CHICAGO – January 1, 2016 – Today the puck officially drops on Kraft Hockeyville USA 2016 at the 2016 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic featuring the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins broadcast on NBC at 1 p.m. ET. This year's search for America's most passionate hockey community reunites an all-star roster of partners, including the National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA), National Hockey League (NHL), NBC Sports Group, and USA Hockey. Through the program, hockey communities across the U.S. can now vie for the coveted title of "Kraft Hockeyville USA 2016" and enter for a chance to win the grand prize of hosting an NHL Pre-Season game televised live on NBCSN and $150,000 in arena upgrades.

"Our first Kraft Hockeyville in the U.S. last year was a tremendous success that truly ignited the passion of hockey communities across the country," said Nina Barton, Senior Vice President of Marketing, Kraft Heinz. "The spirit and tradition in Johnstown – last year's winning community – demonstrated to America what Kraft Hockeyville is really all about. Now, as Kraft Heinz, we're eager to once again celebrate the pride of local hockey communities and help build the sport by providing much needed awareness and financial support for local rinks."

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- There are roughly 4,000 seats in the Cambria County War Memorial Arena. But when Sergei Plotnikov scored 14 seconds into the Pittsburgh Penguins' preseason game against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, the building sounded as loud as a packed NHL arena.

The line of center Evgeni Malkin between Plotnikov and Patric Hornqvist set the tempo for the Penguins, combining for two of Pittsburgh's goals in its 4-2 victory against Tampa Bay in the preseason game that was the centerpiece of being named Kraft Hockeyville USA.

"I like what I see," Penguins coach Mike Johnston said. "Certainly Hornqvist and [Malkin], we thought they had some chemistry before, but Sergei Plotnikov, I know people have talked about him. He's fit in better and better every night that I see him."

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- The fans in Johnstown, Pa., waited more than five months for the preseason game Tuesday at Cambria County War Memorial Arena between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning since the city won the inaugural title of Kraft Hockeyville USA in May.

They didn't have to wait long to have something to cheer about with the hometown Penguins scoring on the first shift in their 4-2 win.

Sergei Plotnikov's backhand shot beat Lightning goalie Kristers Gudlevskis 14 seconds into the first period to give the Penguins a 1-0 lead. Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist, Plotnikov's linemates, assisted on the goal, which sent the crowd crammed in the small arena into a frenzy.

The crowd was mostly pro-Penguins; Johnstown is 90 miles from Pittsburgh and most of the residents are Penguins fans. Members from each team before the game said they expected it to feel like a playoff atmosphere, and it did all night in the sold-out arena with 4,000 screaming fans waving rally towels and cheering "Let's go Pens" most of the game.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- Students at Westmont Hilltop Middle School couldn't really focus on what their teachers were going over in class on Tuesday. They couldn't keep their minds off the visitors scheduled for the end of the school day.

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Beau Bennett and Tampa Bay Lightning center Alex Killorn visited the school as part of the Kraft Hockeyville USA celebration prior to the preseason game between their teams at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena (7 p.m. ET, NBCSN).

The students piled into the gym, which was covered in signs made by students for the Penguins, and started chants well before anyone arrived.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- There has been a noticeable buzz in the area the past few days with the anticipation of the preseason game Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, NBCSN) between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning as part of Kraft Hockeyville USA here at Cambria County War Memorial Arena.

The Lightning received a warm welcome upon arriving in town, despite a heavy rain and the fact most fans here root for the Penguins; Pittsburgh is a 90-minute drive west

"Did you see the amount of people out there?" Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "It was unreal. I don't know how to describe the pregame skate, being in front of a packed house. I see why they were crowned Kraft Hockeyville. I look at the response we were getting and we were the road team."

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- Four NHL officials went back to basics Monday, re-examining what makes a good referee.

Before they drop the puck for the preseason game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET, NBCSN), the veteran officials worked with about a dozen amateur referees from the Johnstown area.

