Hockey Weekend Across America a week away
The fourth annual Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by Reebok, is next week. The three-day celebration of the sport of hockey will take place Feb. 18-20 nationwide.
Each of the three days associated with Hockey Weekend Across America has a theme, including Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey, sponsored by ShopUSAHockey.com on Friday; Bring A Friend to the Rink, sponsored by the NHL on Saturday and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes, sponsored by the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports Program on Sunday.
New this year is NBC Sports' Hockey Day in America on Sunday (Feb. 20) from 12 - 6 p.m. EST, which will include an NHL doubleheader and content throughout the broadcast that showcases all levels of hockey in the United States.
As part of the Hockey Weekend Across America celebration, XM/Sirius' Hockey This Morning will interview a prominent figure in American hockey for five straight days at 9:25 a.m. EST each day beginning on Monday (Feb. 14). A full list of guests appears below.
In addition, Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, will be featured on NHL Live on Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. EST, and the NHL Network will air programming tied into the initiative, including the debut of the 2010 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame broadcast on Sunday at 6 p.m.
On Friday (Feb. 18), as part of Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day, fans are encouraged to submit photos of themselves, their friends and colleagues donning their favorite hockey jersey to USA Hockey's Facebook page.
On Saturday (Feb. 19), more than 200 rinks across the nation will host Try Hockey for Free Clinics, exposing over 4,000 young kids to hockey for the very first time in honor of Bring a Friend to the Rink Day. A list of currently scheduled clinics can be found here.
In honor of Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day on Sunday (Feb. 20), USA Hockey is asking its fans to post stories, photos or videos of their hockey heroes to USA Hockey's Facebook page to share with the world.
At the conclusion of the weekend, fans are encouraged to upload photos of their experiences to Reebok Hockey's Facebook page to be part of the "Faces of Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by Reebok." Select photos will be featured in the April/May issue of USA Hockey Magazine, the world's most widely distributed hockey magazine.
Finally, USA Hockey and Reebok Hockey are teaming up to provide free head-to-toe equipment packages to three lucky winners with the Hockey Weekend Across America "Get Your Gear On" Sweepstakes.
HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com is the information hub for the event. It includes highlights of activities planned in conjunction with Hockey Weekend Across America from around the country, giveaway contests and downloadable promotional materials. Associations, teams and fans are encouraged to submit their plans to celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America online by clicking here.
NOTES: Hockey Weekend Across America was created by USA Hockey in 2008 to engage the hockey community in celebrating the sport of hockey at all levels and exposing the sport to new audiences ... USA Hockey will stage media conference calls as part of Hockey Weekend Across America on Wednesday (Feb. 16) and Thursday (Feb. 17), featuring members of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Teams as well as USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman ... On Feb. 20, USA Hockey will celebrate the registration of its record-setting 100,000th member in the 8-and-under age group, Laura Clements, at a Learn to Play practice at Tabor Academy in Marion, Mass. Among those in attendance will be U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team members Kacey Bellamy (2010), Colleen Coyne (1998), and Karen Thatcher (2010), as well as Reagan Carey, USA Hockey's director of women's ice hockey.
2011 Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by Reebok
A Look at Some of the Happenings Around the Country
Chubbuck, Idaho
The Chubbuck Pocatello Hockey Association has planned a Hockey Weekend Across America event with a ribbon cutting, hockey heroes and a celebrity game.
Davenport, Iowa
The Quad City Hockey Association has an exciting weekend of hockey games, demonstrations, clinics and more. www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks
Lowell, Mass.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell Riverhawks are hosting a pair of games over Hockey Weekend Across America. On Feb. 18, their game against the University of Maine will include a Tom Caron bobblehead giveaway. Then, on Feb. 19, the Riverhawks game against Maine will include Country Fest with Ayla Brown. www.goriverhawks.com
Brownstown, Mich.
