Tour stop
The second annual Rogers Hometown Hockey Tour, presented by Scotiabank and Dodge, is a celebration of all things hockey March 5-6 in St. Albert.
St. Anne Street, from Perron Street to Sir Winston Churchill Avenue, will be the site of the two-day hockey festival, from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to the end of the outdoor viewing party for Sunday's game between the Edmonton Oilers and the host Winnipeg Jets on Sportsnet, starting at 4:30 p.m. with a special pre-game show hosted live by Ron MacLean from the Sportsnet Mobile Studio.
A hockey stick relay, consisting of 10 relay runners/walkers, will culminate with the 11 a.m. opening face-off Saturday to kick-off the tour stop in St. Albert.
The relay, featuring a specially-made red hockey stick for the event, will leave Akinsdale Arena and head down Hebert Road then turn right onto Cunningham Road and go straight to Sir Winston Churchill Avenue, where the route swings left before turning right onto Perron Street, then left onto St. Thomas Street and ends at St. Anne Street.
The start time still has to be finalized by the organizing committee for the City of St. Albert.
An announcement is also expected Monday for the lineup and times of musical entertainment both days.
For updates on the tour stop, visit www.hometownhockey.com or www.stalbert.ca.
Free family fun
The tour stop is loaded with hockey-themed games, activities, live music and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy.
• Special guest appearances by Mark Messier, Lanny MacDonald and local hockey celebrities, plus MacLean and Tara Slone as hosts.
• Live broadcast of the Oilers/Jets game on Sunday.
• Sportsnet Be a Broadcaster: Co-host Sportsnet Central with Evanka Osmak. Tweet your video using #BeABroadcaster for the chance to win a VIP trip for two to a 2016 Stanley Cup game.
• Rogers Share Everything Zone: Get virtual autographs from NHL players.
• Scotiabank Community Locker Room: Meet-and-greets with NHL alumni, play interactive games and jersey giveaway for youth 16 and under.
• Dodge Stow 'n' Go Challenge.
• Playmobil Kids Zone: Playmobil NHL hockey toys, face painting, sign making and Sportsnet Magazine cover shot.
• PlayStation: Fans can try out some of the latest PlayStation games.
• McDonald's Ball Hockey Rink: Pick-up games, competitions and free McCafé brewed coffee on site.
• The Lodge: Free hot chocolate inside the warm lounge.
• Samsung's The Situation Room: Fans can test their skills against a series of hockey plays, just like NHL officials in this interactive studio.
Extra events
In support of the Hometown Hockey Tour stop, the following events are happening at city hall and the Art Gallery of St. Albert.
St. Albert Public Library events run from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday unless otherwise indicated.
• Balloon hockey, pom-pom hockey and noodle hockey.
• Stamp-around hockey card: participants can get their cards stamped for the various activities at the library for entry into a prize package draw. Prize draw is 5 p.m. Sunday.
• Warm-up storytimes from 12:30 to 4:45 p.m.
The Musee Heritage Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
• Make your own hockey card.
• Hockey player paper dolls.
• Make your own hockey masks.
• Ducky Dome Selfie station.
• St. Albert historical hockey display.
The Art Gallery of St. Albert is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
• Collaborate, create and celebrate.
• Hockey-themed community art project in St. Albert Place from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Park and ride
Parking will be a challenge around the venue site, so park and ride services will be available both days, with buses leaving every 20 minutes from Village Transit Centre and every 10 minutes from St. Albert Centre.
Saturday the buses start leaving at 11:35 a.m. from Village Transit Centre and 11:40 a.m. from St. Albert Centre to Perron Street and the last bus leaves at 6:41 p.m. to Village Tranist Centre and 6:45 p.m. to St. Albert Centre.
Sunday the first bus departs at 10:40 a.m. from Village Transit Centre and 10:30 from St. Albert Centre to Perron Street and the last bus goes at 9:06 p.m. to Village Transit Centre and 9:05 p.m. to St. Albert Centre.
Visit www.stalbert.ca for additional park and ride info.
