LA Kings Celebrate Diversity and Inclusion With Hockey Is for Everyone Night at STAPLES Center

Celebration of National Hockey League initiative includes LA Lions, LA Kings Sled Team and more

AEG’s LA Kings recently celebrated Hockey Is For Everyone (HIFE) Night at STAPLES Center as part of the National Hockey League’s (NHL) annual league-wide initiative to celebrate all members of the hockey community regardless of background, age, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation or disabilities.  

On Feb. 22, the Kings welcomed representatives from several teams, including the Hawthorne Force, Power Project, LA Kings Sled Hockey, LA Lions, California Condors and SNAP Flyers to kick off the night and join the LA Kings players on the ice for the National Anthem. Following the Anthem, Willie O’Ree, the first African American NHL player and Hockey is For Everyone Ambassador for the NHL, participated in the ceremonial puck drop.

During the intermissions between periods, members of the LA Lions, the Kings’ all-girls youth hockey club, and the LA Kings Sled Hockey team participated in respective exhibition games.

In the days following the Kings celebration of Hockey is For Everyone Night at STAPLES Center, the Kings hosted the U.S. Gold Medal-Winning Women’s Olympic Hockey Team to kick off their promotional tour and further demonstrate the pervasiveness of hockey across all backgrounds, genders and abilities.

Hockey is For Everyone is an initiative between the NHL and NHL Players’ Association to reaffirm that the official policy of the sport is one of inclusion on the ice, in locker rooms and in the stands.

On March 1, the Kings will host Pride Night at STAPLES Center as part of the Kings-Columbus contest which begins at 7:30 p.m.  Join LGBTQ Friends, Family, and Allies and buy tickets through an exclusive LA Kings Pride Night Ticket Pack offer and receive a pair of special LA Kings Pride Night Socks.  Visit https://www.nhl.com/kings/tickets/theme-games/pride-night for additional details.