All-Star Weekend to offer festivities for fans of all ages

NEW YORK / OTTAWA – The 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend comes to Ottawa, Thursday, Jan. 26, through Sunday, Jan. 29, bringing with it a host of events and attractions that will delight hockey fans of all ages.  In addition to the excitement on the ice at Scotiabank Place, attractions include a procession of all NHL trophies including the Stanley Cup®, a night-time charity skate on the Rideau Canal Skateway to benefit the Sens Foundation and the culmination of the Canadian Tire Junior Skills™ competition.  

The following is a schedule of events for the weekend:

Thursday, Jan. 26

2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
NHL Trophy Procession
Rideau Canal Skateway from Waverly St. to the Ottawa Convention Centre
 
All the NHL Trophies including the Stanley Cup®, the Hart Memorial Trophy, the Conn Smythe Trophy and the Vezina Trophy will travel down the Rideau Canal Skateway to officially commence the All-Star festivities.  The Trophies begin the procession at Waverly St. and will exit the Skateway on Daly Ave. to enter the Ottawa Convention Centre marking the opening of the Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair™.  Fans of all ages are encouraged to line the Skateway between Waverly St. and Daly Ave. to watch as these historic trophies make their way down the Rideau Canal Skateway.

3 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair™
Ottawa Convention Centre
 
The official fan festival for the 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend, the 2012 Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair™ will offer three days of family-friendly interactive games and attractions, special appearances, trophy and memorabilia displays, live TV and radio broadcasts, music, food and dozens of other dynamic activities.

Tickets are available online at CapitalTickets.ca or via phone at 613-599-FANS (3267) or 877-788-3267; in-person at the Scotiabank Place box office or by visiting participating Canadian Tire locations within the Ottawa area.  Tickets purchased after Jan. 25 and at the door to Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair will be $15 per person. Children under the age of two will be admitted for free. Once inside, fans may enjoy all the attractions for no additional cost. For more information, fans can visit nhl.com/fanfair.

8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
2012 NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft™
Théâtre du Casino du Lac-Leamy

The NHL All-Star Fantasy Draft™ is back by popular demand, allowing the players to draft their own teams in a televised event for the second year in a row.

Friday, Jan. 27

10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair™
Ottawa Convention Centre

The official fan festival for the 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend continues for the second of three days of family-friendly activities.

7 p.m.
Energizer® Night Skate™ at NHL® All-Star
Rideau Canal Skateway

Energizer®, the NHL and the Sens Foundation will host the first-ever Energizer Night Skate, a one-of-a-kind 5KM skating event on the Rideau Canal Skateway that will benefit the Sens Foundation. Under the blanket of the night sky, families, friends and hockey fans will don headlights that will light up the evening as they skate the Rideau Canal Skateway to raise money to construct future outdoor ice rinks in eastern Ontario and western Quebec.

Entry to participate in this event requires registration and is $20 per person or $15 for those aged 12 and under. All entrants receive an Energizer LED headlight and Energizer Night Skate commemorative toque for their participation and donation. To register, visit energizernightskate.ca.
 
Saturday, Jan. 28

9 a.m. to noon
2012 Canadian Tire NHL Junior SkillsTM National Championship
Rideau Canal Skateway

The Canadian Tire NHL Junior Skills™ Competition was a program launched in September to find the most skilled hockey players between the ages of 7-12 in Canada. This nation-wide competition culminates in Ottawa, as finalists from the regional competitions gather on the Rideau Canal Skateway to showcase their skills in fastest skating, shooting accuracy, puck control and passing accuracy in front of a national audience during All-Star Weekend. The  championship will feature a special guest and NHL alumni and will be taped for a segment on CBC that will air as part of the All-Star coverage. For more information, visit canadiantirehockeyschool.ca/nhljuniorskills.

10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair™
Ottawa Convention Centre
 
The official fan festival for the 2012 NHL® All-Star Weekend, the 2012 Scotiabank NHL Fan Fair™ wraps up with its third day of activities.

7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
2012 Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition™
Scotiabank Place, (CBC, RDS, NBC Sports Network)

The NHL All-Stars show off their skating, puck-handling and shooting skills in the Molson Canadian NHL All-Star Skills Competition™.

Sunday, Jan. 29

4 p.m.
2012 Tim Hortons NHL® All-Star Game®
Scotiabank Place, (CBC, RDS, NBC Sports Network)

The League's mid-season spectacular concludes with the 59th annual NHL All-Star Game. Live television coverage of the event will be provided by CBC and RDS in Canada and NBC Sports Network in the U.S.