Hockey Participation Survey
Sweepstakes Official Rules
The 2026 North American Youth & Amateur Hockey Census (the "Sweepstakes") is collectively administered by Buffalo Groupe and the National Hockey League (collectively, "Sponsors").
1. SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD: The Sweepstakes starts at 9:00 AM Eastern Time ("ET") on [DATE] and ends at 11:59 PM ET on [DATE] (the "Sweepstakes Period"). The computer designated by Sponsors is the official Sweepstakes clock.
2. ELIGIBILITY: The Sweepstakes is open only to current legal residents of the fifty (50) United States (including the District of Columbia) or Canada who: (i) have reached the age of majority in their state/province/territory of legal residence as of the time of entry and have either submitted an entry by mail as authorized by these Rules or have received an invitation to participate and did participate in a survey sent via email from Buffalo Groupe or its designees, in partnership with the National Hockey League (each such eligible entrant, an "Entrant").
Employees, officers, directors, representatives, and agents of the Sponsor National Hockey League ("NHL"), the NHL's member teams, NHL Enterprises, L.P., NHL Enterprises Canada, L.P., NHL Enterprises B.V., NHL Network US, L.P., NHL Interactive CyberEnterprises, LLC, National Hockey League Enterprises Canada, Inc. and NHL Enterprises, Inc. (the foregoing NHL entities including Sponsor, collectively the "NHL Entities") and each of their respective parent and affiliate companies, and prize providers (collectively, the "NHL Ineligible Entities") as well as members of such employees', officers', directors', representatives', and agents' immediate families (namely spouses, children, siblings and parents, and/or persons living in the same household of such persons (at least three (3) months a year, whether or not related) of the NHL Ineligible Entities are not eligible to enter this Sweepstakes.
Employees, officers, directors, representatives, and agents of the Sponsor Buffalo Groupe and its affiliate Longitudes Group, and each of their respective parent and affiliate companies, and prize providers (collectively, the "BG Ineligible Entities") as well as members of such employees', officers', directors', representatives', and agents' immediate families (namely spouses, children, siblings and parents, and/or persons living in the same household of such persons (at least three (3) months a year, whether or not related)) of the BG Ineligible Entities are not eligible to enter this Sweepstakes.
The Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state, provincial, municipal, territorial, and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited.
Participation in the Sweepstakes constitutes Entrant's full and unconditional agreement to these Official Rules and Sponsors’ decisions, which are final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. Winning a prize is contingent upon fulfilling all requirements set forth herein.
3. HOW TO ENTER: No purchase necessary. During the Sweepstakes Period, there are two (2) ways for an eligible Entrant to participate: (i) access the 2026 North American Youth & Amateur Hockey Census that was distributed via email by Sponsor Buffalo Groupe, or its designees, in partnership with the NHL, and follow the instructions to complete and submit the survey (the "Survey") including checking the box that indicates that you have read and agree to abide by the Official Rules; or (ii) print your first name, last name, street address, city, state/province, ZIP/postal code, phone number, email address, and favorite NHL® team (optional for Canadian residents) on a piece of paper, insert into an envelope stamped with sufficient postage, and mail to:
2026 North American Youth & Amateur Hockey Census Sweepstakes
Buffalo Groupe
Attn: Buffalo Groupe Research
960 Morrison Drive, Suite 300
Charleston, SC 29403
Mail-in entries must be postmarked by [DATE] and received by [DATE]. Each Survey entry or mail-in entry is an "Entry" for purposes of being eligible to win a Prize. Upon submitting a valid Entry, Entrant will receive one (1) Entry into the Sweepstakes.
Note: For Entrants using a mobile device to participate in any aspect of this Sweepstakes, message and data rates may apply. Check with your wireless service provider for details or any applicable charges. Entrants are solely responsible for any such wireless charges.
Released Parties (as defined in Section 7, below) are not responsible for lost, late, stolen, incomplete, inaccurate, invalid, un-intelligible, garbled, delayed or misdirected Entries, all of which will be void.
Limit: ONE (1) ENTRY PER PERSON DURING THE SWEEPSTAKES PERIOD, REGARDLESS OF METHOD OF ENTRY. No person may enter more than once by using different email addresses and no email addresses can be used to submit more than one (1) Entry, nor can a person enter the Sweepstakes through both the Survey and mail-in methods of entry. Proof of submitting an Entry will not be deemed by Sponsors as proof of receipt or entry into the Sweepstakes. Any attempted form of entry into the Sweepstakes other than as described herein is void and will be disqualified. Entries from the same person and/or email address in excess of the number stated herein will be disqualified. Any attempt by an Entrant to use multiple email accounts will result in disqualification. Any use of robotic, repetitive, automatic, programmed or similar entry methods or agents will void all Entries by that Entrant. Entries that are incomplete, late, postage-due, misdirected, undeliverable, garbled, or corrupted are void and will not be accepted. All Entries become the property of Sponsor upon receipt and will not be acknowledged or returned.
