“Skate for LA Strong” charity hockey game
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
The “Skate for LA Strong” charity hockey game helped to raise money for recovery efforts from the LA wildfires. Celebrities, former NHL players, and first responders came out to support and play in the game.
On Feb. 23, the National Hockey League (NHL) and the Los Angeles Kings held a “Skate for LA Strong: A Celebration to Support the Fire Recovery Efforts in Los Angeles,” at the Crypto.com Arena to support recovery efforts from the Los Angeles (LA) wildfires. The event featured a star-studded lineup of celebrities who produced memorable moments. Instead of selling tickets, the exhibition tournament was played in front of 12,167 fans, including first responders and individuals displaced by the fires who received tickets.
Two deadly wildfires erupted in Los Angeles County and left widespread devastation in recent months. The Palisades and Eaton fires have collectively scorched over 37,000 acres and have resulted in the loss of at least 29 lives and the destruction of more than 16,000 structures. Now fully contained, the fires rank among California's deadliest and most destructive fires.
The idea for this event was born from Hockey Hall of Famer and LA Kings president Luc Robitaille. In an interview with ESPN, Robitaille said, “We've all been touched by what happened last month. We all have friends, families, or different [people] that have been impacted, so for us to be able to make a difference and to do something, we're going to raise as much as possible and make a difference.”
The exhibition tournament featured four teams coached by Snoop Dog and Will Ferrell, Vince Vaughn and Cobie Smulders, Danny Devito and Al Michaels, and Hannah Stocking and Andrew Whitworth. Each team’s roster included a mix of celebrities, NHL Alumni, hockey dignitaries, and local first responders from the LA Fire Department, LA County Fire Department, and LA Police Department.
Vaughn and Smulders’ Team Red won both games, with players including two first responders, Matty and Marty Mullen, and former NHL players Jeremy Roenick, Terry Ryan, and Derek Armstrong. Team Red pulled out two dominating shut-outs and had a combined score of 9-0. Offensively, Ryan scored three goals, Roenick pulled out an assist and two goals, and Armstrong and former NHL forward Dany Heatley both tallied a goal and two assists. In between the pipes, local goaltender Billy Blase stopped 29 shots in a total of two games to clinch the double shut-out for Team Red.
One coach who made his presence known was Snoop Dog, especially when Roenick and Justin Bieber dropped their gloves on the ice. It was not quite like the three fights in nine seconds fans witnessed in the 4 Nations Tournament, but it was still entertaining, to say the least. Snoop Dog was mic’d up, and his exclamations from the notable moments during the games were very well-received on social media. Bieber, a native Canadian, and a major hockey fan, was willing to leave it all on the ice for a good cause, saying, “We're looking to have a good time and show when we come together, good things happen.”
The event also featured celebrities such as Steve Carell, Josh Richards, Ross Lynch, Noah LaLonde, and Skylar Astin. Although some of the celebrities had never even played hockey, many came out for a good cause, with Astin saying, “I don't care if I'd never thrown on a pair of skates before, this is where I want to be. I'm a resident of Malibu, so I really have the firefighters to thank for even containing it as much as they were able to”.
The “Skate for LA Strong” event brought entertainment and high-energy hockey and showcased the power of community and resilience in the face of tragedy. As LA continues to rebuild, the funds and awareness raised from this special night will contribute to ongoing recovery efforts, proving that support runs as deep as the passion for the game.