Kraft Hockeyville Game moved from Rostraver to UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex

The Kraft Hockeyville NHL Pre-Season game, originally scheduled for Rostraver Ice Garden, will be held at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex in Cranberry instead of at the Rostraver Ice Garden, the NHL announced on Wednesday.

The Penguins will host the St. Louis Blues at the UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex on Sunday, September 24 at 8 p.m. ET, and the game will be nationally televised by NBCSN.

The game not being at Rostraver is certainly a disappointment for the community but this game was never going to happen at Rostraver.

The NHLPA has been against the game happening at the Rostraver Ice Garden from the start with main concerns being the boards and the concrete behind them. The NHLPA sought to have the boards replaced before there would be any consideration from their end.

There were other concerns with the safety of the players and the locker rooms were a problematic area that led to the decision of the game being moved.

Four-Day Celebration Planned

Despite the game not being at Rostraver, Krafthockeyville is planning a four-day celebration for Belle Vernon and Rostraver. The centerpieces of a four-day celebration of Kraft Hockeyville USA will include youth hockey clinics and referee clinics, a parade and appearances by the Stanley Cup and members of the Penguins and Blues organizations.

Penguin players will be heavily involved in the youth clinics.

The Penguins will also a morning skate at Rostraver prior to the game on the 24th.

Krafthockeyville says members of the Belle Vernon community and youth hockey players from Rostraver Ice Garden will receive the majority of the tickets. The ticket distribution plan for the preseason game and the practice session will be communicated by the Kraft Hockeyville local organizing committee at a later date.

Lastly, Rostraver Ice Garden will also be receiving significantly more money in upgrades than the original $150,000 winning prize as an accommodation for the game being moved.

The Penguins are also going above and beyond in playing a big part in the four-day celebration for the Belle Vernon community leading up to game.