NEWSLETTER
The NHL has embraced Las Vegas and Sports Gambling whole-heartedly in recent years. At one point in time, the NHL didn’t want their expansion franchise coming to Las Vegas to be associated with gambling, ruling out a team name like “Aces.” Now, you have every commercial break touting some sort of sports betting site and the NHL All-Star Weekend includes a game of Blackjack!
That’s right, the NHL is adding two new events to this year’s All-Star skills competitions and they are taking advantage of the Vegas atmosphere. The league announced the additions of the “Fountain Face-Off” and “21 in ’22” events along with the revival of the breakaway challenge and the return of the fastest skater, save streak, hardest shot, and accuracy events that you’ve all come to know and love.
Full details here:
The @NHL announced the details of the 2022 NHL #AllStar Skills presented by DraftKings Sportsbook, highlighted by two new events – the @Discover NHL Fountain Face-Off at the Fountains of Bellagio & the Las Vegas NHL 21 in ’22 on the Boulevard.
Details: https://t.co/1qbuunp5DW pic.twitter.com/FkGfbXZsPg
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 31, 2022
The visuals alone get me intrigued. The “21 in’22” event will close down part of Las Vegas Boulevard for players to try to reach “21” and the “Fountain Face-Off” will be played on the water fountains in front of the Bellagio hotel and casino.
The Atheltic’s Mark Lazerus with some more details on the two new events:
A couple of new events are coming to Friday's skills competition. Also, Manon Rhéaume and actor Wyatt Russell will participate in the breakaway challenge, and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson will assist in the accuracy-shooting event. pic.twitter.com/ER8og0n2TD
— Mark Lazerus (@MarkLazerus) January 31, 2022
Along with the additional events, a number of special guests will be joining the NHL’s best for the skills competitions. Anaheim Ducks rookie Trevor Zegras will be part of the breakaway challenge, along with Manon Rhéaume (the first woman to play in an NHL game) and actor Wyatt Russell (who has played a hockey player in both This Is 40 and Goon, as well as Captain America in The Falcon and The Winter Solider) who will both be guest goaltenders in the breakaway challenge. Three-time U.S. Olympic Medalist Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson will be taking part in the “Fountain Face-Off” and the accuracy events as well.
You can see all of these events, the All-Star tournament, and Alex DeBrincat starting this Friday night on ESPN and ABC.
