TORONTO (Nov. 1, 2024) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association is pleased to announce that NHLPA Goals & Dreams and Aleksander Barkov of the Florida Panthers are donating $20,000 worth of hockey equipment to the Tappara RY Hockey Program in Finland. The donation will be recognized at the 2024 NHL Global Series Finland this weekend in Tampere.

“As a part of returning with my teammates to play NHL regular-season games in Tampere, I’m glad that we can help get more children in Finland on the ice by donating hockey equipment from our NHLPA Goals & Dreams program to Tappara RY,” said Aleksander Barkov, NHLPA member and Florida Panthers captain.

A total of 24 local children representing Tappara RY Hockey Program will be attending the 2024 NHL Global Series games in Tampere. Ahead of tonight’s game, 12 players will join the starting lineup of NHL players on each of the blue lines during the national anthems at Nokia Arena, while the donation will be recognized in arena, and a different group of 12 children will do so again at tomorrow’s game.

“The players are proud to leave behind a lasting donation in Finland, through this NHLPA Goals & Dreams donation led by Aleksander Barkov, so that more local youth are afforded the opportunity to play the game,” said Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director.  

The Tappara hockey club was formed in 1955 and has become one of Finland's most storied franchises. Tappara RY has become the cornerstone of the youth hockey and skating programs in Tampere. The program has produced NHL players, including Barkov, Patrik Laine, Ville Niemenen and Teppo Numminen. The Tappara Junior Hockey Organization and Nieminen founded the Ville Nieminen Scholarship Fund in 1997 to help all Tappara RY players who need assistance to play hockey. The hockey equipment being donated from Barkov and NHLPA Goals & Dreams will be directed to deserving children through the Tappara RY Hockey Program.