With this initiative, the NHL seeks to create positive social change and promote inclusion of hockey players regardless of race, ethnic or national origin, color, religion, sex, intellectual or physical disability, sexual orientation or socio-economic status.
Hockey Is For Everyone Game - Monday, February 26
The game between the Canadiens and the Philadelphia Flyers will honor hockey, its values and benefits. Young hockey players and referees will take part in the pre-game ceremony on the ice. The first intermission will display the amazing skills and abilities of Les Hiboux de Montreal, a hockey team for the blind. Finally, children who are members of a minor hockey team are invited to visit the community kiosk (section 103) wearing their minor hockey team's jersey. They will receive a puck and a note signed by Andrew Shaw, this year's Hockey Is For Everyone ambassador.
Montreal Canadiens and the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence bursaries - Wednesday, February 28
In partnership with Hockey Quebec and the Midget AAA Hockey League, the Canadiens and the Quebec Foundation for Athletic Excellence are teaming up to reward some of the most promising student-athletes in men and women's hockey. The recipients, who will be honored prior to the game between the Canadiens and the New York Islanders, are selected based on their on-ice achievements as well as their academic results and their involvement in the community.
You Can Play Game - Wednesday, February 28
In collaboration with You Can Play, the NHL partner for this campaign, the Canadiens will present the You Can Play Game to emphasize the importance of respect and inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ) community in sports. Canadiens players will demonstrate their support for the initiative by wearing rainbow-colored number jerseys and using rainbow-colored Pride tape on their sticks during the pre-game warm-up period. These jerseys and sticks will then be auctioned off to raise funds for You Can Play programs and GRIS-Montréal.
BLEU BLANC BOUGE in action Canadian Tire - Thursday, March 1
On March 1, 300 children from disadvantaged backgrounds residing in cities where BLEU BLANC BOUGE community rinks have been built, will participate in a festive skating party at the Bell Centre to celebrate their completion of the six-week initiation to skating Canadian Tire BLEU BLANC BOUGE in action program. In collaboration with the neighboring schools of the BLEU BLANC BOUGE rinks, the Foundation's program allows children in first and second grade to learn how to skate.
