Clarkson Hockey ANNOUNCES NIL Partnership witH AXE SPORTS GROUP

POTSDAM, N.Y. — March 13, 2026 — Axe Sports Group announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Clarkson University Athletics to serve as a third-party Name, Image & Likeness (NIL) service provider supporting the university’s Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey programs.

Through its Next Play Initiative (NPI) platform, Axe Sports Group will work alongside Clarkson Hockey to help develop structured NIL opportunities connecting student-athletes with brands, businesses, and community partners while providing operational support across the NIL process.

The collaboration will focus on building a sustainable NIL framework for Clarkson Hockey athletes by supporting partnership development, deal structuring, and opportunity creation aligned with the university’s compliance standards and institutional policies.

“College hockey has one of the most passionate communities in sports, and Clarkson represents one of the strongest brands in the game,” said Ismail Showell, Founder and CEO of Axe Sports Group. “Our goal is to help create meaningful opportunities for Clarkson’s student-athletes while building a scalable structured system that connects athletes with brands, alumni, and businesses that want to support the program.”

Under the agreement, Axe Sports Group will assist in:

• Developing partnership opportunities with local, regional, and national brands

• Structuring and executing NIL agreements for Clarkson hockey student-athletes

• Providing operational infrastructure to support NIL activity and program growth

• Providing NIL education and guidance to help student-athletes understand brand partnerships, personal brand development, and best practices for navigating opportunities in the evolving NIL landscape

  
  

The initiative is designed to help Clarkson Hockey student-athletes benefit from the evolving NIL landscape while maintaining alignment with university policies and NCAA guidelines.

Clarkson’s Men’s and Women’s Ice Hockey programs have long been among the most respected programs in collegiate hockey, with strong alumni support and a national reputation for competitive excellence. The collaboration aims to help translate that momentum into new opportunities for student-athletes both on and off the ice. The collaboration is designed to translate that legacy into new opportunities for student-athletes, helping Clarkson Hockey continue to lead both competitively and in the evolving NIL era.

About Axe Sports Group

Axe Sports Group is a NIL agency and university consulting firm representing student-athletes across major collegiate conferences. Through its Next Play Initiative (NPI) platform, the company works with universities to support NIL opportunity development, brand partnerships, and athlete development initiatives.