COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Hockey Week Across America begins today and runs through Feb. 26. Typically a weekend celebration, USA Hockey expanded the initiative to a week this year in celebration of the 10th anniversary of Hockey Weekend Across America.
Started in 2008 by USA Hockey, HWAA is an effort to celebrate the game of hockey and those involved at all levels and also expose the game to new audiences.
This year’s week-long celebration includes a special theme for each day, including the traditional themes of Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day (Friday), Try Hockey Day (Saturday) and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes (Sunday), but this year also includes individual days to salute players (Monday), coaches (Tuesday), officials (Wednesday) and local rinks (Thursday).
2017 Hockey Week Across America
Daily Themes
Date
Theme
Sun., Feb. 19
NBC Sports’ Hockey Day in America
Mon., Feb. 20
Salute to Players
Tues., Feb. 21
Salute to Coaches
Wed., Feb. 22
Salute to Officials
Thurs., Feb. 23
Salute to Local Rinks
Fri., Feb. 24
Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day
Sat., Feb. 25
Try Hockey Day
Sun., Feb. 26
Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes
NBC SPORTS’ HOCKEY DAY
IN AMERICA
NBC Sports’ Hockey Day in America kicks off the festivities Sunday (Feb. 19), with live coverage of four NHL games and content showcasing hockey at all levels weaved in througout the day and night. Coverage begins at 12 noon ET with a half-hour pre-game show on NBC in advance of two games on the network — Washington at New York Rangers followed by Detroit at Pittsburgh. NBCSN takes over duties for two evening games on Sunday, with the Boston at San Jose contest following Chicago at Buffalo.
GLOBAL GIRLS GAME
On Sunday (Feb. 19), USA Hockey will take part in the International Ice Hockey Federation Global Girls Game, which is a worldwide initiative where 44 federations will host one-hour games in succession across the world. The “game” begins Feb. 17. The U.S. contest is set for 4 p.m. ET on Sunday in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, at Baierl Ice Complex and will feature the 16U girls semifinal game of the Steel City Girls Invitational. USA Hockey is simultaneously highlighting girls games at varying age levels across the country during this same time period. A complete list can be found here.
TRY HOCKEY FOR FREE
On Saturday (Feb. 25), national Try Hockey for Free Day will provide children ages 4 to 9 that have never had the chance to try the sport to do just that at no cost. Over 350 rinks nationwide will be hosting a Try Hockey for Free event and those interested can find the location nearest them by visiting TryHockeyForFree.com. Liberty Mutual Insurance and Total Hockey are official sponsors of USA Hockey’s Try Hockey for Free days.
OFFICIALS IN ACTION
At 13 NHL games in American cities as part of Hockey Week Across America, two young officials will have the chance to meet with NHL officials working the particular contest prior to the game and then stay to watch those NHL officials in action.
U.S. SLED HOCKEY TEAMS TRAINING IN NORTH CAROLINA
Both the U.S. National Sled Hockey Team and U.S. Development Sled Hockey Team will conduct training camps Thursday-Saturday (Feb. 23-25) at Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail, North Carolina. The camp is part of preparations for the 2017 International Paralympic Committee Sled Hockey World Championship that will take place April 11-20 in Gangneung, South Korea. Team USA, the defending gold medalist in the event and winner of six straight major international tournaments, will be among seven federations competing for gold in what will be doubled as a test event for the PyeongChang 2018 Paralympic Winter Games.
SIRIUS/XM NHL NETWORK RADIO
As part of the Hockey Week Across America celebration, Sirius/XM will feature interviews with prominent figures in American Hockey all week long. A full list of guests appears below (all guests subject to change).
Date Stellick and Simmer
9:30 a.m. ET NHL Game Day
1:30 p.m. ET The Power Play
5:17 p.m. ET
Mon., Feb. 20 Dave Ogrean,
executive director,
USA Hockey Jim Smith,
president, USA Hockey
Steve Cash,
three-time U.S.
Paralympian
Tues., Feb. 21 Hilary Knight, two-time U.S. Olympian Kevin Allen,
USA Today Pat Kelleher,
assistant executive
director of
development,
USA Hockey
Wed., Feb. 22 Jim Johannson, assistant executive
director of hockey
operations, USA Hockey Don Granato,
assistant men’s ice
hockey coach,
University of Wisconsin
Angela Ruggiero,
four-time U.S.
Olympian
Thurs., Feb. 23 Jeff Jackson, head men’s ice hockey coach, University of
Notre Dame Joe Bertagna,
commissioner,
Hockey East Ben Smith,
three-time U.S.
Olympic coach
Fri., Feb. 24 Lou Vairo, 2014 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
inductee Jack McCartan,
Olympic gold medalist
1960 Olympic Team Lefty Curran,
1972 U.S. Olympic
men’s ice hockey goalie
Associations, teams and communities seeking promotional materials, including posters and logos, are also available for download at this site. Use the hashtag #HWAA on Twitter in association with the event. For full information surrounding the weekend, visit HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com.
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 … An NHL Stadium Series game will take place during Hockey Week Across America on Saturday, Feb. 25, when the Pittsburgh Penguins host the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Opening faceoff is set for 8 p.m. ET and the game will be carried live on NBC … For full information surrounding the week, click here … Use the hashtag #HWAA on social media in association with the event.
