JLG Architects has long been a champion of college hockey, not only through the design of state‑of‑the‑art rinks but also by investing in the people who play the game. Since 2018 the firm has partnered with College Hockey Inc. to fund scholarships that enable student‑athletes to pursue higher education while continuing to compete at the highest amateur level.
A Scholarship With a Vision
The College Hockey Inc. Scholarship, presented by JLG, was created to ease the financial burden of graduate study for players who have demonstrated both athletic excellence and academic promise. In its inaugural year, the award recognized a standout student‑athlete whose blend of on‑ice leadership and scholarly ambition set a new benchmark for the program.
Breanna Scarpaci earned that distinction in 2020, becoming the first recipient of the JLG‑backed scholarship. Her victory was celebrated not only for the financial support it provided but also for the message it sent: that the discipline cultivated on the rink can translate into academic and professional success.
From Rink to Rehabilitation
Scarpaci’s academic trajectory reflects the same relentless pursuit of improvement that defined her hockey career. After completing her undergraduate studies, she entered Boston University’s doctorate program in physical therapy, graduating in 2023. She then secured a competitive orthopedic residency at the University of Chicago, where she refined her skills in sports medicine.
In 2025 she returned to Boston, joining a leading rehabilitation clinic where she now helps athletes recover from injuries that once threatened their own competitive dreams. The scholarship played a pivotal role in making that transition possible, covering tuition and living expenses that would have otherwise been prohibitive.
Reflecting on her journey, Scarpaci points to the Beanpot championship she helped her team win in 2019 as a career highlight, but she emphasizes that the everyday camaraderie and the relentless practice sessions were equally formative. Those experiences taught her the value of perseverance, teamwork, and incremental progress.
She now shares those lessons with the next generation, urging current student‑athletes to cherish the intangible qualities that hockey instills — discipline, resilience, and a belief that improvement is always possible. “The rink gave me a foundation that I carry into every patient interaction,” she says.
The partnership between JLG Architects and College Hockey Inc. continues to shape the future of collegiate hockey, proving that strategic investment in scholarships can yield lasting benefits both on and off the ice.