February 25, 2008

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey's first-ever 24-Hour Hockey Game, in which one 30-minute running-time game in each of the nation's 50 states will be played consecutively beginning in Maine, will commence at 12 noon ET on Friday, Feb. 29.

"We're very excited about the 24-Hour Game," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey. "February 29 has been designated as the worldwide day to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Ice Hockey Federation and our 24-Hour Game is a unique and fun way for us to be engaged in the celebration and also bring visibility to our great sport."

USA Hockey's 24-Hour Hockey Game will begin in Hallowell, Maine, at 12 noon ET on Feb. 29 (see complete schedule below). Hawaii and Alaska will both play a 30-minute running-time "overtime" game with the 24-Hour Game ending at 1 p.m. ET in Honolulu, Hawaii, on Saturday, March 1.

Players of all ages, backgrounds and skill sets will participate in the event. The mite (8 & Under), squirt (10 & Under), pee wee (12 & Under), bantam (14 & Under), midget (18 & Under), high school, junior, college (non-varsity), disabled, inline and adult levels of hockey will be represented, spanning across 100 teams.

In each state, one team has been designated as "Stars" and one team as "Stripes." A national running score will be kept at the event website -- 24HourHockeyGame.com.

Each participant will receive a souvenir luggage tag that states, "I Played in USA Hockey's 24-Hour Game."

NOTES: The USA Hockey affiliate presidents led or delegated the effort to set up the game in each state ... Each state determined the location and age levels of players who will participate in its 30-minute game.