Team Nugent-Hopkins completes three-peat as Hockey Helps Kids Charity Cup Challenge champion

February 20, 2019
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Autism Edmonton wins $25,000 and three charity runner-ups receive $10,000 each

(Edmonton, AB) — Hockey Helps Kids fourth annual Charity Cup Challenge saw a different sort of hat trick, as Team Captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins completed a three-peat as the Hockey Helps Kids Charity Cup Challenge champion.

Sister Annata Brockman School, also known as Team Nugent-Hopkins, has won $25,000 for its local charity of choice, Autism Edmonton. Autism Edmonton’s goal is to enhance the lives of families and individuals living with autism, by providing life-long support and creating awareness, acceptance, and opportunities in the Edmonton community.

Oilers assistant captain Ryan Nugent-Hopkins says, “Having the opportunity to partner with Sister Annata Brockman School and witness all their hard work and dedication over the last several months was rewarding. This special group made a positive impact in their community through their partnership with Autism Edmonton. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together as a team and would like to congratulate them on being named winner of this year’s Hockey Helps Kids Charity Cup Challenge.”




“Through its vision and process, this program fosters a dynamic spirit of leadership, cooperation, collaboration and citizenship in participating youth,” said Autism Edmonton’s Executive Director, Carole Anne Patenaude. Hockey Helps Kids inspires both the youthful creators and givers, as well as the charity recipients of “the Challenge”. Autism Edmonton’s journey with Hockey Helps Kids has been life changing, even transformational, and one that none of us will soon forget.”

Although Sister Annata won the competition by securing the most fan votes, students from S. Bruce Smith (Team Draisaitl), Ecole Dickinsfield (Team Lucic) and Hilwie Hamdon School (Team McDavid) and their charities aren’t walking away empty handed. All three schools earned a secondary prize of $10,000 to be awarded to each of their charity partners, CASA (Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health), Kids with Cancer Society and Mustard Seed, in support of local initiatives.

Hockey Helps Kids, co-founded by Chloe and Harrison Katz, children of Oilers Entertainment Group (OEG) Chairman Daryl Katz and his wife Renee, made its debut in the 2015-16 season and remains a key program for the Edmonton Oilers. The project is funded by the Katz family and administered by the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation (EOCF). In its fourth season, four local schools and charities teamed up with four Oilers players acting as Hockey Helps Kids team captains, to make a positive contribution to the Edmonton community.

“Congratulations to Sister Annata Brockman School and Team Nugent-Hopkins on being named champions of the fourth annual Charity Cup Challenge,” said Chloe Katz. “Since its inception, Hockey Helps Kids has worked with 17 unique schools and charities, and has contributed a combined total of $315,000 back to the Edmonton community. It’s a privilege to play a part in youth development through Hockey Helps Kids, and support positive initiatives for local charitable organizations.

“Thank you to the over 1,300 students and our Oilers captains for their commitment and passion for Hockey Helps Kids. The marketing campaigns and video pitches in support of their designated charities were very impressive, and left me feeling inspired,” said Harrison Katz. “For me, it’s important to promote philanthropy in our community, especially with youth, to encourage them to continue to make a difference throughout their lives. It’s extremely rewarding to see the positive impact that Hockey Helps Kids has made, and will continue to make in the future.”

The faculty at Sister Annata Brockman School were thrilled with this year’s results. Being able to guide their students to make a lasting impact in the Edmonton community is an initiative they were proud to align with.

“Fuelled by passion and faith, students at Sister Annata Brockman believe that each of us have responsibilities extending beyond ourselves. Our students chose to work with Autism Edmonton because of the extraordinary difference the people in this agency make in the lives of individuals living with Autism,” said Sister Annata Brockman School Assistant Principal, Colin Fedoruk. “Since the beginning, our students connected with the staff and families at Autism Edmonton, and then brought our staff and families in so that we were all working together. These connections have led to lasting relationships between Autism Edmonton and our community, and we will continue to work together for many years to come.