4. RANDOM DRAWING: On or about [DATE], at 12:00 PM ET, a designated representative of Sponsors will conduct a computer-generated random drawing to select one (1) potential grand prize winner ("Grand Prize Winner") from among all eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. The selected winner is considered a potential winner, subject to verification and compliance with these Official Rules. The confirmed Grand Prize Winner will be awarded one (1) Grand Prize as described below. The Grand Prize may be referred to hereinafter as the "Prize" or the "Grand Prize."
5. PRIZE, APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE ("ARV") AND ODDS OF WINNING:
Grand Prize (1): One (1) Grand Prize will be awarded to the Grand Prize Winner, which will consist of the opportunity to WIN A DAY WITH THE STANLEY CUP®, where the Stanley Cup® will be brought to the Grand Prize Winner’s home rink for up to four (4) hours on a date determined by the NHL in its sole discretion. ARV to transport the Stanley Cup® to the Grand Prize Winner’s home rink includes cost of air travel/transport, hotel, and per diem for an approximate value of $5,000 USD.
All details and other restrictions of Prize not specified in these Official Rules will be determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Actual value of Prize under this Sweepstakes may be lower or higher at the time of its fulfillment, and any difference between actual value and the stated ARV (if actual value is lower than stated ARV) will not be awarded. Sponsors are not responsible if any element of the Prize is delayed, postponed or cancelled for any reason. Prize is non-transferable, non-refundable, and no substitution or cash redemption will be made except as provided herein at the Sponsors’ sole discretion. Sponsors reserve the right, for whatever reason, to substitute the Prize (or any component thereof) for one of equal or greater value. Grand Prize Winner must be able to accept Prize as awarded or Prize will be forfeited in its entirety and an alternate winner may be selected in Sponsors’ sole discretion.
Odds of Winning: The odds of winning the Prize depend upon the number of eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period.
6. WINNER NOTIFICATION: Following the drawing, the potential winner of the Grand Prize will be notified by a representative of Sponsors via email on or about [DATE] using the email address associated with the email address provided with Entry. The potential winner will be required to respond to Sponsors within forty-eight (48) hours of notification. The potential winner will then be required to complete an Affidavit of Eligibility, Publicity Release (except where prohibited by law) and Liability Waiver along with an IRS W9 or W-8BEN tax form (if applicable) (together, the "Release Forms"), all of which must be received by Sponsors by the date provided in the notification in order to claim their Prize. The potential winner, if Canadian, will also be required to correctly answer a skill-testing question without any assistance of any kind in order to be eligible to receive their Prize. If a potential winner of the Prize cannot (a) be contacted after two (2) attempts, (b) fails to respond and/or provide any of the Release Forms (if applicable) within the required time period, (c) does not correctly answer the skill-testing question (if applicable), (d) is otherwise in non-compliance with these Official Rules, or (e) declines to or cannot accept the Prize to be awarded as provided by Sponsors, the potential winner forfeits their Prize. In the event that the potential winner is disqualified for any reason, Sponsors, in their sole discretion, may select an alternate potential winner for the Prize by random drawing from among all remaining eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period, time permitting. Only up to one (1) alternate drawing may be held, after which the applicable Prize will remain un-awarded. Subject to and after verification of eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules, the potential winner will be declared the official Grand Prize Winner of the Sweepstakes.
7. RELEASE; INDEMNIFICATION; DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTY: By participating in the Sweepstakes, all Entrants agree to forever and irrevocably release and hold harmless each of the NHL Ineligible Entities and BG Ineligible Entities, and each of their respective officers, directors, governors, members, partners, partnerships, principals, owners, employees, volunteers, representatives, agents, affiliates (past, present and future), related entities, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Released Parties"), from any and all liability for any loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense of any nature whatsoever (including attorneys' fees) (collectively, "Losses") which may occur in connection with (a) the Sweepstakes or any element thereof, including entry or participation therein, (b) delivery, possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of any Prize or any component thereof, or (c) participation in any Sweepstakes-related activity or Prize-related activity including without limitation in each case any Losses that may be caused or contributed to by (1) any wrongful, negligent or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any of the Released Parties, or any of their independent contractors or any other person or entity not an employee of any of the Released Parties, or (2) any other cause, condition or event whatsoever beyond the control of any of the Released Parties. In addition, by participating in this Sweepstakes, each Entrant agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from and against any and all damages, Losses, costs and expenses (including amounts paid in settlement and reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by any of the Released Parties in connection with any third-party claim, demand, liability, suit, proceeding or action arising out of or resulting from (i) breach or alleged breach of any representations, warranties or agreements of Entrant hereunder, or (ii) Entrant's possession, use or misuse of the Prize or any component thereof. Each Entrant hereby acknowledges that the Released Parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to the Prize (or any components thereof) and that, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law, the Prize is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Released Parties hereby disclaim all such warranties and conditions, including but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and/or non-infringement.
