The CI Aggregator is a compilation of recent stories regarding the hockey world, The Carnegie Initiative, our Board members, other industry influencers, similar organizations doing work to change the culture of the game, related issues, and anything aligned with our important mission to make hockey more inclusive, supportive, and welcoming to all.
A new edition is posted each Friday.
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WEEKLY RECAP: Friday, January 26, 2024
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Hockey Hardware scoring big with fans
NOTL’s Billy Morrison has begun a Kickstarter campaign to support the production of his strategy game
Mike Balsom, Niagara-on-the-Lake Local, Jan. 25, 2024
People who know Billy Morrison know that he dreams big. They also know that the former Niagara-on-the-Lake resident currently working in Ottawa, where he lives with his wife Katherine, puts in the work needed to realize his dreams and follow his passions.
So it’s no surprise to those people that the 32-year-old was busy Monday evening at Ludology Board Game Cafe in St. Catharines showing off Hockey Hardware, his new strategy game, to friends, supporters and acquaintances, and promoting his Kickstarter campaign to fund its production.
Hockey Hardware is the result of an idea that came to Morrison five years ago.
“I love fantasy hockey,” Morrison tells The Local. “One night I started thinking, why isn’t there a game that brings people together in the real world based on hockey. I grabbed a pen and paper and started putting some ideas together. I ended up not sleeping that night because the ideas were just flowing.”
Warm weather forces cancellation of US Pond Hockey Championships games this weekend
Erik Altmann & Richard Reeve, KSTP, Jan. 25, 2024
Thursday night on Lake Nokomis, the mood was resigned.
Instead of the hustle and bustle of preparing for the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships this weekend, crews were breaking down equipment and sloshing through several inches of water on the lake’s ice surface.
“Mother Nature was really good to us a couple of weeks ago, and now she bit back,” says Jesse Delorit, an events manager for Pond Hockey.
All that standing water was an ominous sign for the tournament, which draws thousands of players and spectators.
“It would make for a good slip and slide, but unfortunately, we didn’t pack for that,” declared Grayson Flaim, who traveled to Minnesota from Atlanta, Georgia. “Hockey gear is not going to do us much good.”
Northeastern beats Boston University in overtime to capture 19th Women’s Beanpot title
Matt Geagan, WBZnews, Jan. 24, 2024
The Northeastern women’s hockey team captured its 19th Beanpot title Tuesday night, beating Boston University 2-1 in overtime on what was a historic evening at TD Garden.
Tuesday marked the first time in the tournament’s 45-year history that the Women’s Beanpot Championship was played at the Garden. The 10,633 fans that packed the stadium were the largest women’s crowd in Boston history.
And they were treated to an overtime thriller that featured a last-minute goal in regulation and the game-winner just 27 seconds into the extra frame.
First Nation receives grant to upgrade existing outdoor rink
Sam Laskaris, Windspeaker, Jan. 24, 2024
“We’ve been trying to get it fixed up for a few years now. The boards are damaged and have graffiti.” — Gary Burnstick, the recreation supervisor for Alexander First Nation
Members of the Alexander First Nation in Alberta will soon see some improvements to their local outdoor rink.
That’s because Alberta Blue Cross recently awarded the First Nation a $50,000 grant for an upgrade.
Alexander First Nation was one of the five 2023 recipients of the Alberta Blue Cross Built Together program. For the past decade the program has been awarding grants for healthy living infrastructure projects throughout the province.
Grant applications are submitted annually via five categories. There is one recipient each year from Edmonton, Calgary, a secondary city, a rural community, and an Indigenous community.
The infrastructure projects built must be available to the public and free to access.
Five NHL players on leave amid sexual assault inquiry
Associated Press, Jan 24, 2024
Five players from Canada’s 2018 world junior team have taken a leave of absence from their current clubs in recent days amid a report that five members of that team have been asked to surrender to police to face sexual assault charges.
Michael McLeod and Cal Foote of the New Jersey Devils, Carter Hart of the Philadelphia Flyers, Dillon Dube of the Calgary Flames and former NHL player Alex Formenton, who is now playing in Europe, all have been granted indefinite leave, with the absences announced in the past four days.
Corporate and Community Partners Support The CI Summit 2024
Companies and organizations from across North America to participate in hockey’s premier inclusion conference
CarnegieInitiative.com, Jan. 23, 2024
The Carnegie Initiative (The CI) announces a full lineup of major corporate and community partners who are supporting The CI Summit 2024 on January 30-31 in Toronto. The annual conference, taking place in advance of NHL All-Star Weekend, is themed “For the Love of the Game.” The two-day gathering convenes leaders and influencers from across the hockey world who come together for conversations centered around The CI’s mission to make the game more inclusive and welcoming to all.
