TORONTO, Canada/Dubnica nad Váhom, Slovakia (July 23, 2025) – The National Hockey League Players’ Association announced today that Tomáš Tatar and NHLPA Goals & Dreams have donated 25 complete sets of new hockey equipment through the players’ charitable program to the Pavol Demitra Primary and Kindergarten School.
In a moment that brought full-circle a childhood memory of first meeting NHL player Pavol Demitra, Tomáš Tatar returned to his hometown this week to present new hockey equipment to the students of the Pavol Demitra Primary and Kindergarten School in Dubnica nad Váhom. Tatar was joined by Mayor of Dubnica nad Váhom Peter Wolf, school officials and local youth hockey players and residents for the presentation of the equipment. Together, they celebrated the school’s athletic legacy and its mission to foster opportunity, no matter a child’s background.“Everybody loves hockey here,” said Tomas Tatar, longtime NHLPA member. “I look back at some of the great players – Chára, Hossa, Stastny, Bondra, Gáborík. I wanted to be like them and hope this donation will set a path for many others to get the chance to play the game. I still remember the day when Pavol Demitra came to my school when I was a little kid. I wanted to come and make these children happy the way Pavol did for us.”
“What Tomáš Tatar is doing here is about more than hockey,” said Marty Walsh, NHLPA Executive Director. “It’s about creating access, dignity, and dreams for the next generation. This embodies what our players stand for.”
A Legacy That Lives On
Pavol Demitra, who played 16 seasons in the NHL before tragically passing away in the 2011 Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash, is a name etched into the heart of Slovak hockey. The school, renamed in his honour, remains a beacon of excellence in sports and education.
“He was a good person,” Tatar once told NHLPA.com. “Everybody loved him. They still do. I would want everyone to know he had a big heart. He wanted to help every hockey player in Slovakia.”
Today, Tatar continues that legacy.
Creating Access for All
The donated equipment will serve children ages 5–15, many of whom come from families that cannot afford the high costs of hockey gear. Starter kits will help beginners take their first steps on the ice and support more experienced players in the Slovak Ice Hockey Federation (SZLH) system. The program consists of up to 250 children in the U18 category annually.
The initiative is designed to be inclusive – supporting kids regardless of skill, background, or socioeconomic status. The school also provides tailored support for children with learning or health challenges, including those with autism and ADD.
“We don’t separate children by status or condition,” said Oto Bača, Pavol Demitra Primary and Kindergarten School principal. “We simply ask if they want to play? If the answer is yes, we find a way.”
An NHL Star, and a Hometown Hero
Tatar’s journey from the local rinks of Dubnica nad Váhom to the international stage is one of perseverance and pride. He played a key role in helping Slovakia qualify for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games and won silver medals with Team Slovakia at the 2012 World Championships and as a member of Team Europe at the 2016 World Cup. Over the course of a 14-year NHL career, Tatar has collected 496 points (227-269-496) in 927 games.
ABOUT NHLPA GOALS & DREAMS:
In 1999, the National Hockey League Players’ Association launched NHLPA Goals & Dreams as a way for the players to give back to the game they love. The Players’ charitable program’s primary focus is on supporting grassroots hockey programs by providing complete sets of new equipment to deserving youth. For 25 years, NHLPA members have donated more than $26 million to grassroots hockey programs in 44 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.nhlpagoalsanddreams.com.
About Pavol Demitra Primary and KINDERGARTEN School:
Established in 1982 and renamed after Slovak hockey legend Pavol Demitra, the school in Dubnica nad Váhom serves students from kindergarten through primary grades. It emphasizes a balanced approach to academics and athletics. The school has produced several professional athletes, including Tomáš Tatar, Pavol Demitra, Mario Blizňák, and Erik Grendel as well as professional soccer player Martin Valjent of RCD Mallorca and the Slovak national team. The school remains a pillar of community development and youth opportunity in Slovakia.
Recently, the students of Pavol Demitra Primary and Kindergarten School became the Slovak national champions for the third time in the team category of the school gymnastics tetrathlon and also took all medal positions in the individual competition. In 2024, the school became the 12th partner school in Slovakia for the MathCityMap project, an international initiative that offer students an engaging way to explore mathematics in real-world settings.
