Hockey is for Everyone Month reaffirms that the official policy of the game is one of inclusion on the ice, in our locker rooms and in the stands. The NHL and Dallas Stars support any teammate, coach or fan who brings heart, energy and passion to the rink and believe all hockey programs - from professionals to youth organizations -- should provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for players and families regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status. Simply put, Hockey is for Everyone.
As part of the Hockey Is For Everyone Month initiative, each team has an ambassador that is engaged off the ice in humanitarian work which positively impacts a diverse, marginalized or underserved population. NHL All-Star forward Tyler Seguin will serve as the Dallas Stars team ambassador. As part of his work through Seguin Stars and the Dallas Stars Foundation, Seguin uses his platform as an NHL player to help diverse groups connect to the game. In his fifth season with Dallas, his work off the ice has benefitted such programs as Boys and Girls Club of Collin County, After School All-Stars, Big Brothers Big Sistersand theSouthwest Wheelchair Athletic Association.
In conjunction with being the team ambassador, Seguin and the Dallas Stars Foundation today announced that they will be providing the Boys and Girls Club of Collin County an outdoor ball hockey court, as well as refurbishing their teen learning center. Seguin and volunteers from the Dallas Stars Foundation will help lay the ball hockey court on the afternoon of March 4 prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony with the children from the Frisco branch of Boys and Girls Club.
Prior to the game against the Blues on Feb. 16, a ceremonial puck drop will feature a number of local hockey players from the various Dallas Stars hockey programs run through Dr Pepper StarCenters. The participants will highlight the various backgrounds of the youth participating in the sport throughout the Dallas Fort-Worth Metroplex, as well as the range of competitive skill levels within the programs.
Additionally, members of the team will tape their sticks with Pride-themed hockey tape during the warm-ups. These autographed sticks will be auctioned off online at
auctions.nhl.com
with proceeds benefitting You Can Play Project. During the game, the Stars will run a public service announcement on the American Airlines Center video board of players Jamie Benn, Seguin and Jason Spezza in support of the efforts of the Hockey Is For Everyone campaign.
