NHLPA Members travel to HIGH RIVER TO donate EQUIPMENT

In conjunction with RBC Play Hockey and the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund, NHLPA members Matt Stajan, T.J.

In conjunction with RBC Play Hockey and the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Fund, NHLPA members Matt Stajan, T.J. Galiardi, Derek Smith and Mark Giordano traveled to High River, Alberta in September to present the community with a donation of $50,000 in equipment to help replace hockey items that were lost or damaged in Alberta’s devastating June floods.

The $50,000 donation will come in the form of hockey bags, sticks, helmets and gloves that are needed by the 304 members of Foothills Minor Hockey in High River. Construction is still underway at the Bob Snodgrass Recreational Centre and Association officials are hopeful to have the players back on the ice for the launch of the 2013 -14 hockey season.

"The NHLPA members, through our NHLPA Goals and Dreams fund are proud to support the Foothills Minor Hockey Association together with RBC Play Hockey by donating $50,000 in hockey equipment today," said Matt Stajan, NHLPA member and Calgary Flames forward. "After the challenges that the families in this community have faced since the floods, we are pleased to be able to help in a small way by providing new hockey equipment to the kids of Foothills Minor Hockey."

The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund is the largest grassroots hockey assistance program in the world. Founded in 1999, NHLPA Goals & Dreams has contributed over $21 million to grassroots hockey programs and related causes in more than 30 countries. Through the donation of equipment grants, the program has given more than 60,000 deserving children the opportunity to play hockey and benefit from the sport's commitment to teamwork, discipline and physical fitness.