NHL to Donate $5,000 to All Teams to Contribute to Their Communities

The National Hockey League as part of their Centennial Celebration and Hockey is for Everyone initiative, will be donating 5,000 dollars to all 30 teams for use towards their communities. 

Each grant will help the teams promote inclusiveness and diversity in hockey. 

The Arizona Coyotes became the first team to participate in the program during the first stop of the NHL’s Centennial Fan Arena, which took place at the Tempe Marketplace, on Saturday, January 7. The Coyotes along with the Arizona Coyotes Foundation, joined forces to donate 10,000 dollars to One Step Bobcats, a special needs hockey team during the event. 

Thousands of fans toured the 53-foot museum truck, played ball hockey on the makeshift rink, posed with the Stanley Cup and even took turns driving the virtual Zamboni. The next stop for the NHL Centennial Fan Arena on its tour across North America, will be the American Airlines Center on Thursday, January 12, from 4:00 PM to 7:30 PM and Sunday, January 15, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM. 

The Hockey is for Everyone program is an initiative that shows support to any teammate, coach or fan who brings heart, energy and passion to the rink. Their mantra is that regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation and socio-economic status, you belong and are welcome on the ice, in the locker room and in the stands. 

HIFE is the NHL’s official youth development program. HIFE helps to provide unique programming and support to non-profit youth hockey organizations across North America that are committed to offering children of all backgrounds the opportunity to play hockey. 

The initiative helps leverage the sport of hockey become a catalyst to help children learn essential life skills, education and the core values of hockey: commitment, perseverance and teamwork.