COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – USA Hockey will lead the nation in the eighth annual Hockey Weekend Across America, presented by CCM, this Friday through Sunday (Feb. 20-22).

Each of the three days of Hockey Weekend Across America features a special theme.

Wear Your Favorite Jersey Day on Friday (Feb. 20), sponsored by ShopUSAHockey.com, is the day for fans to show off their hockey pride by wearing their prized hockey jerseys. USA Hockey's Facebook and Twitter pages will accept photos from families, friends and colleagues in search of the most passionate hockey fans.

On Saturday (Feb. 21), as part of Try Hockey Day, sponsored by the NHL, more than 300 rinks in 47 states will host Try Hockey for Free clinics, presented by Kraft, allowing thousands of children to experience hockey for the first time. To find a participating rink near you and register, visit TryHockeyforFree.com.

To cap off the weekend, Celebrate Local Hockey Heroes Day on Sunday (Feb. 22) encourages hockey programs nationwide to develop ways to honor their local hockey heroes. USA Hockey invites all to post pictures and stories on its website, Facebook and Twitter pages. The day, which falls on the 35th anniversary of Miracle on Ice, also features NBC's Hockey Day in America coverage that comprises an NHL tripleheader. The day begins at 12 noon ET with a half-hour pre-game show on NBC in advance of two games on the network (Washington at Philadelphia; Boston at Chicago). NBCSN will conclude Hockey Day in America coverage on Sunday evening with the Dallas at Minnesota game. Along with its game coverage, NBC will also produce content in and around the games showcasing hockey at all levels in the United States and its studio show will originate from historic Lake Placid, New York, all day and night.

Team USA Recognition
On Sunday at NHL games in Chicago and Minnesota, select members of the gold-medal winning 2015 U.S. Women's National Under-18 Team will be honored. The squad earned the gold medal in early January at the 2015 IIHF U18 Women's World Championship in Buffalo, New York. Additionally, the PBS documentary Ice Warriors: USA Sled Hockey, featuring the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team, will air on NBCSN tomorrow (Feb. 17) following the NHL tilt between Buffalo and New Jersey.

CCM "Tacks Are Back" Sweepstakes
Now through Feb. 22, fans can enter the Hockey Weekend Across America "Tacks Are Back" Sweepstakes to win one of three grand prizes, each including a hockey stick, helmet/facemask combo, hockey bag and skates. In addition to the grand prize winners, three lucky fans will receive a CCM hockey stick and 30 winners will collect a USA Hockey hat. Visit HockeyWeekendAcrossAmerica.com and click "Sweepstakes" in the top menu to enter.

OFFICIALS IN ON ACTION
At 18 NHL games in American cities during Hockey Weekend Across America, two young officials will have the chance to meet the NHL officials working the particular contest prior to the game and then stay to watch those NHL officials in action.

As part of the Hockey Weekend Across America celebration, Sirius/XM's Hockey This Morning and Power Play shows will interview a prominent figure in American hockey for five straight days beginning today. A full list of guests appears below.

Sirius/XM NHL Network Radio Hockey Weekend Across America Programming

Hockey This Morning with hosts Mike Ross and Mick Kern XM 218 / Sirius 211

• Monday, Feb. 16, 9:25 a.m. ET
  • Angela Ruggiero, four-time Olympic medalist
• Tuesday, Feb. 17, 9:25 a.m. ET
  • Ron DeGregorio, president of USA Hockey
• Wednesday, Feb. 18, 8:45 a.m. ET
  • Josh Sweeney, 2014 Paralympic gold medalist and captain of the 2015 U.S. National Sled Hockey Team
• Thursday, Feb. 19, 9:25 a.m. ET
  • Pat Kelleher, assistant executive director for development of USA Hockey
• Friday, Feb. 20, 9:25 a.m. ET
  • Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey

Power Play with hosts Scott Laughlin and Matthew Barnaby at 5:30 p.m. ET XM 218 / Sirius 211

• Monday, Feb. 16
  • Jim Johannson, assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey
• Tuesday, Feb. 17
  • Jack O'Callahan, member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
• Wednesday, Feb. 18
  • Reagan Carey, director of women's ice hockey for USA Hockey
• Thursday, Feb. 19
  • John Harrington, member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team
• Friday, Feb. 20
  • Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey

NOTES: Hockey Weekend Across America was created by USA Hockey in 2008 to engage the hockey community in celebrating the sport of hockey at all levels and exposing the sport to new audiences ... NHL Live, as part of Hockey Weekend Across America, will interview Dave Ogrean, executive director of USA Hockey, on Wednesday and Dave Christian, member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team, on Friday ... For full information surrounding the weekend, click here ... Use the hashtag #HWAA on social media in association with the event.... Liberty Mutual Insurance Play Positive and Total Hockey are sponsors of Try Hockey for Free Day.