Hockey Day in Canada is fast approaching Kamloops

KAMLOOPS – Kamloops will be the centre of Canada’s hockey world next week as Hockey Day in Canada comes to town.

Hockey Day itself is Saturday, Feb. 6, but events start earlier in the week.

On Wednesday, Feb. 3, the Stanley Cup arrives at Sun Peaks Resort for festivities including music and opening ceremonies featuring Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean, Trevor Linden and Bryan Trottier.

The highlights on Thursday, Feb. 4 will be the Hockey Day lunch and WHL Pro Am Alumni Game. The game pits former Blazers Darcy Tucker and Mark Recchi as opposing captains with NHL greats Garth Butcher, Wendel Clark and Lanny MacDonald lacing up skates, among others.

“I honestly can’t wait to come back to Kamloops. It’s been years since I was in the city, but I have so many great memories of living in Kamloops and playing junior hockey, it will be great to be back,” Tucker says in a media release.

For fans of silverware, there’s a free breakfast with the Stanley and Memorial cups on Friday, Feb. 5 at the TCC, while music fans may be more interested in The Music of Hockey, hosted again by MacLean, in the evening.

Saturday is the big day, with a marathon 13-hour broadcast starting at 9 a.m. at the Sandman Centre, where events will occur through out the day, culminating in the Kamloops Blazers taking on the Edmonton Oil Kings.

"It’s a special day to recognize the sport and I think Kamloops is going to be an awesome host,” Recchi says in the release.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Brendan Kergin at bkergin@infonews.ca or call 250-819-6089. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.