Here’s How the Networks Will Celebrate Hockey Weekend Across America

NEW YORK (February 16, 2012) — Hockey Weekend Across America Presented By Reebok commences this Friday, Feb. 17. The National Hockey League is taking part in the celebration by serving up U.S. hockey-themed content through its multiple media platforms to support the nationwide initiative introduced five years ago by USA Hockey to celebrate the game and those involved at all levels while exposing hockey to new audiences. NBC Sports Group will anchor nine hours of coverage on NBC and the NBC Sports Network this Sunday. NBC will provide regional coverage of three games at Noon ET, followed by the defending Stanley Cup champion Boston Bruins visiting the Minnesota Wild at 3 pm ET as part of Hockey Day in America Presented by McDonald’s. At 6 pm, NBC Sports Network will then televise the New Jersey Devils game at Montreal.

 

NHL Social Media

The NHL’s social media platforms will be getting into the spirit and engaging fans throughout the weekend with U.S. hockey-related content. Fans are encouraged to follow @NHL and @USAHockey on Twitter for giveaways and use the hashtag #HWAA and #HockeyMeans to join the conversation. Those who “Like” the NHL® and USA Hockey’s Facebook pages will be provided event-related updates throughout Hockey Weekend Across America.

 

On Friday, Feb. 17, fans are asked to visit the NHL’s Facebook page and USA Hockey’s page to submit photos of themselves, their friends and colleagues donning their favorite hockey jersey as part of “Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey” day. On Sunday, Feb. 19, @NHL will invite fans to tweet what hockey means to them and upload photos on Instagram using the #HockeyMeans hashtag. Prizes will be awarded randomly to those who participate. In honor of “Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes” day on Sunday, USA Hockey is asking fans to post stories, photos or videos of their hockey heroes to its Facebook wall to share with the world.

 

NHL Network

One of the guests on this week’s edition of NHL Hour With Commissioner Gary Bettman will be USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean. Ogrean will join the Commissioner in a discussion about the state of hockey in the United States. The show, which encourages fans to call in with questions, airs Thursdays on NHL Network™, NHL.com and on Sirius XM Radio from 6 – 7 pm ET. To submit questions to NHL Hour call 1-877-NHL-ON-XM (1-877-645-6696).

 

Also part of the U.S. hockey programming, Making of a Royal Presented by McDonalds, which will air Saturday, Feb. 18, at 4 pm and 5:30 pm ET and Sunday, Feb. 19, at noon, provides an unprecedented look behind the scenes at the Long Island Royals – an Under-16 AAA hockey team that happens to be coached by Hockey Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine. Episodes airing over the weekend will be narrated by actor/comedian/writer/director and passionate hockey fan, Dennis Leary.

 

On Sunday at 1 pm, NHL Network will re-air the special tribute to the life and career of the NHL’s highest-scoring American-born player titled “Mike Modano: American Icon. It tells the story of Modano’s emergence as the face of a franchise and chronicles his evolution as a player — from childhood in Michigan through becoming the first overall draft pick in 1988 by Minnesota to the Stars’ relocation in 1993 through his final game in a Dallas Stars uniform in 2010.

 

In addition, NHL Network shows NHL On the Fly™ and NHL Tonight™ also will have special guests throughout the weekend to share their stories and give their thoughts on hockey in the United States.

 

NHL.com

NHL.com will have all angles covered for Hockey Weekend Across America with features including on-the-ground reports from St. Paul, Minn., the site of NBC’s Hockey Day in America telecast, a story on 24 Hours of Hockey — Detroit’s initiative to host 24 hours of hockey from clinics to youth and NHL games at Joe Louis Arena — and a piece detailing the growth of Hockey Weekend Across America during its five years. NHL.com’s Dan Rosen also will take a look into the growth of the game in the States through the eyes of some of game’s biggest players — Wayne Gretzky, Brian Leetch and Brett Hull — who have played huge parts in that growth during the past two decades.

 

NBC Sports to broadcast Hockey Day In America Presented By McDonalds

NBC Sports will once again take part in the weekend-long celebration with the second annual Hockey Day in America presented by McDonalds this Sunday, Feb. 19, from Noon-6 p.m. ET on NBC. Beginning with three different NHL games broadcast regionally, NBC Sports will conclude its coverage with a national broadcast of the Boston Bruins facing off against the Wild. All four NBC games also will be available to fans to stream online through NBC’s NHL Extra player (US only). Immediately following Hockey Day in America presented by McDonalds, NBC Sports Network will present the New Jersey Devils at the Montreal Canadiens at 6 p.m. ET to conclude a nine-hour NHL block of programming across the broadcast and cable platforms of the NBC Sports Group.

 

Sunday’s games on NBC and NBC Sports Network:

Noon-3 pm ET NBC Pittsburgh Penguins at Buffalo Sabres (regional)

NBC San Jose Sharks at Detroit Red Wings (regional)

NBC St. Louis Blues at Chicago Blackhawks (regional)

3-6 pm ET NBC Boston Bruins at Minnesota Wild (national)

6-9 pm ET NBCSN New Jersey Devils at Montreal Canadiens (national)

 

The Hockey Day festivities will be hosted this year by the Minnesota Wild, with Liam McHugh, Eddie Olczyk, Pierre McGuire and Mike Milbury anchoring NBC Sports’ live pre-game and early-game intermission coverage from the Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink at Landmark Plaza in downtown St. Paul, Minn. Fans are encouraged to participate in the event by visiting the Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink to take in the attractions including USA Hockey American Development Model clinics, mascot autograph sessions, a Minnesota North Stars alumni autograph session, a North Stars alumni versus media hockey game and a live KFAN-FM broadcast in addition to the live NBC broadcasts throughout the day. Amanda Kessel, member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and brother of Phil Kessel, will be on hand at the USA Hockey booth where fans can get her autograph and also have a chance to sign the giant 20’ x 20’ USA jersey that will hang in the rafters of Gutterson Fieldhouse for the IIHF Women’s World Hockey Championships that will take place in Burlington, Vermont, April 7-14.

 

Hockey Day In America Presented By McDonald’s Fan Event Schedule (all times Central):

 

10 am CT Event begins at Wells Fargo WinterSkate Rink at Landmark Plaza

USA Hockey ADM Clinic

11 am CT Live NBC Sports Coverage begins

USA Hockey ADM Clinic

Mascot autograph session

Noon CT USA Hockey ADM Clinic

12:30 pm CT North Stars alumni autographs

(Broten, Larson, Maxwell, Payne, Jensen, Dahlquist, Beaupre)

1 pm CT USA Hockey ADM Clinic

1-2:30 pm CT KFAN-FM live broadcast

1:55 pm CT North Stars Alumni vs. Media All-Stars game, including

St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Wild alumni Wes Walz

 

Advertisement