MANCHESTER, N.H.— A Webster Elementary teacher is using her love of hockey to engage her fourth grade students, and the Boston Bruins are taking notice. Emily Vandeventer’s cross-curricular project-based learning (PBL) unit is a finalist for the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players’ Association Most Valuable Teacher Award. The program highlights educators who use hockey as a meaningful educational tool. Vandeventer is one of 31 teachers, each represented by an NHL team, nominated for the award.
Vandeventer’s PBL unit called “The Science, Stats and Stories of the Stanley Cup” incorporates nearly every subject, including STEM where students integrate real playoff statistics like shot percentages, goals per game and save percentages, then use the data to make predictions about series outcomes through probability, averages and trends. Students also explore the physics of skating and puck movement and complete research projects about the Stanley Cup, key players, and the global influence of the sport.
Outside of the classroom, Vandeventer is a professional figure skater who also teaches figure skating with the United States Figure Skating Association and coaches for the Valley Junior Warriors girls hockey team. For her, combining her personal and professional passions only makes sense. 
“My background allows me to bring authenticity into the classroom. When I teach about the physics of skating or the mindset needed in a playoff game, I’m speaking from lived experience,” Vandeventer says. “Students respond when learning feels real — and for me, this is very real.”
The project development was a team effort between Vandeventer and her students. “They helped brainstorm which playoff elements we should focus on and what statistics would be most interesting to track,” Vandeventer says. “Many of them even brought in their own hockey knowledge, which made the classroom feel like a collaborative team environment rather than just a lesson.”
One of the biggest areas of focus was social emotional learning. “We talked about teamwork, perseverance, sportsmanship, handling wins and losses, and leadership qualities. Students reflected on what makes someone a “most valuable” teammate — not just statistically, but emotionally and socially.”
In addition to being an educator and coach, Vandeventer also serves as the current Miss New Hampshire Continental USA. “My platform focuses on education, leadership, confidence, and community impact. This project aligns perfectly with that mission. It demonstrates how we can use students’ interests — like hockey — as a powerful vehicle to build not only academic skills, but also character.”
Vandeventer says the experience has been a memorable one that she and her students are excited to watch play out. “Whether I’m in a classroom, on the ice, or representing my state, my goal is the same: to empower young people to believe in their abilities and recognize that their passions can open doors.”
Voting for the Most Valuable Teacher Award runs through April 1, 2026. The winner will receive a trip to an NHL event, as well as recognition and classroom support. You can vote once per day in the contest at NHL.com/MVT