Hockey Helps Kids Unveils Five Captains for Third NHL Season
Program announces five participating junior high schools for 2017-18
Hockey Helps Kids, an exciting philanthropic initiative which made its debut in 2015-16, returns for a third season as a key program for the Edmonton Oilers 2017-18 National Hockey League (NHL) season. Hockey Helps Kids is a fun and innovative charity competition which brings together local schools, charities and the Edmonton Oilers to raise awareness and funds for a variety of local charities.
For its third year, the program has expanded to include five local schools – D.S. MacKenzie, Dr. Donald Massey, Dan Knott, Mary Butterworth and Westmount Junior High School – teamed up with five Oilers players – Leon Draisaitl, Patrick Maroon, Milan Lucic, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Connor McDavid – to compete for the Hockey Helps Kids Charity Cup and ultimately help make a difference in our community.
The teams for the 2017-18 season are:
- Team Leon Draisaitl – D.S. MacKenzie School
- Team Patrick Maroon – Dr. Donald Massey School
- Team Milan Lucic – Dan Knott School
- Team Ryan Nugent-Hopkins – Mary Butterworth School
- Team Connor McDavid – Westmount Junior High School
The third season of Hockey Helps Kids will launch on Thursday, October 5, alongside all participants and captains. More details on the program will be announced at the launch.
“D.S. MacKenzie School recognizes the endless possibilities of giving back to our community. We are thrilled to partner with Hockey Helps Kids and the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation to support a local charity,” said D.S. MacKenzie School Principal Larry Payne. “D.S. MacKenzie students are leaders who want to raise awareness and make a difference in the lives of others. With the help of the Oilers, D.S. MacKenzie is ready to bring their best game to the ice!”
Hockey Helps Kids, co-founded by Chloe and Harrison Katz, children of Edmonton Oilers Chairman Daryl Katz and his wife Renee, is funded by the Katz family and administered by the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF). The Foundation helps connect the Katz children with five local Edmonton schools and five Oilers players, who serve as team captains, and assist each school in learning about community service.
“Hockey Helps Kids has evolved and grown since its inception two years ago thanks to the amazing schools and students we get to work with,” said Harrison Katz. “That’s why I know this third season with five new captains and schools is going to be even bigger, better and more impactful for Chloe and I, the students and community.”
“While we set out to inspire youth our age to get more involved in their communities, we’ve found that we’ve been just as inspired and motivated by our community and all of the students’ interest and dedication to Hockey Helps Kids,” said Chloe Katz. “With five new schools and captains on board, Harrison and I are looking forward to learning more about the charitable causes they are passionate about. We are very excited to see what Hockey Helps Kids helps inspire this year.”
For more information on Hockey Helps Kids, please visit HockeyHelpsKids.com, download the Oilers Mobile App or check out Hockey Helps Kids on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Edmonton Oilers hockey is presented by Rogers, Molson Canadian, Scotiabank, Ford and the Rexall Family of Pharmacies.