NHLPA GOALS & DREAMS DONATES 40 SETS OF HOCKEY EQUIPMENT TO FRITIDSBANKEN SWEDEN

… Hometown player William Nylander, of Stockholm, leads initiative to donate $30,000 in hockey equipment to Fritidsbanken program

TORONTO/STOCKHOLM (Nov. 14, 2023) – With nearly 100 NHL players in Stockholm for games this week, which will include more than 10 Swedish players, the National Hockey League Players’ Association is pleased to announce that NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated 40 complete sets of hockey equipment to Fritidsbanken Sweden. The equipment, valued at $30,000 CDN, will give more youth in Sweden the opportunity to play the sport of hockey.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to play in front of all the Swedish hockey fans, friends and family in Stockholm, and also to give back to kids across the country through this NHLPA Goals & Dreams equipment donation,” said William Nylander, NHLPA member and Toronto Maple Leafs forward. “NHLPA Goals & Dreams has been making an impact on grassroots hockey for 24 years and I am very proud to join my fellow players in helping Fritidsbanken here in Sweden.”

Fritidsbanken is a country-wide non-profit organization that provides a rental program for sports and leisure equipment. The equipment can be rented by those in need for 14 days, free of charge. The first Fritidsbanken location opened in 2013, with that number growing to 140 locations and counting across the country.

“We are very proud and grateful to receive this hockey equipment from NHLPA Goals & Dreams. We will lend it to children and young people in various locations across the country who will have the opportunity to try playing ice hockey, and who knows, one of them may become a future NHL star,” said David Mathiasson, Fritidsbanken Sweden Operation Manager.

“Knowing how much the game of hockey means to the people in Sweden, we truly are excited to celebrate the return of NHL players – highlighted by many exceptional Swedes – with this donation of 40 sets of hockey equipment through NHLPA Goals & Dreams to Fritidsbanken Sweden,” said Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director.

At each of the four 2023 NHL Global Series games in Stockholm this week, 12 local children representing Fritidsbanken will join NHL players on the blue lines during the national anthems at Avicii Arena, while the donation will also be recognized in arena.