For four days starting on Thursday, January 23, St. Louis will transform into hockey heaven when the city hosts the 2020 NHL All-Star Game at the home of the Blues (the Stanley Cup champions, ahem), the Enterprise Center. (You can read more about the event, its history, and the Blues in St. Louis Magazine's January feature, here, or visit this page for even more coverage.)
To make your experience navigating the festivities easier, we've broken down the events surrounding the All-Star Skills Competition and Game by day, highlighting what you need to know about each. More announcements will surely come, so keep checking back. For a full list of all the activities, visit the NHL's site here.
Thursday, January 23
2020 NHL Fan Fair
When: 3 p.m.–10 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market)
The fan fair spans all four days of the All-Star celebration. Take a trip to Union Station and attend autograph sessions with your favorite All-Star players past and present, peruse a Hockey Hall of Fame exhibit, and see the Stanley Cup. You can purchase tickets to the experience at either NHL.com/FanFair or the Union Station box office. (Tickets for Saturday's event are already sold out.)
NHL Mascot Showdown
When: 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market)
One of three chances to catch all 29 NHL mascots showing off their hockey skills in a friendly competition. Go cheer on Louie.
NHL Alumni Game Honoring the Past
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Centene Community Ice Center (750 Casino Center)
Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Curtis Joseph, Chris Pronger, Bobby Plager, and more will make appearances in this alumni versus alumni game. The skaters will be: Geoff Courtnall, Chris Butler, Chris Thorburn, Jamal Mayers, Garry Unger, Jamie Rivers, Barret Jackman, Jim Campbell, Andy McDonald, Chris Mason, Doug Weight, Garth Butcher, Cam Janssen, Paul Bissonnette, John Wensink, Greg Adams, Bob Bassen, Bryan Allen, Paul Cavallini, Guy Carbonneau, Joe Kocur, John-Michael Liles, Jamie Macoun, Brad Marsh, Wayne McBean, Douglas Murray, and Jody Shelley. Autographed jerseys will be auctioned off online after the game.
Friday, January 24
NHL Learn-To-Play Skills Jamboree
When: 11:30 a.m.
Where: Winterfest Rink in Kiener Plaza (500 Chestnut)
At this family-friendly event (Louie will be on hand), rent a pair of skates and learn the skills your favorite Blues players use out on the ice. If you can't get enough, public open skate will follow starting at 4 p.m.
2020 NHL Fan Fair
When: 3 p.m.–10 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market)
The second opportunity to attend the fan fair.
O.A.R. Performance
When: 4:30 p.m.
Where: 14th and Market streets
One of the best things about the All-Star game is that it's bringing two musical performances to our city that are open to the public—and free. The first of those is O.A.R., of "Shattered," "Love and Memories," and "Hey Girl" fame.
2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center (1401 Clark)
This is the first of the two major events in the All-Star lineup (the other being the actual game). In the skills competition, players will showcase their athleticism in six events and have the chance to win $30,000. There are two new events this year: the Gatorade NHL Shooting Stars and the Elite Women’s 3-on-3. The second is notable because it was only last year that a woman was allowed to compete in the skills portion. U.S. women’s national team player and Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne Schofield broke that barrier in the fastest skater competition—and she's back again this year for the 3-on-3. (You can read our interview with her here.) Here are the six skills as part of the competition:
1. Fastest Skater
Players will skate a full loop around the rink. The one who clocks in with the shortest time wins.
2. Save Streak
The goalie with the most saves during a consecutive shootout wins.
3. Accuracy Shooting
Eight players will shoot pucks at targeted LED spots. The one who can hit the targets the fastest wins.
4. Elite Women's 3-on-3
It's Americans versus Canadians in this 20-minute contest. The players here have a combined 39 Olympic and 108 World Championship medals. Here's the American roster and their hometowns:
D Kacey Bellamy (Westfield, Mass.)
F Alex Carpenter (North Reading, Mass.)
F Kendall Coyne Schofield (Palos Heights, Ill.)
F Brianna Decker (Dousman, Wis.)
F Amanda Kessel (Madison, Wis.)
F Hilary Knight (Sun Valley, Idaho)
F Jocelyn Lamoureux-Davidson (Grand Forks, N.D.)
F Annie Pankowski (Laguna Hills, Calif.)
G Alex Rigsby Cavallini (Delafield, Wis.)
D Lee Stecklein (Roseville, Minn.)
5. Hardest Shot
Players will shoot 30 feet from the center goal line, and the fastest mile-per-hour time will be recorded.
6. Gatorade NHL Shooting Stars
Eight NHL All-Stars, one American Elite Women’s All-Star team member, and one Canadian Elite Women’s All-Star team member "will be positioned on an elevated platform behind the goal, approximately 30 feet above the ice surface, where they will shoot pucks at a variety of targets located on the ice." Don't worry, special netting will be placed around the ice for this competition. Fans, you're safe.
Saturday, January 25
NHL All-Star 5K
When: 9 a.m.
Where: Downtown St. Louis
Participants in this family-friendly race will receive an All-Star shirt and finisher medal. Registration is open here. If you sign up, the fee is $35. After that, it's $40, and $45 on race day. You'll also be entered for a chance to win special Blues-themed prizes.
2020 NHL Fan Fair
When: 10 a.m.–7 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market)
The third opportunity to attend the fan fair.
NHL Mascot Showdown
When: Noon and 2 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market)
NHL All-Star Pregame Event
When: 5 p.m.
Where: 14th and Market streets
Green Day will perform both before the All-Star game (outside the Enterprise Center, which is free and open to the public), and again during the game's second intermission. If you don't feel like trekking downtown, that second performance will be broadcast on NBC.
All-Star Game Watch Party sponsored by Enterprise
When: 6 p.m.
Where: Kiener Plaza
Do you have All-Star Game watch party plans yet? If not, consider going to the Winterfest Watch Party at Kiener Plaza and taking it in on the big screen. There will also be a DJ, face-painting, food from Sugarfire, and fireworks. The watch part is free to attend.
2020 NHL All-Star Game
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Enterprise Center (1401 Clark)
Four division teams will play in a 3-on-3 tournament. The Blues players include Ryan O'Reilly, Jordan Binnington, David Perron, and Alex Pietrangelo, who will play on the Central Division team. You can read about O'Reilly's experience playing in the All-Star Game here. At the time of this writing, tickets were still available to the game.
Sunday, January 26
2020 NHL Fan Fair
When: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market)
The last opportunity to attend the fan fair.
NHL Mascot Showdown
When: Noon and 2 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Union Station (1820 Market)
