Hockey Day in America Examines Hockey’s Impact and Influence Across U.S. Through Feature Stories and Profiles
Studio Coverage On-Site From Bridgestone Arena Plaza in Nashville, Tenn.
HDIA Begins with Red Wings-Penguins at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, Followed by Bruins-Rangers at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC
NBCSN’s Coverage Begins at 6 p.m. ET with Blues-Predators
STAMFORD, Conn. – February 12, 2020 – NBC Sports celebrates Hockey Day in America, presented by Discover® this Sunday with an NHL tripleheader on NBC and NBCSN, as well as a collection of stories and features which explore hockey’s impact and influence across the U.S.
The HDIA tripleheader begins at 12:30 p.m. ET on NBC, when Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins host Tyler Bertuzzi and the Detroit Red Wings, followed by an Original Six matchup with David Pastrnak and the Boston Bruins visiting Artemi Panarin and the New York Rangers at 3:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Coverage shifts to NBCSN at 6 p.m. ET for a Central Division battle as Ryan O’Reilly and the St. Louis Blues head to Music City to battle Roman Josi and the Nashville Predators.
Hockey Day in America, presented Discover®pre-game coverage begins at noon ET on NBC from the plaza outside Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Host Liam McHugh and analysts Keith Jones, Anson Carter, and Brian Boucher will anchor pre-game, intermission, and post-game coverage throughout the day.
John Forslund (play-by-play) and Joe Micheletti (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call of Red Wings-Penguins; Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Mike Milbury (analyst), and Pierre McGuire (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will call Bruins-Rangers; and Chris Cuthbert (play-by-play) and Darren Pang (‘Inside-the-Glass’ analyst) will have the call of Blues-Predators.
NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app — NBC Sports’ live streaming platforms for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs — will provide live streaming coverage for Hockey Day in America, presented by Discover®.
As the presenting sponsor of Hockey Day in America, Discover is telling four inspiring stories that showcase not only the progress of hockey in the United States but also the personal journeys of those involved who have helped the sport grow. The four stories can be found here.
“Discover is focused on helping people achieve a brighter future and our partnership with the NHL gives us the opportunity to tell some of these incredible stories to hockey’s passionate fans,” said Ryan Scully, Senior Vice President of Brand, Media and Consumer Insights at Discover. “We are proud to be the official Credit Card of the NHL and support the continued growth of hockey in the United States. Through Hockey Day in America, we aim to highlight the impact hockey has on everyday people’s lives and that hockey truly is for everyone.”
NBC SPORTS CELEBRATES HDIA WITH FEATURES EXAMINING HOCKEY’S INFLUENCE ACROSS U.S.
Throughout Hockey Day in America on Sunday, NBC Sports will shine a light on various stories that celebrate the impact that hockey has had in the U.S. Feature stories that will air throughout the day include:
- S. Pond Hockey Championships– This year marks the 15th anniversary of the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, the ultimate event in grassroots hockey. This year’s tournament featured 300 teams and 2,400 players, including a team with an intercontinental flair, and a Nashville-based squad that recruited a player in a pinch via Instagram.
- “Miracle on Ice” – NBC Sports will air a 30-minute special – Miracle on Ice – 40th Anniversary – featuring Mike Tirico’s conversation with Al Michaels, who looks back at the U.S. Olympic men’s ice hockey team’s gold-medal run at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. The program will debut on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at 11:30 p.m. ET on NBCSN, and a portion of Tirico’s discussion with Michaels will air on Sunday on NBC.
- Nashville Sled Preds – United States Marines Ben Maenza, Joseph Woodke, and John Curtin met while recovering from serious injuries sustained in the line of duty in Afghanistan. After leaving Walter Reed Military Hospital and going their separate ways, Joseph and John moved to Nashville to bring the group back together. The trio fully committed to sled hockey playing for the Nashville Sled Preds and have gone from novices in the sport to Paralympic hopefuls. From the hospital bed to the elite ranks of American sled hockey, the men share a band that looks a lot more like family than close friends.
- Female Referees– Katie Guay, Kelly Cooke, Kirsten Welsh, and Kendall Hanley have played hockey their entire lives and after college, they weren’t ready to hang up their skates. All four turned to officiating, and in September, became the first women to officiate an NHL-affiliated event at the preseason NHL rookie tournaments. Most recently, they officiated the Women’s U.S. vs. Canada 3-on-3 game as part of the NHL All-Star Skills. As Katie, Kelly, Kirsten, and Kendall seek further opportunities for themselves, they also hope to inspire young girls along the way.
- The Congo Kids – In 2009, Steve and Molly Seidl adopted two brothers, Sawyer and Simon, then ages 5 and 3, from an orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo. After settling in their new home of Stillwater, Minnesota, the boys began to play hockey, garnering attention with skills few would have anticipated. While this hockey family has dealt with some unwelcome attention due to the color of Sawyer and Simon’s skin, that has not affected their passion and love for the game. In fact, it’s motivated them to push forward. The brothers hope to be an example for others, removing labels and barriers to allow everyone an opportunity to play.
- Black Girl Hockey Club– At the beginning of the 2018 NHL season, Renee Hess founded the Black Girl Hockey Club to create a comfortable atmosphere for black women to watch hockey games together. Hess became interested in hockey years ago when she ran into a crowd of excited Penguins fans following a game when she was in Pittsburgh for work. She was hooked after attending her first game but couldn’t help but notice that there weren’t a lot of people like her in the stands. Hess found a handful of other black female hockey fans on Twitter and they created a group – the Black Girl Hockey Club – where they could discuss the sport and meet in-person at games across the country. With membership now exceeding 200, they are focused on building awareness as proud members of the hockey community.
- Capalbo Crushed Cancer– Last year, NBC Sports shared the story of Charlie and Will Capalbo, goalies and brothers from Fairfield, Conn. Charlie was in his second battle with cancer and this time he needed a bone marrow transplant. His brother, Will, would be the match but there was no guarantee of success. Charlie is now in remission, and NBC Sports went with Charlie and his family for a bucket list trip to the 2020 Winter Classic at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas, and later to a local rink to see the brothers take the ice together, just like old times.
- El Paso Rhinos– Hockey has always had a way of bringing people together by transcending cultures, nations, and borders. In the fall, NBC Sports visited a junior hockey team in El Paso, Texas to see the positive impact the El Paso Rhinos were making in their city following the tragic Walmart shooting in August. In this new feature, NBC Sports spotlights how hockey took root – and now thrives – in this non-traditional market. And like many homegrown stories in Texas, this one starts in a barn.
Following is Sunday’s HDIA schedule:
| Date | Coverage | Network | Time (ET) |
| Sun., February 16 | Hockey Day in America Pre-game | NBC | 12 p.m. |
| Hockey Day in America – Detroit at Pittsburgh | NBC | 12:30 p.m. | |
| Hockey Day in America – Boston at N.Y. Rangers | NBC | 3:30 p.m. | |
| Hockey Day in America – St. Louis at Nashville | NBCSN | 6 p.m. | |
| Hockey Day in America NHL Overtime | NBCSN | 8:45 p.m.* |
*Immediately following game coverage
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