8. PUBLICITY: Except where legally prohibited, participation in the Sweepstakes and acceptance of the Prize constitutes the Grand Prize Winner's agreement and consent to Sponsors’ and their affiliates', agents' or affiliated third parties' use of the Grand Prize Winner's name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state/province, for promotional purposes in any media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, without further payment or consideration, notice, review or approval.
9. GENERAL CONDITIONS: All decisions of Sponsors in connection with this Sweepstakes shall be binding and final in all respects. Sponsors reserve the right to terminate, cancel, suspend and/or modify the Sweepstakes if intervening circumstances warrant, within Sponsors' sole discretion, due to any fraud, virus or other technical problem which corrupts the administration, security, or proper entry into the Sweepstakes, or for any other reason. In such event, Sponsors reserve the right to award the Prize from among the eligible Entries received up to the time of the termination, cancellation, suspension and/or modification. Sponsors reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and should such an attempt be made, Sponsors reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. Sponsors’ failure to enforce any term or provision of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that term or provision. In case of dispute as to the owner of an Entry, the Entry will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized account holder of the email address from which the Entry is made. The “authorized account holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the submitted email address. The potential Grand Prize Winner may be requested to provide the Sponsors or their designees with proof that the potential Grand Prize Winner is the authorized account holder of the email address associated with a winning Entry. If a dispute cannot be resolved, the Entry will be deemed ineligible, and an alternate potential Grand Prize Winner may be selected in Sponsors’ sole discretion (in accordance with Section 6 above). This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored by any of the other NHL Ineligible Entities or BG Ineligible Entities except for the named Sponsors. Any questions, comments, or complaints regarding the Sweepstakes should be directed to the Sponsors.
10. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Without limiting anything set forth in Section 7 or Section 9 of these Official Rules, Released Parties shall not have any obligation, responsibility or liability, including any obligation or responsibility to award the Prize to any Entrant, with regard to: (a) Entries submitted through the use of any robotic or automated device/computer program or any other non-human mechanism, entity, or device; (b) Entries in excess of the stated Entry limit; (c) Entries that are illegible, late, forged, destroyed, lost, misplaced, stolen, misdirected, tampered with, incomplete, deleted, damaged, garbled, altered, corrupted, postage-due, undeliverable, or otherwise not in compliance with or in violation of these Official Rules, whether caused by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Sweepstakes or any other reason beyond Released Parties' control; (d) any technical or human error which may occur in the creation, submission, assignment or processing of Entries in the Sweepstakes, including any technical or human error in connection with the Survey website and/or the hosting thereof; (e) Entries, Prize claims or notifications that are not received by the intended recipient due to transmission, technical, computer or human failures or error of any kind, including any Entries, Prize claims or notifications that are delayed, misdirected, or undelivered as a result of any failure or problem with the availability, functionality, operability or use of any network, server, ISP, website (including the Survey website), computer, internet connection, hand-held mobile device or any other equipment or connection used in connection with the Sweepstakes; (f) changes in an Entrant's Entry information which affects the ability to contact such Entrant; (g) typographical errors in Sweepstakes promotional material; (h) cancellations and/or delays or any change by any company or any other persons providing any of components of the Prize due to reasons beyond the control of any of the Released Parties; (i) any interruptions/postponement/cancellation of Sweepstakes; (j) human error; incorrect or inaccurate transcription of Entry information; (k) any technical malfunctions of the computer on-line system, computer dating mechanism, computer equipment, software, or internet service provider utilized by any of the Released Parties or by Entrant; (l) interruption or inability to access the Sweepstakes, any Sweepstakes-related Web pages, or any on-line service via the Internet due to hardware or software compatibility problems; (m) any damage to Entrant's (or any third person's) computer and/or its contents related to or resulting from any part of the Sweepstakes; (n) any lost/delayed data transmissions, omissions, interruptions, defects; and/or (o) any other errors or malfunctions, even if caused by the negligence of any one or more of the Released Parties.