The Henry Ford Hurricanes/Nitro Hockey Association will host free hockey on Feb. 19 from 1-4 p.m., followed by games and clowns. www.iceboxsports.com
Traverse City, Mich.
The Grand Traverse Hockey Association will host its Skylympic Games on Feb. 19 at Centre Ice Arena from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. EST. www.tchockey.com
Bayonne, N.J.
The Bayonne Hockey Association will host a benefit game on Feb. 18 in memory of a fallen local police officer. Event Web Site
Rio Rancho, N.M.
The New Mexico Amateur Hockey Association invites children who have never played hockey to hit the ice at Blades from 2:15-4:15 p.m. MST. www.nmaha.org
Amherst, N.Y.
Amherst Youth Hockey will host a Try Hockey for Free event at Northtown Center on Feb. 19 and will honor heroes at the Coaches vs. Cops game on Feb. 20 at the Feature Rink. www.amherstyouthhockey.org
New York, N.Y.
The New York Rangers will host their third annual Rangers Winter Hockey Fest from 12 - 5 p.m. EST on Feb. 19 at Wollman Rink in Central Park. www.newyorkrangers.com
Skaneateles, N.Y.
The Skaneateles Youth Hockey Association is creating an outdoor rink to play old-fashioned pond hockey games on Feb. 19. More pond hockey will follow on Feb. 20 followed by a Local Hockey Hero Award Ceremony. http://syha.goalline.ca/
Williston, N.D.
The Williston Basin Skating Club will host an open skate honoring three North Dakota Miss/Mr. Hockey winners on Feb. 20. aaron.schmit@raymondjames.com
York, Pa.
The York Ice Hockey Club will honor local hockey hero Steve Mitchell on Feb. 20. www.yorkdevils.com
Providence, R.I.
Lite Rock/105/WWLI-FM on- and off-ice clinics hosted by local college hockey heroes on Sunday. www.literock105fm.com
Vancouver, Wash.
The River City Jaguars invite kids to a Feb. 19 morning skate from 8:30 - 9:45 a.m. PST. Kids will receive basic instruction and meet the Jr. A River City Jaguar. www.mtviewice.com
To register your city or local association's event with USA Hockey, click here.
NHL Network U.S.
Special Programming During Hockey Weekend Across America
Wednesday, Feb. 16
NHL Live Interview with Dave Ogrean -- 12:18 a.m. EST
USA Hockey executive director Dave Ogrean will visit with NHL Live to discuss the current state of hockey in the United States.
Saturday, Feb. 19
NCAA Men's Ice Hockey -- 12 p.m. EST -- Western Michigan Univ. at Univ. of Michigan
A rebroadcast of a Friday-night showdown between Central Collegiate Hockey Association foes from Yost Arena in Ann Arbor, Mich.
NCAA Men's Ice Hockey -- 2 p.m. EST -- Dartmouth College at Colgate Univ.
Tape-delayed coverage of a Friday-night ECAC Hockey tilt from Starr Rink in Hamilton, N.Y.
Sunday, Feb. 20
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony -- 6 p.m. EST
The debut showing of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony that honored Art Berglund, Derian Hatcher, Kevin Hatcher, Dr. V. George Nagobads and Jeremy Roenick.
XM/Sirius Radio
Hockey Weekend Across America Programming
Hockey This Morning on XM/Sirius
All guests on with host Mike Ross at 9:25 a.m. EST
XM 204 / Sirius 208
Monday, Feb. 14
Bob Chase, 58-year veteran play-by-play broadcaster for the Central Hockey League's Fort Wayne Komets
Tuesday, Feb. 15
Taylor Chace, 2010 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team gold medal-winning defenseman and 2010 U.S. Olympic Committee Paralympic SportsMan of the Year
Wednesday, Feb. 16
Jerry York, four-time NCAA Division I champion head coach and current men's ice hockey head coach at Boston College
Thursday, Feb. 17
Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey
Friday, Feb. 18
Katey Stone, the winningest coach in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey history and current head coach at Harvard University
