Hockey stars join retired players from other sports to help launch new pickleball venture
(CLEARWATER, Fla. – August 1, 2023) PBX Pickleball, the company that unites retired professional athletes with the pickleball community, has confirmed 3x Stanley Cup Champ Patrick Sharp, 2x Stanley Cup Champ Dave Bolland, and 1x Stanley Cup Champ Freddy Modin have signed with PBX Pickleball as PBX Pros, joining 4x Stanley Cup Champ and PBX advisor Kris Draper, and longtime NHL player, executive, and PBX co-founder Paul Holmgren.
Jarmo Kekäläinen, the current General Manager of the Columbus Blue Jackets and retired player, also announced he signed with PBX Pickleball as a PBX Pro.
Sharp, Bolland, Modin, Draper, Holmgren, and Kekäläinen will trade in their sticks and skates for a pickleball paddle to participate in the PBX Tour, PBX Pro-Ams, PBX Dream Weekends, and PBX Corporate Events starting later this year. Amateur pickleball players will have the opportunity to take the pickleball courts with retired hockey players, in addition to retired athletes from baseball, football, basketball, and other sports.
“PBX Pickleball offers an opportunity for amateur pickleball players of all levels to compete right alongside some of the best players and personalities from hockey, baseball, football, basketball, and more,” said Holmgren. “ Pickleball is a fantastic game, and we’ll have the opportunity to reignite that locker room camaraderie we all loved in hockey or the other sports and bring it to the pickleball court. I know Bolland, Draper, and Sharp also love the sport and will go out there to win and have fun.”
Additional advisors for PBX Pickleball include 3x MLB All-Star Kevin Youkilis, 4x World Series Champ Tino Martinez, 2x MLB All-Star Brad Penny, 18-year MLB veteran Kent Mercker, and NFL Pro Bowler and Super Bowl Champ Golden Tate. The PBX advisors will also take the pickleball courts as PBX Pros.
As part of its outreach to athletes across major American sports, PBX Pickleball partnered with the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (MLBPAA) and the NHL Alumni Association. Additional partnerships will be announced soon. PBX Pickleball will incorporate retired players’ charities and other nonprofit organizations nationwide.
About PBX Pickleball
PBX Pickleball creates memorable experiences by uniting well-known retired professional athletes with amateur pickleball players and fans. Established in 2023, PBX Pickleball consists of four experiences: the PBX Tour, PBX Pro-Ams, PBX Dream Weekends, and PBX Corporate Experiences. The company is part of The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC), the nation’s leading resource for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. To learn more about PBX Pickleball, go to https://pbxpickleball.com or follow @pbxpickleball on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
About The Sports Facilities Companies
The Sports Facilities Companies (SFC) are the nation’s leading resources for the management and development of sports, recreation, wellness, and events facilities. As a turn-key solution for community leaders and developers alike, SFC services span the gamut of sports and recreation needs from sports tourism & recreation master planning, program planning, and feasibility through professional facility management services. Our 45+ managed venues and 2000+ team members, represented by the SF Network, welcome more than 25 million guest visits and produce over $300 million in economic impact each year. To learn more, please visit SportsFacilities.com and theSFnetwork.com.
PBX Pickleball Media Contact:
Eric Nemeth
602-502-2793