The game is being played in honor of the late Jim Johannson, the assistant executive director of USA Hockey who passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 21 at the age of 53. A Rochester, Minnesota native, Johannson had oversight of all in-sport related initiatives, including USA Hockey's efforts in putting teams on the field of play for international competition since 2007.

Zach Parise and Ryan Suter are among 29 NHLers set to play in the Stars and Stripes Showdown at 1 p.m. CT Sunday at USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan.

Fans can live stream the game via HockeyTV at usahockeyarena.com/starsandstripes.

For Suter, the game will mark his return to the ice in a "game" situation after he sustained a fractured ankle in late March. He had surgery to repair his talus bone in April and was on crutches well into the summer, only getting back on the ice the past couple weeks.

Parise's 2017-18 season was also cut short due to a fractured sternum sustained late in a Game 3 win against the Winnipeg Jets during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Prior to the injury, Parise had scored one goal in each of the first three games of the series and had 12 goals over the final 18 games of the regular season.

Video: Wild reflects on USA Hockey's Jim Johannson

All proceeds from the event will benefit both the Jim Johannson Legacy Fund of The USA Hockey Foundation and the Ellie Johannson College Fund. Jim Johannson's most significant accomplishments include U.S. teams capturing 64 medals in major international competition, including 34 gold, 19 silver and 11 bronze; the launching and implementation of the highly acclaimed American Development Model; and securing USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan, as a home for all U.S. teams to utilize.

The Jim Johannson Legacy Fund was established to benefit grassroots community hockey programs across the country, something he was passionate about throughout his life. The Ellie Johannson College Fund will assist in providing a college education for its namesake, the two-year-old daughter of Jim and his wife Abby.

Stars and Stripes Showdown tickets are available online at USAHockeyArena.com, by calling the box office at 734-453-8400 or by visiting the USA Hockey Arena Box Office in person at 14900 Beck Road, Plymouth, Mich., 48170.



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