February 19, 2009
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Players, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans of hockey participated in initiatives across the country this past weekend to celebrate the game as part of USA Hockey's second annual Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by Reebok.
"We are extremely pleased with the vast participation by the overall hockey community in Hockey Weekend Across America," said Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey.
Each of the three days of Hockey Weekend Across America had a theme, including:
Friday (Feb. 13) – Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey, sponsored by ShopUSAHockey.com
Saturday (Feb. 14) – Bring a Friend to the Rink, sponsored by the NHL
Sunday (Feb. 15) – Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes, sponsored by the Liberty Mutual Responsible Sports program
All levels of hockey participated in the celebration, from youth hockey associations to professional teams.
Hockey associations/clubs from around the country may enter to win great prizes as part of Hockey Weekend Across America's best programming contest. The top prize is 25 sets of OneGoal starter hockey equipment, plus $2,000. Five runner-up prizes of $1,000 will also be awarded. The entry form can be downloaded by clicking here.
Various media entities featured programming specific to the weekend, including the NHL Network, which highlighted historic wins by U.S. teams and featured prominent U.S. players, while XM Radio's Hockey This Morning on channel 204 interviewed some of the most influential figures in American hockey.
USA Hockey held media conference calls during the week of Hockey Weekend Across America with Zach Parise (Olympic hopeful and member of the New Jersey Devils) and Angela Ruggiero (three-time Olympian) on Tuesday (Feb. 10); Dave Ogrean (USA Hockey executive director) on Wednesday (Feb. 11); Brian Burke (general manager of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team and president/general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs) on Thursday (Feb. 12); and hockey media giants Mike Emrick, Kevin Allen and Eddie Olczyk on Friday (Feb. 13). Audio from the calls can be heard here.
Additionally, fans across the country registered for Hockey Weekend Across America's Great Jersey Giveaway. Each day of Hockey Weekend Across America, 15 lucky fans were randomly chosen to receive an authentic NHL jersey of their choice, courtesy of Reebok. The winners are listed below.
Fans also participated in a puck hunt contest at HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com each day during the three-day celebration. Participants searched for the puck hunt banner located on various pages of Hockey Weekend Across America's official web site and clicked on the link to win a daily grand prize from Total Hockey or a runner-up prize hat from USA Hockey. The winners are listed below.
Hockey Weekend Across America's Great Jersey Giveaway Winners
| Date | Name | Hometown | | Fri., Feb. 13 | Audrey Barto | Hudsonville, Mich. | | | Brian Copeland | Colorado Springs, Colo. | | | Jeff Folker | Fair Haven, N.J. | | | Martin Goble | Sachse, Texas | | | Lou Goff | Shawnee, Kan. | | | Megan Mikenas | Wauconda, Ill. | | | Mike Miller | Linden, Mich. | | | Ann Nelson | Martinez, Calif. | | | Beth Reith | Burlington, Mass. | | | Jason Rubin | Syosset, N.Y. | | | Jason Ryan | Wasilla, Alaska | | | Matt Sommers | Riverton, Utah | | | Eric Szafranski | Frankfort, Ill. | | | Tammie Thomas | Murfreesboro, Tenn. | | | Angie Withrow | Shakopee, Minn. | | Sat., Feb. 14 | Chris Bratt | Glendora, Calif. | | | Jim Browning | La Crosse, Wis. | | | Trisha Bukovsky | Plainfield, Ill. | | | Michael Edwards | Northfield, N.J. | | | Daniel Franklin | Webster, N.Y. | | | Mark Gross | Surry, N.H. | | | Brad Hanewall | Lombard, Ill. | | | Connie Hundertmark | Flushing, N.Y. | | | Julie Johnson | Keizer, Ore. | | | Jennifer Marsh | Lubbock, Texas | | | Mary McHugh | Amesbury, Mass. | | | Russel McKone | Burton, Mich. | | | Larry Pederson | St. Michael, Minn. | | | Robert Sakara | Columbia, S.C. | | | Gary Scott | Valley Park, Mo. | | Sun., Feb. 15 | Kristen Brewer | Leander, Texas | | | James Chase | Brookings, S.D. | | | Jamie Cruickshank | Grand Isle, Vt. | | | Mark Dohmeier | Goddard, Kansas | | | Julie Gatlin | Cincinnati, Ohio | | | Michael Grispin | Mahopac, N.Y. | | | Jaime Hathaway | Thiensville, Wis. | | | Sharyn Kruger | Lansing, Mich. | | | Frank Liesman | Okemos, Mich. | | | Lois O'Leary | Mendon, Mass. | | | Matthew Oyer | Jenkintown, Pa. | | | Joan Rockwood | Lomita, Calif. | | | Michael Rowe | Philadelphia, Pa. | | | Donald Stone | Falls Church, Va. | | | Casey Zawojski | Clementon, N.J. |
Hockey Weekend Across America Puck Hunt Winners
| Date | Name | Hometown | | Fri., Feb. 13 | Greg Bowden* | Cottonwood Heights, Utah | | | Cara Carrion | Bartlett, Ill. | | | Jaci Guillan | Cary, Ill. | | | Jeff Hedin | Andover, Minn. | | | Brian Jones | Downington, Pa. | | | Tyler Kuehl | Grand Rapids, Mich. | | | Richard Proot | Washington Township, N.J. | | | Jeremy Roney | Tinley Park, Ill. | | | Robyn Running | Lapeer, Mich. | | | Jeff Tweedy | Elk Grove Village, Ill. | | Sat., Feb. 14 | Laurie Colbourn | Yalesville, Conn. | | | Kasey Copeland | Barre, Vt. | | | Jeff Hedin | Andover, Mass. | | | Greg Jankowski | Sparta, Wis. | | | Erik Koper* | Salem, Mass. | | | Ellen Merkle | Highland Park, Ill. | | | Lori Mix | Henrietta, N.Y. | | | Deborah Moon | Laurel, Md. | | | Richard Moon | Laurel, Md. | | | Ken Scanlon | Allison Park, Pa. | | Sun., Feb. 15 | Chris Anderson | Madison, Wis. | | | Scott Edmonds | Huber Heights, Ohio | | | Marilyn Frank | Norridge, Ill. | | | Corey Grzywna | Philadelphia, Pa. | | | Karen Jankowski* | Sparta, Wis. | | | Carolyn Pray | Chicago, Ill. | | | Jessica Reasoner | Eaton Rapids, Mich. | | | Brian Schroeder | Janesville, Wis. | | | Nathean Roney | Tinley Park, Ill. | | | Michael Yff | Annapolis, Md. |
*Total Hockey Prize Winner |