NHLPA Goals & Dreams to reach $675,000 in hockey equipment donated since 2020

NHLPA GOALS & DREAMS TO REACH $675,000 IN HOCKEY EQUIPMENT DONATED SINCE 2020 TO 60 GRASSROOTS PROGRAMS

Total includes $250,000 in 2021-22 equipment donations from the NHL Players’ G&D program

TORONTO (June 29, 2022) – While recognizing the cost of playing hockey continues to be one of the top barriers to youth participating in the game, the National Hockey League Players’ Association is proud to announce that NHLPA Goals & Dreams is set to reach $675,000 in new hockey equipment donations to 60 grassroots hockey programs since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020. With $425,000 in hockey equipment distributed prior to this season, the 2021-22 donations are on target to exceed $250,000 in equipment.

Throughout the pandemic, NHLPA Goals & Dreams – the players’ charitable program – has continued to donate complete sets of new equipment to help give more deserving children the chance to play hockey. Youth hockey programs worldwide in need of hockey equipment to allow more children from their community to play the game are encouraged to apply for a G&D donation.

“Carrying on the tradition of players giving back to their hometowns and local communities around the world, the importance of facilitating participation among youth in hockey has only increased over these past two years. Through NHLPA Goals & Dreams, a meaningful donation of 1,100 sets of hockey equipment to grassroots hockey programs since 2020 has given many more children the opportunity to play the sport of hockey and enjoy the countless benefits that come with it,” said Devin Smith, NHLPA Goals & Dreams Chairman.

Due to COVID-19 safety measures, the NHLPA has looked to other forums where NHL players can connect with children from G&D recipient programs:

• William Nylander continued his involvement with the Peel Police program by fielding questions from participants earlier this season.
• Jordan Eberle answered questions from Yonkers Force Youth Hockey participants.
• Jack Campbell and Brady Tkachuk participated in a video with the Pioneer Park Panthers Hockey Program.

An additional G&D video featuring Kyle Connor and Dylan Larkin with the Detroit PAL program will be published on the NHLPA’s social feeds this summer. While last year, together with Sonnet Insurance, the “Everyone Deserves A Team” series gave children from the Hockey Education Reaching Out Society (HEROS)/SuperHeros and Hockey 4 Youth programs a chance to speak virtually with NHLPA members Patrice Bergeron, Zach Hyman, Darnell Nurse and Matthew Tkachuk as well as Hockey Hall of Fame member Doug Gilmour. Sonnet also covered the ice time costs for those youth hockey programs last season.

This season, G&D has already donated over 400 sets of hockey equipment worth over $150,000 to 14 different programs, while an additional $100,000 is scheduled to still be donated, bringing the total equipment donations in 2021-22 to over $250,000. Noteworthy donations this season have included:

• Peel Police youth hockey program (Mississauga, Ontario, Canada) – The program provides youth from marginalized communities in Peel region with the opportunity to play hockey at no cost while building relationships with local law enforcement. G&D is donating 50 sets of equipment over the next two seasons.
• HC Ocelari Trinec (Trinec, Moravskoslezsky, Czechia) – NHLPA member Radek Faksa worked together with G&D to support his former minor hockey program in Czechia, to help more children in the community. G&D has donated 25 sets of equipment.
• Detroit PAL (Detroit, Michigan, USA) – Partnered with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Detroit PAL helps local youth through athletic, academic and leadership development programs. This was their first year offering a learn-to-skate program for kids ages 4-10 who would not have otherwise had the opportunity to play hockey. G&D has donated 54 sets of equipment.
• SuperHEROS (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) – A volunteer-driven charity that teaches life skills while empowering marginalized youth and kids with cognitive and physical challenges through hockey. G&D has donated 25 sets of equipment.
• La Ronge RCMP (La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada) – Gives young First Nations kids in Stanley Mission the chance to play hockey and establish a connection with local RCMP. G&D has donated 25 sets of equipment.
• My Biggest Fan Foundation (Stratford, Prince Edward Island, Canada) – Zack MacEwen and his family created the non-profit organization out of Stratford, Prince Edward Island, to honour the legacy of Zack’s late father, Craig MacEwan. The program offers support for hockey players and their families. G&D donated 25 sets of equipment.

