After being named the Kraft Hockeyville USA 2020 winner in August 2020, El Paso will receive the long-awaited National Hockey League (NHL) preseason game this Fall.
On October 3, the Dallas Stars and Arizona Coyotes will travel to the Borderland to play an NHL preseason game at the El Paso County Events Center.
Since winning, the El Paso Rhinos and El Paso Hockey Association have collaborated with Kraft Heinz, NHL, National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) and SDI Marketing to prepare fun, celebratory events during the week leading up to the game.
The event series will kick off with a food donation on Sept. 29 as part of the “Kraft Hockeyville Cares” initiative, which seeks to make a philanthropic impact in the winning community.
From Sept. 15 to Sept. 28, the Rhinos and the EPHA are asking for canned and non-perishable food donations. All items can be dropped off at the rink (4100 E. Paisano) between 9 am and 6 pm. Kraft Heinz will also supplement the donation to ensure that more families in the greater El Paso area have access to food.
On Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 11 am, El Paso Rhinos players will deliver the donations to the El Pasoans Fighting Hunger Food Bank
On Thursday, Sept. 30., the Stanley Cup® will make stops at various locations across the Sun City. The Stanley Cup will be at the Kraft Hockeyville USA Community Celebration at San Jacinto Plaza (114 W Mills Ave) from 4 pm to 7 pm where El Pasoans will be able to take pictures with the Stanley Cup, NHL Alumni, and El Paso Rhinos players while enjoying music from local bands and tasty food from some of El Paso’s most well-known food trucks.
Kraft Heinz will also offer food sampling while the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile will also make an appearance. The family-friendly event is free to attend.
The “Kraft Hockeyville Cares” initiative will continue Saturday, Oct. 2, when mascots from the Dallas Stars, the Arizona Coyotes and the El Paso Rhinos join Rhino players in visiting children at the Boys and Girls Club, the El Paso Children’s Hospital, the Child Crisis Center, and Reynolds Home.
Finally, for the first time in El Paso history, two NHL®teams will face off at the El Paso County Events Center on Oct. 3 at 7 pm MT. Tickets to the NHL® preseason game will be distributed by the El Paso Local Organizing Committee.
Timing for all events is subject to change, so please visit the El Paso Rhinos Hockey Facebook page for more details.
For our previous coverage of Rhino Hockey, click here.
