Maine-based beverage company partners with University of Maine women’s hockey player and multi-sport athlete at The Brooks School
AUGUSTA, Maine — Pliable Marketing announced today mainelove, a Maine-based beverage company, has signed name, image and likeness (NIL) partnerships with Pliable athletes Lulu Rucinski, a women’s ice hockey player at the University of Maine and Lydia Trytek, a field hockey and ice hockey player at The Brooks School.
The partnerships bring together two athletes with connections to Maine who will help promote mainelove through social media and community engagement. The agreements also provide Rucinski and Trytek with opportunities to develop their personal brands while representing a Maine-based business.
“We’re excited to partner with Lulu and Lydia as we continue to grow the mainelove brand,” said Jeannie Assimos, Head of Content & Communications for mainelove,
“Both athletes have strong connections to Maine and appreciate drinking our
water from a recyclable aluminum can instead of a plastic bottle. We look forward to working with them to Introduce mainelove to new audiences.”
Rucinski, 19, a native of Orono, Minnesota, plays women’s ice hockey at the University of Maine. Since arriving in Maine, she has been involved in community initiatives, including the creation of “I Love Orono,” a fundraising campaign connecting her hometown of Orono, Minnesota, with her college community in Orono, Maine. The initiative supports Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine through merchandise sales and community engagement.
“Playing hockey at the University of Maine has given me the opportunity to meet so many people and become part of the community,” Rucinski said. “I’m excited to work with mainelove because I love their water and they are a Maine-based company, and another reason to love Maine.”
Trytek, 16, is from Greene, Maine and is a field hockey and ice hockey player at the Brooks School in North Andover, Massachusetts. She previously attended North Yarmouth Academy in Maine, where she competed in both sports and won two Vaillancourt Championships. Trytek was named Pliable Marketing’s 2025 Female Athlete of the Year in recognition of her athletic accomplishments and involvement in NIL opportunities. She continues to compete in both sports while developing her personal brand through partnerships and community activities.
The NIL partnerships are also part of Pliable Marketing’s Mission E50 initiative to increase to popularity of women’s sports.
“These type of partnerships demonstrate how Maine businesses can work with local female athletes to promote their products and connect with customers,” said Greg Glynn, founder and CEO of Pliable Marketing. “Lulu and Lydia have strong ties to Maine, and are great role models for girls to look up to. The decision for mainelove to partner with Lulu and Lydia was a natural fit. When female athletes create NIL partnerships, it creates more exposure for their sport and creates more opportunities for more girls and women in all sports.”
Photo and story Pliableiable
