February sees Hockey is for Everyone mark 15 years

The National Hockey League and its 30 clubs will be hosting a month's worth of activities in February revolving around the Hockey is for Everyone campaign, which celebrates grassroots hockey and the growing diversity of the game.

Now in its 15th year, the program offers children of all backgrounds opportunities to play hockey and leverages the sport of hockey as a catalyst to teach essential life skills and the core values of hockey: commitment, perseverance and teamwork. In addition, the initiative supports hockey programs that assist disabled military personnel in returning to active, mainstream lifestyles.

"Hockey is for Everyone Month is an extraordinary initiative for the NHL and an opportunity to show our continuing support for youth hockey and disabled hockey in North America," said Ken Martin, Jr., NHL Vice President of Community Affairs and Diversity Programming. "On behalf of the NHL and the Member Clubs, we are proud to present these grassroots programming initiatives and look forward to participating and exploring additional opportunities for more people of all backgrounds to play our great sport."

To mark the month-long celebration, large- and small-scale activities are planned throughout North America, culminating in Hockey Weekend Across America and Hockey Day in America presented by Discover Card [Feb. 15-17] and Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada [Feb. 9].

A variety of outreach events are already scheduled and will feature a number of NHL players participating in activities across the country, including New York, Chicago, Tampa Bay, Philadelphia, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

Hockey is for Everyone Month will also serve as the launching pad for the distribution of the first-ever NHL/Thurgood Marshall College Fund scholarships. Five college-bound students will receive four-year academic scholarships to attend any of the country’s 47 public Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs).

As part of the month-long festivities, NHL.com and NHL Network will also be presenting a strong slate of programing highlighting the power and changing face of hockey.

For more information about Hockey is for Everyone Month, visit NHL.com or tune in to the NHL Network.