National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) Goals & Dreams fund has donated 25 brand new sets of hockey equipment to the Fort Mac Hockey Brothers Foundation Program to help Indigenous youth in the rural communities get involved in the game.

Launched in 1999, NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $26 million to grassroots hockey programs.

“The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund is thrilled to assist the Fort Mac Hockey Brothers Foundation with this donation of 25 sets of hockey equipment,” said Devin Smith, NHLPA Goals & Dreams Chairman. “We commend the Fort Mac Hockey Brothers for the opportunities they provide Indigenous youth in Wood Buffalo to play the game of hockey.”

The Fort Mac Hockey Brothers Foundation works to break the financial barriers for Indigenous communities throughout the Wood Buffalo region by providing hockey equipment for youth ages 2-18, regardless of skill level since 2018.

A spokesperson for the Foundation told Mix News that this was the first year that they had applied for the grant, and that they may be getting more than just equipment.

“We’re just waiting on the details and the gear to come in. There is also some buzz about an NHLer coming up to do some speaking engagements, so it’s pretty exciting,” the Foundation spokesperson explained.