Your NHLPA Goals & Dreams questions, answered.
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NHLPA Members Giving Back to the Game
In the spirit of giving back, NHLPA Goals & Dreams works with and on behalf of its members in communities around the world to facilitate greater access to the game.
The players' charitable program is designed to assist grassroots hockey programs that are helping deserving youth play the game of hockey. Qualified youth hockey programs receive complete sets of new hockey equipment from NHLPA Goals & Dreams to be distributed to youth hockey players in their community.
"We are so proud to have been able to donate equipment through our NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund to the Membertou community. Nothing better than helping more kids play hockey."
Brendan & Reilly Smith
NHLPA Members
"So excited to help children living in the North and new Canadians play the game of hockey with a donation of gear through the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund and the Marner Assist fund."
Mitch Marner
NHLPA Member
"I am so proud to support our Goals & Dreams program to help children living with physical and mental disabilities play the game of hockey. It is great to see firsthand their passion and love for the game."
David Rittich
NHLPA Member
"It's important that we are able to provide youth with more opportunities to get into the game through equipment donations. We're glad to keep this player tradition going strong 25 years after NHLPA Goals & Dreams began."
Aleksander Barkov
NHLPA Member
"I hope this equipment contribution with NHLPA Goals & Dreams to the Junghaie helps the next generation fall in love with the game and build a strong future for our sport."
Leon Draisaitl
NHLPA Member
"Outfitting children in new equipment so they can learn and enjoy the game of hockey is something we're proud of with NHLPA Goals & Dreams. I'm glad the players can continue giving back in a meaningful way."
Cale Makar
NHLPA Member
"I think to have the opportunity to give back, to provide people with the opportunity to play the sport that has given us so much, is something that we really enjoy partaking in."
Adam Lowry
NHLPA Member
Oreo Stay Playful
Oreo Stay Playful
NHLPA and OREO joined forces in 2025 to announce the 'OREO Stay Playful For All' campaign, which saw $200,000 in equipment grants donated to 14 grant recipients across Canada last season.
In the first year of the OREO Stay Playful For All program, OREO and NHLPA Goals & Dreams provided $200,000 in hockey equipment grants to youth hockey organizations across Canada. Designed to enhance the accessibility of grassroots hockey among youth in Canada, the program helps invigorate local communities, keep the sport inclusive, and nurture the next generation of hockey players. From coast to coast to coast, 14 hockey organizations received much-needed hockey equipment in the first year of the OREO Stay Playful For All program, enabling more kids to lace up their skates and experience the joy of the game. The selected teams represent a diverse group of communities that are dedicated to fostering a love of hockey among youth and are committed to keeping the playful spirit of the sport alive.
The program was also supported by NHL and PWHL star players who served as ambassadors – Quinn Hughes, Zach Hyman, William Nylander, Nick Suzuki, Sarah Nurse and Marie-Philip Poulin. The campaign inspired fans and communities to embrace the Stay Playful ethos by sharing their stories about what it means to them.
Everyone Deserves a Team
Everyone Deserves a Team
This season, NHLPA Goals & Dreams teamed up with Sonnet Insurance for the second season of Everyone Deserves a Team. Building off the success of the first series, NHL stars Nick Suzuki and David Savard travelled to Mani-utenam, Quebec to surprise the young hockey players of Innu Nation.
NHLPA Goals & Dreams donated 50 sets of equipment to help children living in this First Nation community play the game of hockey, which was led by an inspiring community leader, Normand Jr. Thirnish-Pilot. Sonnet Insurance provided financial support to continue Junior’s vision of creating good memories for the kids in his community.
"Without this gear, our program does not exist. These kids will be forever changed because of the players’ donation of gear to our hockey program."
Chris Cognac
Founder - Hawthorne Force Hockey Program
"The NHLPA Goals & Dreams program has been our single largest contributor of new hockey gear to military families across North America. We’re eternally grateful for the player’s ten years’ worth of support."
Shane Hudella
Co-Founder, United Heroes League
Frequently Asked Questions
The primary focus of NHLPA Goals & Dreams is to provide brand new sets of equipment to organizations that are helping deserving youth play the game of hockey. A brand new set of equipment provides a child with everything they would need to play the game of hockey (i.e., helmet, neck guard, shoulder pads, elbow pads, gloves, jock/jill, pants, shin pads, skates, hockey stick, bag, jersey and socks).
After each application is reviewed, a determination is made by the NHLPA Goals & Dreams Advisory Committee as to (1) whether the program will receive an equipment donation, followed by (2) the number of sets the program will receive. This is done on a case by case basis.
NHLPA Goals & Dreams will make one donation, per program, per season (July 1 – June 30). Programs can re-apply each season but must be able to show a clear need for receiving another equipment donation.
No, NHLPA Goals & Dreams will not make financial contributions to youth hockey programs/organizations. However, it will provide packages that can be used to help with fundraising efforts (e.g., silent auctions) for charitable events/organizations. If you are looking for a donation to your organization’s fundraising efforts please click on Request Charitable Donation off the main page.
While NHLPA Goals & Dreams previously helped with arena upgrades and repairs when it was first launched back in 1999, the program has shifted its attention to focus its resources on providing complete sets of new equipment to help more deserving youth play the game of hockey. No cash donations will be made for these requests.
Any organization or grassroots hockey program can apply for an equipment grant. However, there is a comprehensive application process and each applicant will have to a show a compelling need for the equipment, and a detailed plan on how the equipment will be used to help deserving youth play the game of hockey.
From the time an application is first submitted to the time equipment is delivered, NHLPA Goals & Dreams aims to have to the process completed in 8-10 weeks depending on how thorough an application is completed and the geographical location of the program.
No you do not. NHLPA Goals & Dreams has made donations to programs in 45 countries around the world. Each year, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams receives applications from all over the world and provides gear to youth hockey programs.
This is not a requirement. However, NHLPA Goals & Dreams is the players' charitable program, so any request that comes from a program that is affiliated with an NHLPA member will take precedence.
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