A number of Penguins players will use rainbow-colored Pride tape on their sticks during the pre-game warmup, and the sticks will be auctioned by the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation. Proceeds will benefit "You Can Play," an advocacy organization that promotes safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ athletes, coaches and fans.
There will be 10 special "Junior Starters" for the game, including representatives of Mighty Penguins Sled Hockey, Pittsburgh I.C.E., Penguins Blind Hockey, Steel City Icebergs Special Hockey, Pittsburgh Emperors Special Hockey, Beaver County Ice Sharks Special Hockey, Happy Valley Special Hockey Association, Johnstown Sitting Bulls Sled Hockey and the Little Penguins Learn to Play program.
Members of the Penguins Ice Crew will wrap their shovels with Pride tape, and the national anthem will be sung by Rain Greene, a West Allegheny High School freshman and a member of the Delta Foundation.
Among the other initiatives:
- The Penguins, The Delta Foundation and local businesses and individuals have partnered to provide 200 free tickets to local LGBTQ youth for the game. More than 500 tickets were purchased by the Pride community via The Delta Foundation.
- The Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation, United States Steelworkers and Highmark will make a check presentation to Variety, accompanied by a video, to celebrate the inspiring story of Jacob Buchheit.
- The Highmark Wall of Champions at PPG Paints Arena will feature representation from many groups who fall under the "Hockey Is For Everyone" umbrella, including the Pittsburgh Warriors (Hockey Sticks Together), the Mighty Penguins and Johnstown Sitting Bulls Sled Hockey, the Steel City Icebergs and Pittsburgh Emperors Special Hockey, Pittsburgh I.C.E., Pittsburgh Blind Hockey, Pittsburgh Gay Hockey, Persad Center and the Stonewall Alliance.
- The PPG Paints Arena exterior sign above the Trib Total Media Gate will be lit in rainbow colors.
- There will be photo opportunities with a large puck wrapped in Pride tape next to the oversized stick on the mezzanine of the FedEx Level, above the Trib Total Media Gate entrance.
- Themed Pride merchandise, including t-shirts and pucks, will be for sale at the PensGear store inside PPG Paints Arena.