More than two dozen partners will participate in The CI Summit 2024 in a variety of ways. Partner activation includes sponsorship of panel discussions in which several company representatives will actively engage in conversations as panelists.
“Herb’s Hall,” the largest exhibitor area in the Summit’s history, will be prominently located in the main foyer outside the meeting rooms. Partners will showcase their products and services and illustrate their love of the game and desire to make it more inclusive. “Herb’s Hall” will also be the location for athlete meet-and-greets and networking opportunities.
Eventribite, Jan. 23, 2024
The Carnegie family – Bernice Carnegie, Brooke Carnegie Chambers and Rane Carnegie – are passionate about carrying on the social justice initiatives of their late patriarch Herbert Carnegie. Through a series of presentations, workshops and film nights they are committed to challenging systemic injustices while promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.
Thank you to Burst and producer Bryant McBride for the privilege of screening this compelling and acclaimed documentary in Canada. A shout out to TSN for its year-long commitment to airing the documentary on TV.
Blind Advocate Triumphs as a Hockey Pioneer
FightingBlindness.org, Jan. 22, 2024
Josh Schneider is a former teacher and student-athlete whose life took an unexpected turn due to an optic nerve condition. Years after receiving his diagnosis, Josh transformed his passion for sports into a platform for advocacy. Today, he thrives as a blind hockey player, defying expectations and leading two foundations committed to raising awareness and providing support to blind hockey players.
How a small N.S. community recreated its minor hockey program, barrier-free
Zack Power, Global News, Jan. 22, 2024
The small Nova Scotia community of Parrsboro lost its minor hockey league program in 2015.
After that, the nearest minor hockey program was nearly 45 minutes away in Amherst, N.S.
Seeing a need gone, Jill Meyers decided to do something about it.
So, rallying the community together, Meyers and her husband have started a minor hockey league program in the community for the first time in nearly a decade. The league began play late last year.
The program is made to be as barrier-free as possible. The two mustered the community to donate gear, and soon, the residents had kitted up 32 kids so they could play hockey. Sticks, skates, helmets and protective gear all came in tow.
Color of Hockey: Sticks Together inspiring underserved kids around globe
Nonprofit founded by Syracuse women’s forward Thompson providing ‘something bigger than myself’
William Douglas, NHL.com, Jan. 22, 2024
Sarah Thompson wanted to use her visibility as a Syracuse University women’s hockey player for something more than signing a name, image and likeness deal that allows NCAA student-athletes to make money.
“When COVID hit and the NIL stuff came out … everyone was talking about signing deals and making themselves a brand,” Thompson said. “For me, I just want to use my platform to be able to give back to something bigger than myself.”
The 22-year-old forward from Ottawa established Sticks Together, a nonprofit foundation that aims to provide resources to give children in underprivileged communities around the world the chance to learn and play hockey.
Tennessee State University Signs its First Hockey Player
Drury University’s only Black hockey player, Xavier Abel is joining TSU
Cedric “BIG CED” Thornton, Black Enterprise, Jan. 22, 2024
Last year, history was made when Tennessee State University became the first historically Black college or university (HBCU) to welcome men’s ice hockey at the collegiate level. The announcement took place on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, before the 2023 NHL Draft. The school has recently stated that it has its first commitment to the ice hockey team with transfer student Xavier Abel.
Hockey has been a sanctuary for a 12-year-old Sharks fan battling a rare disorder
Sharks Foundation, Shadow Jumpers help hockey-loving Addison Kypreos, 12, live out a dream in spending time with the San Jose Sharks
Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, Jan. 22, 2024
Erica Kypreos stood a few feet away, still a bit amazed at what she was seeing. On the ice was her daughter, Addison, smiling through her face shield as she passed the puck around and exchanged fist-bumps with a few San Jose Sharks players.
“I’m trying not to cry,” Kypreos said Friday, “so I can watch the whole thing.”
Hockey has always been a part of the Kypreos family, originally from the Livermore/Pleasanton area, and Addison, 12, grew up a huge fan of the Sharks.
The sport has become an even bigger part of their lives now. When Addison was 3, she was diagnosed with Erythropoietic Protoporphyria, or EPP, an inherited disorder that results in the accumulation of protoporphyrin in red blood cells, causing acute, painful photosensitivity in the skin. Even just a few minutes of exposure to UV light can potentially lead to agonizing second-degree-like burns on any uncovered areas of her skin.
Kevin Bieksa can speak some Punjabi and everyone is impressed
Rob Williams, Daily Hive, Jan. 22, 2024
Kevin Bieksa proved to be a natural when he transitioned to broadcasting after the former Vancouver Canucks defenceman retired from pro hockey.
