NHL teams with designer John Varvatos to showcase style at 2011 NHL Awards

NEW YORK – Fashion and style are staples at all awards shows, including the 2011 NHL Awards.  To raise the style quotient for the 2011 NHL Awards™ at the Pearl Concert Theater inside the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas, the National Hockey League (NHL) has teamed up with American menswear designer John Varvatos. For the second straight year, John Varvatos will dress 2011 NHL Awards host Jay Mohr and nominees Dustin Brown of the Los Angeles Kings, Logan Couture of the San Jose Sharks, Michael Grabner of the New York Islanders, Ryan Kesler of the Vancouver Canucks, Corey Perry of the Anaheim Ducks and Jeff Skinner of the Carolina Hurricanes for the June 22 televised event (7:00 p.m. ET on VERSUS in the U.S.; CBC in Canada).  Mohr and the players will debut tailored suits, shirts, belts and shoes from John Varvatos' latest collections during the NHL Network's live broadcast of the red carpet arrivals starting at 5 p.m. ET.

"The NHL is excited to partner with John Varvatos" said Brian Jennings, NHL Executive Vice President of Marketing. "The John Varvatos brand, its classic yet edgy looks, its standing in the menswear fashion industry and its popularity among NHL players makes this a natural fit. The annual NHL Awards show is the perfect platform to showcase players' personal style." 

"I have a strong respect and admiration for NHL players," said John Varvatos.  "Hockey players impress me with their athleticism on the ice and their humble and approachable personalities off the ice.  They embody the John Varvatos brand - great style and high quality."

The NHL® and John Varvatos have collaborated numerous times in the past two seasons, beginning with last year's NHL Awards. In the fall of 2010, John Varvatos dressed and styled five NHL players for Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller's photography debut for an exclusive VanityFair.com portfolio and feature.  Anaheim's Perry, this year's Rocket Richard trophy winner and a finalist for the Hart Memorial Trophy and Ted Lindsay Trophy, sports John Varvatos in the NHL Awards cover story in the June 19 issue of Las Vegas Magazine.

Offering an assist to the NHL and John Varvatos is Seventeen.com.  The online companion to the best-selling monthly teen magazine is giving young fans the chance to select which John Varvatos ensemble NHL teen sensation Skinner will wear to the event.

Seventeen.com has introduced Hurricanes center and Calder Trophy finalist Jeff Skinner to its millions of teen online visitors and print subscribers, enlisting young fans around the world to select which ensemble from the younger, edgier John Varvatos *USA Collection Skinner will wear to the 2011 NHL Awards.

Through, June 17, fans of all ages can visit seventeen.com/jeffskinner  to cast their vote among three options for Skinner.  The three looks in contention were selected by Skinner and a team of stylists and tailors from the John Varvatos store in Soho New York City. The 19-year old Skinner – nicknamed the "Justin Bieber of hockey" - will debut the look with the most votes during the NHL Network's live broadcast of the NHL Awards red carpet arrivals on June 22.

"I'm excited to be involved with Seventeen.com, and that the fans will have a chance to help me decide what to wear to NHL Awards," said Skinner.  "I really liked all of the John Varvatos suits so I know I'll be happy with the fans' pick."