The Pittsburgh Penguins opened the seasonal rink at the armory last year to support equitable and inclusive hockey for Pittsburgh youth, and it was the first public rink built in the city in decades.
The Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Hunt Armory will kick off the 2022-2023 season with a community Faith & Family Night, a veterans hockey game ahead of Veterans Day, and a FREE weekend of public skating. This year's season runs for three months from November 9 through March 12.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is the presenting sponsor of the rink and issued a $750,000 grant last month to support programming there. It is also supported by a $1 million award from the NHL and NHLPA to support hockey access to youth players of color in the city.
"We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Highmark and the City of Pittsburgh and bring another exciting season of public ice skating and community hockey programming to Hunt Armory," said Kevin Acklin, President of Business Operations of the Penguins. "Last season's operations at the Armory made a huge positive impact in the community, and we are creating even stronger bonds this season with organizations, children, and families whom we are honored and excited to serve," said Acklin.
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Hunt Armory as we value our partnership with the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation," said Kenya T. Boswell, senior vice president of Community Affairs for Highmark Health. "We're eager to see the meaningful impact the Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield Hunt Armory ice rink will make in our community for years to come. Grants like this one demonstrates our Highmark Bright Blue Futures program in action."
After the success of the seasonal rink last year, programming will expand in this year's season. With the support of Highmark's Bright Blue Futures grant - which is designed to enable healthier, brighter, stronger futures for all - programming with a focus on diversity will increase, including:
The rink will also launch a hockey league in partnership with the Pittsburgh Warriors, with a focus on physical and mental healing for veterans. The league is the first of its kind in North America, comprised entirely of veterans with service-connected disability.
Other offerings through the season include affordable public skating, ice rental, birthday parties and private events.
Please go to
HuntArmoryIceRink.com
for reservations and information.
The Penguins thank Clearview Federal Credit Union for being a founding partner of the armory rink.