11. DISPUTES: PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT MAY SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS INCLUDING YOUR RIGHT TO FILE A LAWSUIT IN COURT. EXCEPT WHERE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW, EACH OF ENTRANT AND SPONSORS, INCLUDING NHL (DEFINED BELOW) AND BUFFALO GROUPE (DEFINED BELOW), AGREE THAT ALL DISPUTES ARISING FROM THESE OFFICIAL RULES SHALL BE LITIGATED IN COURT OR ARBITRATED ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL OR TO LITIGATE IN COURT OR ARBITRATE ANY CLAIM AS A CLASS ACTION, REPRESENTATIVE ACTION, OR CLASS ARBITRATION; AND, IF AN ENTRANT DOES NOT CONSENT TO THIS CLAUSE, SUCH ENTRANT SHOULD NOT ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, “NHL” SHALL MEAN SPONSOR NHL AND ITS AFFILIATES (CURRENT AND FUTURE), INCLUDING NHL ENTERPRISES, L.P., NHL ENTERPRISES CANADA, L.P., NHL ENTERPRISES B.V., AND THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, AND THE MEMBER CLUBS OF THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE, TOGETHER WITH THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL OTHER RELEASED PARTIES. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, “BUFFALO GROUPE” SHALL MEAN SPONSOR BUFFALO GROUPE AND ITS AFFILIATES (CURRENT AND FUTURE), INCLUDING LONGITUDES GROUP, TOGETHER WITH EACH OF THEIR RESPECTIVE EMPLOYEES, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, AGENTS AND REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL OTHER RELEASED PARTIES. For purposes of these Official Rules, “Dispute” shall be defined as any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to the Sweepstakes.
With regard to United States (including District of Columbia) Entrants (each, a “US Entrant”), the following is a summary of the Dispute Resolution and Binding Arbitration, Class Action and Jury Trial Waiver, and Choice of Law terms. For full terms please visit the NHL Terms of Service at https://www.nhl.com/info/terms-of-service. Any current or future Dispute between the US Entrant and Sponsors shall be resolved in binding individual arbitration. Before initiating an arbitration proceeding, a written "notice of Dispute" must be sent containing the following information: (1) name, contact information (address, telephone number, and email address), and account information if applicable; (2) a detailed description of the nature and basis of the Dispute; and (3) a detailed description of the nature and basis of the relief sought, including a calculation for it. If the US Entrant has a Dispute, such US Entrant shall send the notice of Dispute by email to Sponsor NHL at adr@nhl.com and Sponsor Buffalo Groupe at research@buffalogroupe.com. US Entrant and Sponsors agree to make a good faith effort to resolve the Dispute for at least sixty (60) days following receipt of the notice of Dispute. If such parties cannot resolve the Dispute within that time period, it shall be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) and heard by a single arbitrator. The AAA rules will govern except as specifically modified. All issues are for the arbitrator to decide except the following, which are for a court of competent jurisdiction to decide: (1) issues that are specifically reserved for a court, and (2) issues related to the scope and enforceability of the arbitration provisions. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party may bring claims (whether in court or in arbitration) against the other only in an individual capacity, and not participate as a plaintiff, claimant, or class member in any class, collective, consolidated, private attorney general, or representative proceeding. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the US Entrant and Sponsors waive any right to a jury trial. There are additional procedures for “multiple case filings.” These Official Rules and any Dispute will be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the state and federal courts of New York County, New York shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any Dispute (except for Disputes brought in small claims court) that are not subject to arbitration or over any action involving the applicability or enforceability of any provisions of these Official Rules (including the arbitration provisions and class action waiver).
With regard to Canadian Entrants (each a “Canadian Entrant”), any and all Disputes between the Canadian Entrant and Sponsors shall be resolved exclusively by the courts of the Province of Ontario and all issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the Canadian Entrants and Sponsors in connection with the Sweepstakes, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada and the laws of Canada applicable therein without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the Province of Ontario or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the Province of Ontario. Applicable to all Entrants: Except where prohibited by law, and subject to the foregoing, Entrants agree that: (i) any and all such Disputes shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, (ii) any and all Disputes, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this Sweepstakes, but in no event attorneys’ fees, (iii) under no circumstances will Entrants be permitted to obtain awards for, and Entrants hereby waive all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental, consequential and/or any other damages other than actual out-of-pocket expenses, (iv) they waive any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased, and (v) they irrevocably consent to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts, as applicable to each such Entrant, and waive any claim of forum non conveniens or lack of personal jurisdiction that they may have.
12. PRIVACY: Personal information will be used by Sponsors in connection with the administration of this Sweepstakes, including to notify Entrants, verify and confirm the Grand Prize Winner and fulfill the Grand Prize and as otherwise described in each Sponsors’ Privacy Policy. For Sponsor NHL, the Privacy Policy may be reviewed at http://www.nhl.com/info/privacy-policy. For Sponsor Buffalo Groupe, the Buffalo Groupe Privacy Policy may be reviewed at https://www.buffalogroupe.com/privacy-policy. Canadian Entrants are advised that personal information will be stored on servers located in the United States and may be accessible to U.S. law enforcement, courts and other governmental institutions pursuant to the laws of the United States.
13. WINNERS LIST: For the name of the Grand Prize Winner, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to “2026 North American Youth & Amateur Hockey Census,” Buffalo Groupe Research, 960 Morrison Dr., Suite 300, Charleston, SC 29403. Residents of Canada may omit return postage. Winners List requests must be received no later than [DATE].