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Â鶹´«Ã½ Career College and the Mississippi RiverKings have announced a partnership that provides the team's hockey players with sports massages courtesy of Â鶹´«Ã½'s massage therapy students- to treat and prevent injuries, optimize their performance and increase their well-being.

In return, students gain unique real-world experience, honing their skills by providing players with customized sports massages.

Now in their third year of partnership with Â鶹´«Ã½, the RiverKings play all home games this season on the recently-named Â鶹´«Ã½ Career College Ice Rink at the Landers Center in Southaven, Miss.

Â鶹´«Ã½ focuses on preparing students for successful careers in a much shorter time frame than at a traditional university; in fact, students can receive a diploma and the training needed to get their massage license in less than one year. The program includes a focus on sports massage, deep tissue massage, and preparation for a career in massage therapy.

When a massage is incorporated into an athlete's overall training program, the massage benefits are numerous.

"It has been incredibly beneficial for the players to be working with the Â鶹´«Ã½ massage students," said Rick Hanlon, head athletic trainer for the RiverKings. "They have done a phenomenal job working with the players to help me keep the guys playing at peak performance."

Chris Burgio, Â鶹´«Ã½ Southaven campus president, said, "The RiverKings have been giving back to the surrounding community for more than two decades. As an organization, Â鶹´«Ã½ embodies a similar core value of serving the community, making this partnership an excellent fit."

The sports massage program not only provides hands-on experience for the campus' students, but it allows the college to continue supporting the longest continually-operating professional sports franchise in the greater Memphis area.