In the simplest forms of hockey, players throw their sticks in a pile in
the middle of the ice, teams are sorted at random and a shinny game ensues.
‘Sticks in’ is the ultimate sign of community, of coming together to share
in the great Canadian game.
Under that premise, it’s no surprise Laura Stacey, a 2018 Olympic silver
medallist with Canada’s National Women’s Team – not to mention a fierce
believer in the power of sport to bring people and communities together –
shifted the purpose of her annual LS7 Sticks In For Charity ball hockey
tournament amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the last two years, kids have been given the opportunity to play ball
hockey on teams captained by Team Canada alumni – men, women and para
hockey – as part of Stacey’s mission to provide an opportunity to stay
active. But this year, due to the changing social landscape of a global
pandemic, LS7 Sticks In For Charity quickly turned into an initiative that
donated 510 Bauer shields to the doctors and nurses at SickKids Hospital in
Toronto.
Shortly after the cancellation of the 2020 IIHF Women’s World Championship
in early March, Stacey’s charity organizing committee came together to plan
what would have been the third annual event, scheduled for June 27. From
the start it was clear the event would have to be different this time
around.
“After we realized cancelling [the event for this year] was our only
option, and really the smartest option,” the Kleinburg, Ont., native says,
“it became about reimagining the charity model and saying, ‘How can we
change the charity so it’s meaningful this year?’”
The committee, comprised of Stacey’s family and friends, brainstormed ways
LS7 could continue to have an impact given the restrictions placed on
public gatherings.
“We realized we can change the idea of the tournament so the real captains,
the real heroes, are the ones we’re supporting this year – the front-line
workers.”
Stacey has been a Bauer-endorsed athlete for two years and was impressed
when the company led the way in March by shifting its production facilities
to make masks and shields.
Her existing relationship paved the way for a continued partnership. When
Stacey reached out to ask if there was any way her charity could help, Mary
Kay Messier, vice-president of global marketing with Bauer, saw an
immediate alignment between Bauer’s efforts and Stacey’s local ties.
“When Mary Kay heard that I reached out, she was like ‘I have the perfect
match. You’re from Toronto, your tournament is in Toronto, I think that
would be awesome if you wanted to donate the 510 masks Toronto SickKids has
requested.”
#StayInSticksIn was born when her committee brainstormed how to bring the
initiative alive on social media and get more people to support it. Through
the uncertainty of the times, the group never questioned its mission of
bringing the hockey community together to give back.
“It’s nice to have it similar to the last few years, but different to say
that this year we’re reimagining and we’re taking a step back to support
the people who need it most,” Stacey says. “We talked extensively about how
our mission always was to help get kids active and help the community get
active. Not only was it about the tournament, but it was about helping the
schools get their students active. But I think it’s a way bigger picture
and it’s not so much about hockey or sports anymore. It’s a matter of
staying alive and people’s health and safety.”
More than 50 teammates, friends, professional athletes and front-line
workers came together to create a #StayInSticksIn video for social media –
the star power included National Women’s Team captain Marie-Philip Poulin,
Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Jayna Hefford, Toronto Maple Leafs star Mitch
Marner and TSN anchor Kate Beirness, among others.
Stacey was impressed by the reach of the video, but not surprised. For her,
the spirit of the campaign really drives home the notion that community in
hockey is about so much more than the jerseys worn or the memories made at
the rink.
“I think it’s incredible; it’s a family and I think everybody wants to help
this pandemic and be a part of it in some way,” Stacey says. “It’s amazing
to see the benefit of coming together and sharing our story and being a
part of this one team. We are one Team Canada, but we’re also now a world
and I think we’re all trying to come together and fight this.”
Dedication, resilience, teamwork, selflessness … qualities not only of a
great teammate, but of great Canadians and truly remarkable global
citizens.