As part of the Kraft Hockeyville USA celebrations, the officials came into Johnstown a day early to run a clinic in the newly improved Cambria County War Memorial, which recently underwent $150,000 worth of renovations.

"The building looks much brighter than I remember, the new seats, it all looks great," official Ian Walsh said. "I've had a lot of great experiences here in Johnstown, so it's great to come back."

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- The city of Johnstown, Pa., is synonymous with the film "Slap Shot."

Based on brothers Jeff Carlson, Steve Carlson and Jack Carlson, who played here for the Johnstown Jets in the mid-1970s, parts of "Slap Shot" were filmed at Cambria County War Memorial Arena and around town, with Jeff and Steve, and David Hanson, in the film making up the Hanson brothers.

So when Johnstown submitted its application for Kraft Hockeyville USA, it's not surprising that Hanson and the Carlsons were front and center.

"We really felt moved to try and help the effort," said Hanson, who played Jack Hanson in the movie. "We did that and of course the history of Johnstown before and after the Hanson brothers is pretty great. It's pretty good to be a part of it.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- Roger Grillo knows a thing or two about developing young hockey players into NHL stars.

Grillo, who has coached high school and college hockey for more than 20 years, was the coach at Brown University from 1997-2009 and an assistant with Vermont from 1990-97. During his time at Vermont he coached two future Stanley Cup winners in forward Martin St. Louis and goalie Tim Thomas.

"Marty and Tim were both a real treat and pleasure to coach," said Grillo, a regional manager for the American Development Model with USA Hockey who was at Cambria County War Memorial Arena here Sunday to run a clinic for kids. "Both were very high-end, talented players who helped those teams at Vermont have a ton of success. To see both of them do what they did in NHL was a real thrill."

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- For nine years Kraft Hockeyville allowed Canadian cities to host an NHL preseason game and win money to upgrade their arenas; 2015 marked the first time the event also came to the United States.

The inaugural winner of the title of Kraft Hockeyville USA went to Johnstown, Pa., which held events this past weekend, including skating clinics for children at Cambria County War Memorial Arena with former NHL players and a FanFest at a local park with the Stanley Cup. The main event will be Tuesday, when the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning play at the arena (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN), which received upgrades to the lights, sound system, boards and scoreboard with some of the $150,000 that went to the winning city.

"Kraft Hockeyville has been a success in Canada for the last nine years. It was something that the NHL was an integral partner with us saying, 'Why don't we try and bring it to the U.S. market?' What it is is a hockey program, and more importantly it's a community program and it allows communities to show their passion for the sport of hockey," Julian Franklin, Director of Consumer Relations and Brand Activation for Kraft, said Sunday.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. -- It was fitting Don Hall was the first person to step onto the ice at Cambria War Memorial Arena since the city was named the winner of Kraft Hockeyville USA.

Hall is a legend in Johnstown and has been for more than 60 years. He played for the Johnstown Jets of the Eastern Hockey League for 11 seasons from 1950-1962 and had 424 goals and 1,056 points. When Hall retired, he was the all-time leading scorer in organized hockey. So when Johnstown was announced as the winner, Hall was front and center.

The city was awarded a preseason game to be played Tuesday between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning (7 p.m. ET, NBCSN) and received $150,000 for arena upgrades.

"I was very excited. I'm a big Penguins fan and Eddie Johnston who played in the NHL, he and I are good friends," Hall said on Sunday after he put on the skates and was in a chair being escorted around the "Kraft Hockeyville" logo at center ice, his skates the first markings in the ice. "I know a lot of the Penguins and it's very exciting for me. I was here when they made the announcement and the crowd was very excited. The building was excited. It's the most incredible thing that's ever happened in Johnstown since the flood (of 1889). And that's not counting 'Slap Shot.'

"When 'Slap Shot' came (to film) in 1976, everyone got into it. It was a big affair. This is much bigger. This is our celebration."