The NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund and Lundqvist presented Frölunda Hockey Club
with donation of 60 sets of equipment during the Rangers Assist youth program’s visit
New York / Toronto, August 9, 2016 – The New York Rangers have helped the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) present the Frölunda Hockey Club with a generous donation of 60 sets of brand new youth hockey equipment. This donation was made possible by Rangers goalie and Frölunda alumnus Henrik Lundqvist through the NHLPA Goals & Dreams program.
Presentation of the new Bauer gear took place on Tuesday while the North Rockland Youth Hockey association visited Sweden and the Frölunda Hockey Club on an all-expenses paid international hockey and immersive cultural experience, provided through the Rangers Assist presented by Chase program.
“The players are very proud of our Goals & Dreams program and look forward to getting the kids get on the ice,” said Henrik Lundqvist, New York Rangers goalie and NHLPA member, who surprised both the North Rockland Bantam aged team and the Frölunda youth players on the ice in Gothenberg, Sweden to reveal the donation. “We are committed to expanding the game of hockey and this program is helping to achieve that goal.”
“NHL players are always looking for opportunities to help make the game of hockey accessible for everyone,” said Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive Director. “Young children on the Frolunda Hockey Club, who might not have had the chance to even lace up a pair of skates, will get the opportunity to try hockey for free with NHLPA Goals & Dreams’ donation of 60 full sets of equipment. I cannot think of a better type of effort to get behind, together with Henrik Lundqvist, as part of the Rangers Assist youth program’s visit in Sweden this week.”
“This is a good way to promote ice hockey to children and youths,” said Daniel Nilsson, who is responsible for Frölunda’s youth programme. “We will use the equipment donation wisely in order to allow more children and youths the possibility to play ice hockey.”
New York Rangers Assist, which seeks to improve the youth hockey experience and increase opportunities and accessibility to the sport, held a formal equipment drive contest in the Tri-State area in the winter of 2016. Local Bantam aged (13-14 year old) hockey players were encouraged to enter as a team for a one month collection campaign to benefit local youth hockey players in need. The Rangers and Chase are rewarding the winning team, the North Rockland Youth Hockey Association from North Rockland, NY, with an all-inclusive trip to Sweden, where players will have the opportunity to play in an exhibition game versus the Frölunda youth hockey program, host a “Try Hockey for Free” clinic and much more, all across a five day trip.
About The Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment with a portfolio of legendary sports teams, exclusive entertainment productions and celebrated venues. MSG Sports owns and operates some of the most widely recognized sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA), along with two development league teams — the Westchester Knicks (NBADL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also presents a broad array of world-class sporting events, including: professional boxing, college basketball, tennis, bull riding and e-gaming events. MSG Entertainment features exclusive, original productions that include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and New York Spectacular Starring The Radio City Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts a wide variety of live entertainment offerings, including concerts, family shows and special events, in the Company’s diverse collection of iconic venues. These venues are: New York’s Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, California; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com
About NHLPA Goals & Dreams
The National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) launched NHLPA Goals & Dreams (G&D) in 1999 as a way for NHL players to give back to the game they love. Over the past 16 years, G&D has donated over $23-million to grassroots hockey programs, and more than 70,000 deserving children have benefited from receiving G&D donations of full sets of hockey equipment. The players’ program has also assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas worldwide. G&D donations have spanned a total of 34 countries to date: Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mongolia, Netherlands, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine and the United States of America.
