Bruins to Host Hockey is for Everyone Night, Pres. by TD Bank, on Feb. 1
Hockey is for Everyone Night will be Tuesday, February 1, when the Bruins host the Seattle Kraken at TD Garden
Hockey is for Everyone is an NHL initiative, in partnership with the You Can Play program, that uses the game of hockey and the National Hockey League's global influence to drive positive social change and foster more inclusive communities regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status.
Tuesday's anthem will be sung by Human Rights Campaign National Youth Ambassador Nicole Talbot. Talbot was assigned a male at birth and has since transitioned into living authentically as a female in 2015 with the support of her mother, family members, friends, and her communities. She is a passionate advocate for transgender youth and has played a major role in passing and protecting anti-discrimination legislation in Massachusetts.
Gavin Ford, a 14-year-old sled hockey player from North Reading, will be the Kids Captain for Tuesday's game. Ford endures Spina Bifida, a birth defect that impacts the formation of the spinal cord, making it nearly impossible to walk. Ford has not let that stop him from playing sports and is currently a center for the Boston ICE Storm, while also participating in wheelchair hockey and wheelchair lacrosse.
Staff Sergeant Merrill Wilson and Sergeant Amber Wilson will be the recipients of the 8-Spoked Salute for Tuesday's game. Merrill and Amber were married in October of 2019, and both women have over 25 years of combined service with the Army National Guard. Both are currently stationed in Massachusetts as part of the state's COVID response unit.
The ProShop, powered by '47, will have exclusive Hockey is for Everyone merchandise available for fans to show their support, including rainbow hats and pucks. Fans can shop at the store on the Hub on Causeway or online at BostonProShop.com.
Pride rally towels will be available to the first 10,000 fans at turnstiles on Tuesday, courtesy of TD Bank.
Bruins players will use rainbow tape during warm-ups, and all sticks will be auctioned off through the Boston Bruins Foundation. Proceeds from the stick auction will benefit Boston Pride Hockey (BPH), New England's first LGBTQ+ hockey club. Founded in 1989, BPH has developed an inclusive community that provides a safe and welcoming environment for players to learn, enjoy and compete in the sport they love. BPH continues to expand and has recently launched an Inclusive Hockey League as well as a Youth Hockey Initiative, a program specifically geared towards younger members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community.
"We couldn't be prouder to partner with the Boston Bruins, TD Bank and You Can Play for Hockey is for Everyone Night," said Greg Sargent, President of Boston Pride Hockey. "Thanks to their continued support, the funds raised through the stick auction will directly enable our organization to bring dynamic and inclusive hockey programming to more LGBTQ+ players and allies throughout the region - like our recently-launched Inclusive Hockey League and Youth Hockey Initiative, both of which are some of the first of their kind in New England."
Additionally, the Boston Bruins Foundation will host a 50/50 Raffle, presented by DraftKings Daily Fantasy Sports, that will support the Born to Run Foundation. Born to Run is an organization that provides specialized prosthetics to young adults and children with the goal of showing amputees that having a disability does not eliminate sports and being active from their lives.
The auction for the rainbow-taped sticks will run until February 9 and is available at BruinsAuctions.org. The 50/50 Raffle will run until the beginning of the third period and is available to fans at BostonBruins.com/5050.
About Boston Pride Hockey:
Boston Pride Hockey (BPH) is New England's LGBTQ+ hockey organization. A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit, BPH is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for players to learn, enjoy, and compete in the sport they love. BPH is committed to diversity, equality, and inclusion on and off the ice. Learn more at
www.BostonPrideHockey.org
.
About the Born to Run Foundation:
The Born to Run Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to providing amputees specific prosthetics that allow them to be active, and to show them that being different is something to embrace. Learn more at
www.theborntorunfoundation.org
.
About TD Bank:
TD Bank is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9.5 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,220 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., Carolina and Florida locations. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit
www.td.com/us
. Find TD Bank on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/TDBank
and on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/TDBank_US
and
www.twitter.com/TDNews_US
.
About You Can Play:
You Can Play works to ensure safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ athletes, coaches and fans. You Can Play believes sports teams should focus on an athlete's skills, work ethic and competitive spirit, not their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