We assumed the Hockey Night in Canada star would be limited to English-language broadcasts though.
Bieksa made a cameo on Hockey Night Punjabi over the weekend, effortlessly responding to questions from host Randip Janda. Speaking from Victoria, this year’s host of Hockey Day in Canada, Janda asked Bieksa what he thought about the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, and Vancouver Canucks.
Bieksa’s analysis was that the Oilers and Jets were “teek ah,” meaning fine or good. The Canucks, meanwhile, he said, were “badiya,” meaning really good or awesome.
How Brian Burke and Cassie Campbell-Pascall are helping the PWHL grow
Sportsnet, Jan. 20, 2024
Evanka Osmak is joined by PWHL executive director Brian Burke and PWHL senior advisor Cassie Campbell-Pascall to discuss what inspired them to get involved with the new league and how they’re helping to grow the game.
NHL alumni, and celebs delight Hockey Day capacity crowd at Memorial Centre
Royals host Blazers on Saturday afternoon
Cleve Dheensaw, Times-Colonist, Jan. 19, 2024
Greg Adams quipped that with Lanny McDonald having to pull out of playing in the Scotiabank Hockey Day in Canada Celebrity and Alumni Classic Game, he was suddenly the oldest player on the ice in front of 7,006 fans Friday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
“Time flies,” said Adams.
It was the first time on skates in six years for the 63-year-old WHL Victoria Cougars graduate and 10-season NHLer from Duncan. Adams was part of the game that featured former NHLers Andrew Ference, Kevin Bieksa, Wendel Clark, Kirk McLean, Bill Ranford, Nathan LaFayette, Darcy Tucker along with Hockey Night in Canada commentators Ron MacLean, Evanka Osmak, David Amber, Ken Reid and Jennifer Botterill.
For the record, Team Tucker beat Team McDonald 7-5.
Ron MacLean and Stanley Cup receive warm welcome at Songhees First Nation
Cheknews, Jan. 19, 2024
The Stanley Cup is one of the highlights of the Hockey Day in Canada festivities in Victoria this week, and on Thursday the coveted trophy paid a visit to the Songhees First Nation.
There was a traditional welcome at the Songhees Wellness Centre as the keeper of the cup, Phil Pritchard, was drummed in, along with sports commentator Ron MacLean and members of the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.
Dozens of people filled the centre to take a picture with hockey’s holy grail, and even touch the cup.
Some visitors told CHEK News they were eager to see the cup, while others said they were too nervous to touch it.
From Olympic gold to ‘Jailbreak’ goal, Maltais brings big-game skill set to PWHL
After a successful and decorated junior and college career, Emma Maltais is making a name for herself with PWHL Toronto.
Mathieu Sheridan, The Hockey News, Jan. 19, 2024
Through the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s first month, there has been no shortage of storylines. From bone-crunching hits to crowd-thrilling plays to chill-inducing moments, it has been nothing short of an astounding success.
Although PWHL Toronto might not have gotten off to the start they’d hoped for, the team certainly hasn’t come up short in displaying its talent. While one could point to well-established stars such as Sarah Nurse and Natalie Spooner, another exciting player to watch has been Emma Maltais, a 24-year-old forward from Burlington, Ont.
Native American Heritage hockey mask now in collection at Minnesota Historical Society
Peter Cox, MPR News, Jan. 18, 2024
A custom goalie mask worn by a Minnesota Wild goaltender in warmups before a game earlier this season — in defiance of an NHL edict — is now in a collection at the Minnesota Historical Society.
Minnesota Wild goalie Marc-Andre Fleury wore a mask designed by Mdewakanton Dakota artist Cole Redhorse Taylor during warmups at the Wild’s Native American Heritage Night in November.
The NHL bars players from wearing specialty jerseys or masks for theme nights.
Fleury wanted to honor his wife, who is Indigenous, at the November game — and offered to pay a fine so he could wear the mask.
Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award nominations open
Presented to individuals in U.S., Canada who has positively impacted their community, culture, or society
NHL.com, Jan. 18, 2024
NEW YORK/TORONTO – The National Hockey League (NHL) today announced that nominations are open for the seventh annual Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award™. The Award is given to an individual who – through the sport of hockey – has positively impacted their community, culture, or society.
Esteemed NHL partners Hyundai and Discover are committed to hockey at all levels and join the NHL in celebrating community leaders who are making the game greater. In Canada, Hyundai returns as a presenting sponsor. New this season, Discover joins as presenting sponsor of the Award in the U.S.
For the second year, there will be two Award winners, one in the U.S. and one in Canada. Fans are encouraged to nominate their community hero at NHL.com/OReeAward. Nominations are open until Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET.