By Skip Coopersmith

The event is part of the team’s Hockey Is For Everyone celebration, presented by Vorys

WHAT:                 Before the Columbus Blue Jackets host Hockey Is For Everyone when they take on the Vancouver Canucks at 1 p.m., the team will host a panel focused on Black Hockey History in collaboration with the Columbus Chapter of Black Sports Professionals Network. The panel will be moderated by Blue Jackets alumnus and Bally Sports Ohio Studio Analyst Jean-Luc Grand-Pierre and includes Columbus-born Ayodele Adeniye (pronounced I-O-dell Uh-den-ee-YAY), NCAA DIII Hockey Player and National Champion for Adrian College, Dr. LaKesha Wyse, President of Columbus Ice Hockey Club and Kwame Mason, Documentary Filmmaker and Consultant with the NHL. More information and tickets are available at BlueJackets.com/BSP.

WHEN:                Monday, January 15 | 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. (Game Start)

ADDT’L. INFO:    In addition to the Black Sports Professionals panel, the Blue Jackets will host several activities and initiatives for Hockey Is For Everyone throughout the day:

·         Hockey Is For Everyone lapel pin to the first 5,000 fans in attendance.

·         NHL’s United By Hockey Mobile Museum is available for free from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at Nationwide Arena. The traveling museum celebrates hockey’s changemakers and business leaders, spanning multiple underrepresented and multicultural demographics.

·         A pre-game ceremony will take place featuring Ayodele Adeniye dropping the ceremonial puck.

·         Members and allies of the LGBTQIA+ community will participate in a celebration of Pride with a pregame happy hour, appetizers, and the chance to win prizes.

·         Additional recognition of diverse hockey groups throughout central Ohio.

COURTESY BLUE JACKETS COMMUNICATIONS