With 2017 being the mark of the National Hockey League‘s 100th season, the league announced its big, and exciting plans for the year early Tuesday afternoon. The NHL named legend Wayne Gretzky as the official ambassador of the centennial season. Is celebrations, which include multiple unique events that will occur throughout the end of the 2016-2017 season and the first half of the 2017-2018 season.
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National Hockey League Reveals Centennial Season Plans
“A century of great players, great plays and great moments deserves a year-long celebration, and we invite everyone to join our party in 2017,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We are delighted that Wayne Gretzky — whose spectacular contributions on the ice matched his immeasurable graciousness and popularity off the ice — will serve as our Centennial’s official ambassador as we honor all the drama, suspense, excitement and memories that have thrilled the best fans in sports for generations.”
“I am honored to serve as the NHL’s Centennial Ambassador and to help the League celebrate its first 100 years,” Wayne Gretzky said. “Anyone who knows me knows that I have long revered the history of our game and the players, coaches and executives who built the League before I was fortunate enough to enter it. And it is no secret that I remain an avid fan who watches games every night and marvels at the young players who are leading the greatest sport in the world into the League’s next century.
Celebrations
The celebrations will kick off on January 1st, 2017 with the launch NHL Centennial Truck Tour, a massive big rig truck housing memorabilia and interactive displays and when the Toronto Maple Leafs take on their Original Six rivals, the Detroit Red Wings in the “Centennial Classic” at BMO Field in Toronto, Ontario.
From there, more events will occur including the naming of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in History (January), the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade featuring an NHL float and the Los Angeles Kings, who will be celebrating their 50th Anniversary (January), the Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks (January), the Coors Light NHL Stadium Series featuring the Pittsburgh Penguins and cross-town rival Philadelphia Flyers (March), the NHL 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the League (November 2017), and the NHL 100th Anniversary of the First Games Played (December 2017). These are just several of the celebrations being held, promising for a memorable year of hockey.
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