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12th Annual HWAA Begins Sunday

By USAHockey.com, 02/15/19, 2:45PM MST

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U.S. vs. Canada Rivalry Series Game in Detroit Kicks off Week-Long Nationwide Celebration Set for Feb. 17-24

USA Hockey will lead the nation in its yearly nationwide initiative Hockey Week Across America beginning Sunday (Feb. 17). The week-long event, now in its 12th year, includes a special theme for each day and will run through next Sunday (Feb. 24). 

Each day of Hockey Week Across America will include a theme, including individual days to salute players (Monday), coaches (Tuesday), officials (Wednesday) and local rinks (Thursday), as well as the traditional themes of Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day (Friday), Try Hockey Day (Saturday) and Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day (Sunday).

Kicking off the week-long celebration will be the third and final game of the 2019 Rivalry Series between the women's national teams from the United States and Canada. With the Rivalry Series tied at one game apiece, Sunday's contest (live on NHL Network), presented by TCF Bank, will determine the Series champion. Faceoff is set for 12 noon ET and tickets (ranging from $15-35) for the game in Detroit can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.com or at Little Caesars Arena box office.

NBC's Hockey Day in America will also take place on Sunday and see its studio relocated to Campus Martius Park in downtown Detroit. The day begins at 12 noon ET and will include game coverage of three NHL tilts as well as content in and around the games showcasing hockey at all levels in the United States.

On Saturday (Feb. 23) as part of Try Hockey Day more than 350 rinks in 46 states will host Try Hockey For Free events, presented by SportsEngine and official event sponsors, Chipotle and Pure Hockey. The events provide kids that have never played before a chance to try the sport for free. To find a participating rink near you and register, visit TryHockeyForFree.com.

2019 HWAA Daily Themes

Date Theme
Sun., Feb. 17 Hockey Day In America (NBC)
Mon., Feb. 18 Salute to Players
Tues., Feb. 19 Salute to Coaches
Wed., Feb. 20 Salute to Officials
Thurs., Feb. 21 Salute to Local Rinks
Fri., Feb. 22 Wear Your Favorite Hockey Jersey Day
Sat., Feb. 23 Try Hockey Day
Sun., Feb. 24 Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day

NHL NETWORK RADIO, TV GUESTS

As part of the Hockey Week Across America celebration, Sirius/XM and NHL Network will feature interviews with prominent figures in American Hockey all week long. A full list of guests, which include U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees, USA Hockey executives and members of the gold medal-winning 2018 U.S. Olympic Women's, 2018 U.S. Paralympic and 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Teams, can be seen here. (all guests subject to change). 

OFFICIALS IN ACTION

During the week, 18 NHL games in American cities will offer two young officials the chance to meet the NHL officials working the particular contest prior to the game and then stay to watch those NHL officials in action. Additionally, the women's game at Little Caesars Arena between the U.S. and Canada will also provide two young female officials a chance to attend the game and meet the game's officials prior to puck drop. 

U.S. WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT SLED HOCKEY TEAM HOSTS CANADA

Like its able-bodied counterpart, the U.S. Women's Development Sled Hockey Team will host Canada in a two-game series in St. Cloud, Minn., from Feb. 21-23. Both of those games will be broadcast by HockeyTV at USAHockey.HockeyTV.com. The U.S. Women's Development Sled Hockey Team, which originated in 2007, is in its first season under the governance of USA Hockey. 

NOTABLE USA HOCKEY ANNIVERSARIES

The 2019 Hockey Week Across America falls during a trio of USA Hockey Olympic gold medal-winning moments. Sunday (Feb. 17) marks the 21st anniversary of the 1998 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team becoming the first-ever Olympic champion in women's hockey, while Friday (Feb. 22) will mark one year since the 2018 U.S. Olympic Women's Ice Hockey Team captured gold with a 3-2 shootout victory over Canada and also commemorate the 39th anniversary of Miracle on Ice, when the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team defeated the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympic Winter Games in Lake Placid, N.Y., before securing its second-ever Olympic gold medal in the men's event with a victory over Finland on Feb. 24.

NOTES: Hockey Week 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 ... Throughout the event, hockey fans, teams, leagues and organizations are encouraged to use the hashtag #HWAA to join the social conversation. Additionally, USA Hockey's FacebookInstagram and Twitter pages will accept photos from families, friends and colleagues in search of the most passionate hockey fans ... For more information on Hockey Week Across America, visit hockeyweekacrossamerica.com.


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A young boy, in a black Bauer helmet and a navy USA Hockey/NHL jersey sits on the ice and smiles during Try Hockey For Free Day

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