“My dad, Craig MacEwen, passed away suddenly in May 2020. Starting the My Biggest Fan Foundation was a way for me and my family to honour his memory. The foundation allows us to help so many kids play hockey and we're extremely happy to have the wonderful support from the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund and a donation of 25 sets of new hockey gear. … My dad was a very generous man and I know he would be proud of the work we have done and the support we are experiencing already is truly amazing,” said Zack MacEwen, NHLPA Member.

“G&D helped us launch our first ever HEROS program in 2000 and, as we have grown to 30 programs, they have been there with us every step of the way. The donation of gear has had an obvious positive impact financially for an organization like ours, but it also sends the players wearing it an important message. Aspiring players from marginalized communities often feel like hockey isn’t a place they are supposed to be and that it is meant for others. … We could not have done what we do without the G&D program and look forward to continuing to work together for many years to come,” said Kevin Hodgson, HEROS Executive Director.

In addition, NHLPA Goals & Dreams and the International Ice Hockey Federation recently announced a collaboration to support displaced Ukrainian youth hockey players, with $100,000 worth of hockey equipment being donated to help more than 550 Ukrainian youth continue playing hockey despite facing enormous challenges. 

Last season, G&D donated over 725 sets of equipment valued at more than $325,000 to 39 different programs. Noteworthy donations in 2020-21 included:

• La Ronge RCMP (La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada) – Gives young First Nations kids in Stanley Mission the chance to play hockey and establish a connection with local RCMP. G&D donated 40 sets of equipment.
• Grindstone Award Foundation (Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada) – Helps young girls play the game by funding opportunities for those who have a desire to play but are unable due to financial reasons. G&D donated 25 sets of equipment.
• Project Innu-Auasset (Sept-Îles, Quebec, Canada) – RCMP program giving Innu children in Pakua Shipu the opportunity to play hockey. G&D donated 27 sets of equipment.
• Ice Hockey in Harlem (New York City, New York, USA) – Assists boys and girls from the Harlem community with growing their confidence, leadership and academic success. G&D donated 20 sets of equipment.
• Yonkers Force Youth Hockey (Yonkers, New York, USA) – Community outreach program run by members of the Yonkers Police Department to introduce underprivileged youth to the sport of hockey, for free. G&D donated 25 sets of equipment.
• Pioneer Park Panthers Hockey Program (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) – A free learn-to-play program for new Canadians, young girls and low-income participants from kindergarten to grade 6 at Pioneer Park Public School in Kitchener, Ontario. G&D donated 27 sets of equipment.
• Program 34 (Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada) – NHLPA member Jake Allen’s charitable program helps youth in New Brunswick play hockey. G&D donated 10 sets of equipment.
• HC Dukla Jihlava (Jihlava, Vysocina Region, Czechia) – Together with NHLPA member David Rittich, the donation went towards his former minor hockey program in Czechia. G&D donated 10 sets of goalie equipment.

“The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund's support of the Grindstone Award Foundation has been a tremendous support, not only to our grant recipients, but also to Grindstone as a charity. The G&D fund's donation of brand new equipment for Grindstone grant recipients in 2021 allowed deserving female youth players whose families' financial situations would not have allowed for them to purchase much needed hockey equipment, to enjoy this thrill that all players should get to experience. … It is evident that they truly care about growing the game of hockey and making it more accessible for all,” said Jehan Jiwa, Grindstone Vice President.

In the 2019-20 season, G&D donations for the season featured 35 sets of equipment donated to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Heroes Unite Hockey Program, which utilizes the game of hockey to bring children in low-income neighbourhoods together with the LVMPD. In the same season, G&D donated another 30 sets of equipment to the Toronto Police for its weekly program that gives underprivileged kids the opportunity to play hockey. A total of more than 700 sets worth over $300,000 was donated during the 2019-20 season.

