Matt Beleskey has been fortunate enough to realize his hockey goals and dreams. On November 22, in Barrie, ON, the left-winger teamed with the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund to help encourage others to achieve the same.

It was a hometown return that brought out smiles all round, from representatives of the Barrie Minor Hockey Association (BMHA), to the kids who play in the league, to Beleskey himself, who made a special visit to the community he grew up in.

Through Goals & Dreams, the largest grassroots hockey assistance program of its kind in the world (currently celebrating its 16th anniversary), Beleskey donated five sets of hockey equipment to the BMHA.

Heading back to Barrie today thanks to @NHLPA Goals & Dreams we are able to donate some equipment to Barrie Minor Hockey

— Matt Beleskey (@Matt_Beleskey) November 22, 2015

“There’s nothing better than seeing the smiles on the faces of all the youngsters when you walk in to see them,” said Beleskey, who has skated in nearly 350 NHL regular season games. “Being able to give back to the minor hockey association that has helped me get to where I am today is amazing. I am so glad the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams program is able to help us with that.”

The donation will go towards helping young, underprivileged hockey players have the opportunity to experience the goaltender position.

With the help of Barrie’s National Training Rinks, the BMHA has created the Barrie Minor Hockey Goalie Development Program. The program offers house league players the opportunity to try out the position of goalie with no expectation of having to purchase equipment.

“The BMHA is very grateful to have been selected as a recipient of five new sets of goaltending equipment to be used by our young players wanting to try the goaltending position,” said Murray Shanks, President of the BMHA. “We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Matt Beleskey and the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program for this generous donation. We as an organization are currently celebrating our 50th anniversary, and this donation makes that occasion even more special.”

Beleskey is appreciative of the support of both the NHLPA and Goals & Dreams.

“Goals & Dreams is something I’m proud to be a part of,” said Beleskey. “Sometimes, like in this situation, a young kid wouldn’t get the chance to try to play a different position due to the costs of the equipment. It’s great to know that kids will have the chance to hopefully do something they love.”

Devin Smith, Chairman, Goals & Dreams is proud of the program’s worldwide impact, widespread player support, and ability to affect change at the game’s grassroots level.

“We are pleased that, together with Barrie’s own Matt Beleskey, we can help provide more opportunities for local children to play hockey and try the goalie position through this donation of hockey equipment from NHLPA Goals & Dreams to the Barrie Minor Hockey Association,” said Smith.

About Goals & Dreams

In 1999, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) launched the Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. The players’ program has donated full sets of hockey equipment that has benefited more than 70,000 economically challenged children in 33 countries and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas world-wide. To date, Goals & Dreams has donated more than $23-million to grassroots hockey programs around the world making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com.