, the Whitecaps are poised for a very positive launch in the NWHL.”