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ADDITONAL COMMENTS FROM G&D RECIPIENTS:

“G&D helped us launch our first ever HEROS program in 2000 and, as we have grown to 30 programs, they have been there with us every step of the way. The donation of gear has had an obvious positive impact financially for an organization like ours, but it also sends the players wearing it an important message. Aspiring players from marginalized communities often feel like hockey isn’t a place they are supposed to be and that it is meant for others. Knowing their gear comes from NHL players sends a powerful message to players that they belong, that hockey has been waiting for them, and that the best players in the world want to share the game with them. We could not have done what we do without the G&D program and look forward to continuing to work together for many years to come.” – Kevin Hodgson, HEROS Executive Director.

“My dad, Craig MacEwen, passed away suddenly in May 2020. Starting the My Biggest Fan Foundation was a way for me and my family to honour his memory. The foundation allows us to help so many kids play hockey and we're extremely happy to have the wonderful support from the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund and a donation of 25 sets of new hockey gear. This charity means a lot to me and my family and carries on my father's legacy. We are helping so many children and families that may be struggling financially, to get their start in hockey and stay there. My dad was a very generous man and I know he would be proud of the work we have done and the support we are experiencing already is truly amazing.” – Zack MacEwen, My Biggest Fan Foundation.

“The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund's support of the Grindstone Award Foundation has been a tremendous support, not only to our grant recipients, but also to Grindstone as a charity. The G&D fund's donation of brand new equipment for Grindstone grant recipients in 2021 allowed deserving female youth players whose families' financial situations would not have allowed for them to purchase much needed hockey equipment, to enjoy this thrill that all players should get to experience. In addition, the NHLPA's support to amplify Grindstone's work has allowed our charity to reach more families who require our financial support, and to grow our impact on the female game. It is evident that they truly care about growing the game of hockey and making it more accessible for all.” – Jehan Jiwa, Grindstone Award Foundation Vice President.

“Thanks to NHLPA Goals & Dreams equipment donations, more children at Pioneer Park Public School in Kitchener, ON, are able to take part in the Panthers hockey program. Our program is geared to low-income families, new Canadians, and female players that may not have been exposed to hockey or have the means to pay for equipment and registration costs. Through the support and donations of the NHLPA Goals & Dreams, hundreds of kids have been able to participate since we started more than a decade ago! Hockey gives the children a sense of community, the ability to develop life skills and a sense of responsibility as they need to care for their hockey equipment. The children and their families as well as the coaching staff and volunteers are so enthusiastic when the NHLPA Goals and Dreams staff come for a visit and join us for an on-ice session. The support of the NHL players is invaluable and have helped build such a successful program.” – Steve Sanderson, Pioneer Park Panthers Hockey Founder.

“I speak for all of the coaches from Yonkers Force Youth Hockey in stating that this program has strengthened the bonds we share with our community in many ways.  Our players and their families have reached out to us on many issues outside of hockey and we have been able to assist them along the way. It’s a journey that we started with the NHLPA back in 2017 and we will make sure it continues for many years. The success of our program has been possible in large part due to the NHLPA Goals & Dreams donations of equipment and the players commitment to making a difference in our community of Yonkers, New York.” – Detective Captain Patrick McCormack, Yonkers Force Youth Hockey.

“In 2018, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program helped Las Vegas Police start our first community outreach program in a violent crime neighborhood utilizing the sport of hockey to coach and mentor 25 at-risk children. The program continues to grow and currently serves 35 children and their families. The Goals & Dreams donations of equipment has given us the opportunity to build relationships with at-risk children who previously only met Police Officers in negative scenarios. Our officers are not just coaching these kids but are mentoring them in the ICARE values – Integrity, Courage, Accountability, Respect for people and Excellence. The children that the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program has brought together with the Las Vegas Police Department are not just players on a team, they have become our family!” – Phil Merges, Lieutenant Las Vegas Metropolitan Police’s Heroes United Hockey program.