Roustan Hockey announced a major donation to Hockey Equality today, pledging 1,000 Christian brand sticks and two sets of McKenney goalie equipment to the organization.
“Roustan Hockey’s mission is to grow the game of hockey by making hockey more affordable so that hockey is truly for everyone,” said chairman and owner W. Graeme Roustan (full disclosure: Roustan also owns The Hockey News). “And with this donation and support of Hockey Equality, another step in the right direction is made.”
The Roustan factory in Brantford, Ont., makes approximately one million sticks per year for NHL teams, Sherwood and its own Christian and Northland brands. McKenney is also made-in-Canada, producing its goalie equipment in Scarborough, which is on the east end of Toronto.
Hockey Equality is chaired by former NHLer Anthony Stewart and provides development, mentorship and grassroots support for a number of initiatives aimed at meeting the needs of BIPOC, female and disadvantaged youth players.
“Hockey Equality’s mission aligns with Roustan Hockey in its efforts to lower financial barriers in hockey,” Stewart said. “With this donation, we will be impacting over 1,000 youth by putting sticks in their hands and allowing them the opportunity to learn the game we all love through our supportive grassroots programs. We are extremely grateful to Roustan Hockey for their donation as well as and the example they set for others to support growing the game.”
The donation and collaboration has also caught the eye of the NHL.
“The NHL is often asked about the diversity within today’s professional player ranks and how progress gets made,” said Kim Davis, the NHL’s Senior Executive VP of Social Impact, Growth Initiatives and Legislative Affairs. “The truth is, of course, that with exposure, resources and equity of opportunity, young athletes-of-color will learn, grow and realize their potential as people and as hockey players. This is at the core of what Hockey Equality stands for – which is why the NHL has provided significant support on an annual basis – and now the collaboration with Roustan Hockey provides further proof that industry partners are seeking a hockey-wide movement toward greater access and inclusion.”
