Eighth annual Hockey Weekend Across America begins Friday
By @SKubus –
Monday afternoon, USA Hockey announced the details surrounding the eighth annual Hockey Weekend Across America, which begins this Friday, Feb. 20 and runs through Sunday, Feb. 22.
Each day will feature a particular theme, beginning with Friday’s “Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day,” one for fans to show off their hockey pride by donning their most-valued hockey jersey. USA Hockey will accept photos on their Facebook and Twitter pages in search of the most passionate hockey fans.
More than 300 rinks in 47 states will host Try Hockey for Free clinics on Saturday’s “Try Hockey Day,” allowing countless kids the chance to experience hockey for the very first time. To find a participating rink near you and register, head over to TryHockeyforFree.com.
“One of the goals for making this organization strong and this game better is to get more young people on the ice for the first time,” USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean said in a press conference Monday. “That’s an entry-level goal from which we then need to make sure their experience is good, they develop well, and the principles of the ADM are to learn the game better, love it more and play it longer.”
Sunday’s “Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day,” also Hockey Day in America, caps off the weekend and encourages hockey programs across the nation to honor their local hockey heroes. As with Friday’s jersey event, USA Hockey will be accepting photos and stories on its website, Facebook and Twitter pages.
The Feb. 22 date also marks the 35th anniversary of the Miracle on Ice. Mike Eruzione, captain of the fabled 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team, said it may have been his team’s story that inspired many, but it’s the following generations that truly grew the game in the country.
“It’s been an incredible 35 years,” Eruzione said. “From my standpoint, I think where hockey has come now, I’ve said many times in ’80 we might have opened the door; today’s players knocked the door down, and it’s great to see the success of our programs and go into a tournament now as one of the favorites, not just a country that has a chance.”
As part of that Miracle on Ice anniversary, members of the 1980 team will reunite at Herb Brooks Arena – the site of the famous win over the Soviet Union – for a “Relive the Miracle” event. The players will share with fans their memories and insight on the game and will utilize original photo, audio and video footage from the 1980 Olympic Winter Games. One member of the 1980 team, Bob Suter, who passed away in September, will be honored with a jersey that will be raised to the rafters of Herb Brooks Arena.
NBC will show a NHL double-header featuring Washington at Philadelphia and Boston at Chicago, while NBCSN will show Dallas at Minnesota in the evening to complete a triple-header. At the games in Philadelphia and Minnesota, members of the gold-medal winning 2015 U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team will be honored. NBC’s studio show will also air from historic Lake Placid, New York.
The hashtag to use on social media throughout the weekend will be #HWAA.
More information from the USA Hockey press release:
Team USA Recognition On Sunday at NHL games in Philadelphia and Minnesota, select members of the gold-medal winning 2015 U.S. Women’s National Under-18 Team will be honored. The squad earned the gold medal in early January at the 2015 IIHF U18 Women’s World Championship in Buffalo, New York. Additionally, the PBS documentary Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey, featuring the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, will air on NBCSN tomorrow (Feb. 17) following the NHL tilt between Buffalo and New Jersey.
CCM “Tacks Are Back” Sweepstakes Now through Feb. 22, fans can enter the Hockey Weekend Across America “Tacks Are Back” Sweepstakes to win one of three grand prizes, each including a hockey stick, helmet/facemask combo, hockey bag and skates. In addition to the grand prize winners, three lucky fans will receive a CCM hockey stick and 30 winners will collect a USA Hockey hat. Visit HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com and click “Sweepstakes” in the top menu to enter.
OFFICIALS IN ON ACTION At 18 NHL games in American cities during Hockey Weekend Across America, two young officials will have the chance to meet the NHL officials working the particular contest prior to the game and then stay to watch those NHL officials in action.
SIRIUS/XM NHL Network Radio As part of the Hockey Weekend Across America celebration, Sirius/XM’s Hockey This Morning and Power Play shows will interview a prominent figure in American hockey for five straight days beginning today. A full list of guests appears below.
Sirius/XM NHL Network Radio Hockey Weekend Across America Programming Hockey This Morning and Power Play on Sirius/XM NHL Network Radio
Hockey This Morning with hosts Mike Ross and Mick Kern XM 218 / Sirius 211
Monday, Feb. 16, 9:25 a.m. ET – Angela Ruggiero, four-time Olympic medalist
Tuesday, Feb. 17, 9:25 a.m. ET – Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey
Wednesday, Feb. 18, 8:45 a.m. ET – Josh Sweeney, 2014 Paralympic gold medalist and captain of the 2015 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team
Thursday, Feb. 19, 9:25 a.m. ET – Pat Kelleher, assistant executive director for development of USA Hockey
Friday, Feb. 20, 9:25 a.m. ET – Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey
Power Play with hosts Scott Laughlin and Matthew Barnaby at 5:30 p.m. ET XM 218 / Sirius 211
Monday, Feb. 16 – Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey
Tuesday, Feb. 17 – Jack O’Callahan, member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team
Wednesday, Feb. 18 – Reagan Carey, director of women’s ice hockey for USA Hockey
Thursday, Feb. 19 – John Harrington, member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team
Friday, Feb. 20 – Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey